All Dreams on Deck

“Life Balance”

Many people seek “work-life balance,” but such a state doesn’t exist. Instead, seek overall balance in all of the areas of your life. Work is just one aspect. Think of your life as a “lifeboat” with compartments where you can store “grab bags” holding its essential elements. Your grab bags might include “work, family, friends, faith, fitness/sports, finances, philanthropy and spirit.” Even if some grab bags get depleted or remain empty for a time, you can still keep your lifeboat on an even keel if your vision is strong.

Vision

Consider your life’s journey and your pursuit of professional goals as an “adventure.” Most businesses would benefit from taking this approach organizationally, but companies usually stick to the tried and true. Like people, they also need to have a dream to fulfill. Bureaucracies tend to dominate large businesses. It takes them a long time to envision and prepare for something new – and even more time to execute it. As a result, smaller, more agile companies outsmart them.

To regain flexibility and growth, large companies can turn to goal-setting exercises. Such activities can...