Comments on: Twentysomething: Why I don't want work/life balance http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:03:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Gen Y and Work/Life Balance - A Rant « LiveWorkBalance http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-168940 Gen Y and Work/Life Balance - A Rant « LiveWorkBalance Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:00:56 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-168940 [...] seen the same type of post appear a few times.  People talking about how for Gen Y, work/life balance is different.  They love their work so much that it is what they find fulfilling in their lives.  [...] [...] seen the same type of post appear a few times.  People talking about how for Gen Y, work/life balance is different.  They love their work so much that it is what they find fulfilling in their lives.  [...]

]]> By: Jen http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-157262 Jen Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:22:03 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-157262 When you put in extra long, unpaid hours at work… you are setting up a situation whereby: (1) the higher-ups recognize you as a VERY productive employee and thus need to keep you in the position where you are most productive, and (2) your salary is devalued or eroded… you’re essentially putting yourself on sale. When you put in extra long, unpaid hours at work… you are setting up a situation whereby: (1) the higher-ups recognize you as a VERY productive employee and thus need to keep you in the position where you are most productive, and (2) your salary is devalued or eroded… you’re essentially putting yourself on sale.

]]> By: 7 Things to Look Past When Managing Generation Y : Brazen Careerist - A Career Center for Generation Y http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-149722 7 Things to Look Past When Managing Generation Y : Brazen Careerist - A Career Center for Generation Y Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:17:34 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-149722 [...] after lunch or dialing up your mechanic to schedule a time to drop your car off for service. But work and life are no longer two distinct entities and this goes for both the office and at [...] [...] after lunch or dialing up your mechanic to schedule a time to drop your car off for service. But work and life are no longer two distinct entities and this goes for both the office and at [...]

]]> By: 7 Things to Look Past When Managing Gen Y : Brazen Careerist - A Career Center for Generation Y http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-149721 7 Things to Look Past When Managing Gen Y : Brazen Careerist - A Career Center for Generation Y Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:10:04 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-149721 [...] after lunch or dialing up your mechanic to schedule a time to drop your car off for service. But work and life are no longer two distinct entities and this goes for both the office and at [...] [...] after lunch or dialing up your mechanic to schedule a time to drop your car off for service. But work and life are no longer two distinct entities and this goes for both the office and at [...]

]]> By: 7 Things to Look Past When Managing Gen Y | Employee Evolution http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-149629 7 Things to Look Past When Managing Gen Y | Employee Evolution Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:02:47 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-149629 [...] after lunch or dialing up your mechanic to schedule a time to drop your car off for service. But work and life are no longer two distinct entities and this goes for both the office and at [...] [...] after lunch or dialing up your mechanic to schedule a time to drop your car off for service. But work and life are no longer two distinct entities and this goes for both the office and at [...]

]]> By: The importance of being balanced » LiveWorkBalance http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-146942 The importance of being balanced » LiveWorkBalance Tue, 06 May 2008 10:24:17 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-146942 [...] people have differing takes on the importance of balance. Some people say balance is dead, and that a blend is the way to go. This can frequently be accompanied by the thought that we can work on getting [...] [...] people have differing takes on the importance of balance. Some people say balance is dead, and that a blend is the way to go. This can frequently be accompanied by the thought that we can work on getting [...]

]]> By: Barbara Hunter http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-138671 Barbara Hunter Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:35:38 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-138671 Dear Ryan, I enjoyed your post and very much like the term, blended life, as opposed to work/life balance. That, to me, seemed always like teetering on the edge of life, never really fully embracing all its many and enjoyable (hopefully) facets. I am a Baby Boomer raised by Depression era parents. Both worked while I was growing up, and I saw how their jobs took a toll on their personal lives, especially my mother. And me. We never had family dinners, and I am only now realizing at age 51 how their fears about losing their jobs and their choices to stay where they were unhappy but were well-compensated, affected me in my earlier career. Fortunately, now, I am living a blended life. My husband and I have a real estate investing business and separately, he has his own business transferring home movies to dvd, and I provide career mentorship (formerly to Baby Boomers, now to Gen Y--I love your energy, Gen Y!). Often the investing business requires us to work weekends, or at night. (Last week a couple of favorite TV shows were interrupted with a contract coming in but hey...with TiVO it was all about pause/fast foward/pause/fast forward). But the flip side is that we're rarely up before 7 a.m. while our "working" friends are up at 5 a.m. to commute. We take off each Wednesday at noon for an Abraham-Hicks class that keeps us revitalized, and 1-2 times a week we even sneak in an afternoon nap! Maybe my TiVO comment really sums up the joys of living a blended life...pause/fast forward. Pause/fast forward. It's about finding rythm in life, and then dancing to your favorite song. Cheers! Dear Ryan,

I enjoyed your post and very much like the term, blended life, as opposed to work/life balance. That, to me, seemed always like teetering on the edge of life, never really fully embracing all its many and enjoyable (hopefully) facets.

I am a Baby Boomer raised by Depression era parents. Both worked while I was growing up, and I saw how their jobs took a toll on their personal lives, especially my mother. And me. We never had family dinners, and I am only now realizing at age 51 how their fears about losing their jobs and their choices to stay where they were unhappy but were well-compensated, affected me in my earlier career.

Fortunately, now, I am living a blended life. My husband and I have a real estate investing business and separately, he has his own business transferring home movies to dvd, and I provide career mentorship (formerly to Baby Boomers, now to Gen Y–I love your energy, Gen Y!).

Often the investing business requires us to work weekends, or at night. (Last week a couple of favorite TV shows were interrupted with a contract coming in but hey…with TiVO it was all about pause/fast foward/pause/fast forward).

But the flip side is that we're rarely up before 7 a.m. while our "working" friends are up at 5 a.m. to commute. We take off each Wednesday at noon for an Abraham-Hicks class that keeps us revitalized, and 1-2 times a week we even sneak in an afternoon nap!

Maybe my TiVO comment really sums up the joys of living a blended life…pause/fast forward. Pause/fast forward. It's about finding rythm in life, and then dancing to your favorite song.
Cheers!

]]> By: JG http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-133628 JG Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:39:55 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-133628 ..Not a single one of these values can take a backseat to another. Sounds like you're not all that sure what your priorities really are! (?) It's a very tempting thought to want to have it all, but the reality is that all of the avenues open to you (personal ventures, family, career) will require larger and larger commitments as you walk further down each path. You don't ever get to a point where you can "coast" i.e. that family or executive position takes more to maintain that it did to create. Hopefully, you can find a job where your job IS your hobby/passion. ..Not a single one of these values can take a backseat to another.

Sounds like you're not all that sure what your priorities really are! (?) It's a very tempting thought to want to have it all, but the reality is that all of the avenues open to you (personal ventures, family, career) will require larger and larger commitments as you walk further down each path. You don't ever get to a point where you can "coast" i.e. that family or executive position takes more to maintain that it did to create. Hopefully, you can find a job where your job IS your hobby/passion.

]]> By: Employee Evolution - Shedding Some Light on the Blended Life http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-109838 Employee Evolution - Shedding Some Light on the Blended Life Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:46:53 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-109838 [...] off, I am absolutely amazed at the amount of conversation that my “I Don’t Want Work/Life Balance" post on The Brazen Careerist has caused. A lot of comments were positive and many people liked the [...] [...] off, I am absolutely amazed at the amount of conversation that my “I Don’t Want Work/Life Balance" post on The Brazen Careerist has caused. A lot of comments were positive and many people liked the [...]

]]> By: kcloww http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-108353 kcloww Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:21:28 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/02/twentysomething-why-i-dont-want-worklife-balance/#comment-108353 Now in my late 30's but still in my 20's at heart, I still struggle to achieve a work life balance. The best advice I can give is to prioritize your attention and distractions. Set goals so you are not disappointed with idealistic expectations. You are what you do. If you complain about work then I bet you complain about your life outside of work too. This is why attitude is so important to employers. They can teach you a required skill but if you have a bad attitude than you are labelled as unteachable and an undesirable employee. The same is true outside of work. No one likes to be around a pessimist for too long other than for entertainment. I spend so much time working, thinking about work, or avoiding too much work that I have to believe in what I am doing matters. If you do not believe in what you are doing (work) then how can you enjoy life outside of work? You will just burn out dreading each new day at work. The true definition of an unhappy life. I have been there and I am better for having gone thorough it. It is true, you can't enjoy the sweet without tasting bitter. Now in my late 30's but still in my 20's at heart, I still struggle to achieve a work life balance. The best advice I can give is to prioritize your attention and distractions. Set goals so you are not disappointed with idealistic expectations.

You are what you do. If you complain about work then I bet you complain about your life outside of work too. This is why attitude is so important to employers. They can teach you a required skill but if you have a bad attitude than you are labelled as unteachable and an undesirable employee. The same is true outside of work. No one likes to be around a pessimist for too long other than for entertainment.

I spend so much time working, thinking about work, or avoiding too much work that I have to believe in what I am doing matters. If you do not believe in what you are doing (work) then how can you enjoy life outside of work? You will just burn out dreading each new day at work. The true definition of an unhappy life. I have been there and I am better for having gone thorough it. It is true, you can't enjoy the sweet without tasting bitter.

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