Executive Managers, Turn Off the Treadmill

There is no better time to be alive than now. We are living in the Age of Technology. Computer technology now permeates every aspect of our existence. Every modern convenience has come to depend on information contained on a computer chip. As consumers we thirst for products that are smaller, faster, cheaper, flatter, and feature rich. But in our efforts to make life easier, have we created machinery that has robbed us of our time and our money?

“Are there too many hours in a day or not enough?” I can’t decide. Sometimes I think “if only I had more time today, I’d be able to get another project done”. At other times I think, “if the day was shorter, I wouldn’t have to work so much”. Maybe there isn’t an absolute right answer to the question. Maybe the answer lies in how we “think” we should be filling the hours of every day.

A good friend of mine, who is a CFO, constantly struggles with juggling her work and her free time. Her work day starts at 6 A.M  and typically ends sometime after 9. She usually leaves her office somewhere in the vicinity of 6 P.M. Many nights she feels she needs to continue working from home and she VPN’s in to the office computer network. That is, when she’s not attending board meetings that get her home somewhere around 9:30 in the evening. Her weekends are typically spent at the office, except for a few rare escapes to visit with family and friends in southern New England. She is what most would describe as “a workaholic”. She says, “It has to be done”. Her friends and family disagree. As a divorced mom with two grown children, she wonders when she will ever find the time to “meet Mr. Right”. Even with all of the online dating services available, she has no time or desire to spend another minute on a computer after her work day ends.  She can’t decide if there are too many hours in a day or not enough, either.

Executive management is a lonely road that many walk on alone. The monetary rewards of management positions are great for those willing to invest their time and energy in to leading a company towards its goal. Just remember that you need to refuel sometimes too. Make a conscience effort to make time for relaxation. Your mental and physical health will benefit from it and that will undoubtedly benefit your company.
 

Dawn Turner
Blog Management and Development
The SearchLogix Group