How to create the perfect work/life balance
You’ve heard the old saying: Work to live, don’t live to work.
But, how would you like to know what you have to do next to get you on the road to a perfect work/life balance?
What exactly is work/life balance?
Let’s define those words for a minute.
What is ‘work’? This word conjures up so many different images for different people today…The traditional view-point is that work means you are taking some action/doing something to gain an end result.
For me it’s quite simple – work means exchanging time for money (whether you enjoy this or not doesn’t matter) – and that itself has a limit. There is a limit on what you can charge within your field and a limit on the number of hours you can work. Most people who work for themselves think they are running a business, when in fact they have just created a job for themselves…So be clear here what it is you are doing.
Exercise: Write down what the word ‘work’ means for you.
So – next what does ‘life’ mean to you? They say life is for living but not if you are going to fall into your grave from exhaustion at 30 years old!! Is it living ‘on purpose’, doing what you love, being happy, being flexible, being free to do different things? Or living each day as you always have, getting the same results you always did?
Exercise: Write down what the word ‘life’ currently means to you
So now we have a picture of what work and life is, let’s look at how I see work/life balance:
Work/life balance is achieved when you have built up solid foundations; leveraging your time, creating your team, and amassing enough ‘passive’ income to comfortably cover your monthly expenditure every month without you needing to work unless you chose to. The perfect work/life balance is achieved when you have reached financial freedom, with enough capital invested at 10% to cover your current life-style without ever having to work again.
Let’s face it you might be very happy working in or on your own business, but if it’d just you, then what happens if you want a break? No financial stability…
When should we expect to have it?
I have found that most people when talking about wanting Work/Life BALANCE – fall into one of two categories:
a) Drowning in ‘work’, exchanging time for money, working ’hard’, with long hours, – the result of which is usually physical burnout or illness.
If you work for yourself and you get ill, you won’t get paid – result: stress!
Here you are striving for ‘balance’, but are a long way off…
b) OR: Faking balance by working limited hours, drifting, filling your days with ‘activity’ without any actual results, spending time having coffees, playing sports, doing meditation classes, or whatever it is for you – and ignoring the fact you are drowning in debt!
Committed Action: Are you prepared to do what it takes to build solid foundations now, so that you can live the life you really want to in the years to come?
‘Working’ when you want to, travelling when you want to, volunteering for a charity when you want to…having the freedom to choose.
The burning question you really want to know: How long will this take?
Well it’s going to be different for each person here, depending on:
- Your Mindset
- Your Attitude
- Your Passion & Drive
- Your current financial Mindset
- Your current financial Skills
- Your willingness to change & learn new things
- Your willingness to take committed action!
I know people who have gone from 0 to 60 in 12 months, 18 months, or longer – depending on all of the above.
Q: Are you committed to do whatever it takes?
How are you going to get there?
There are three things that most people want more of: Money – Time – Energy!
The first myth that money brings you happiness – well if you believe that you will have a very long wait!! But it can certainly give you more choices and makes life more pleasant!! Find happiness NOW in everything you do, and the money will flow.
Money: (Solution: income pillars/passive income/investments)
Time: (Solution: team/support/leverage)
Energy: (Solution: eating healthily/fitness/rest/relaxation/meditation)
Solution to money is a passive income from:
- Property
- Stocks & Shares
- FX trading
- Intellectual property
- Internet marketing
- Dividends from business
So give some energy to finding out about all these.
Time: Most people say they don’t have enough time to do…xyz…let’s blow this one out of the water straight away – we all have the same 24hours, don’t we? So, surely it’s about how you choose to manage yourself in those hours, right? And what things you might want/need to let go of in order to better function. It comes down to deciding, committing and taking action.
Here’s the thing, I can give you strategies for disciplining yourself, for organising your day, for prioritising your ‘to do’ list – and these are all valid; but if at an unconscious level you have some unresolved stuff over ‘time’, ‘money’ or anything else, then this must be shifted in order for you to move forwards powerfully.
The beliefs we hold, form our reality.
Very often we are holding on to the ‘I can do it all’ mentality….how about enrolling others into our dream and building a support team.
Solution:
Learn to leverage; what can you get automated, done by others, done a more efficient way?
Leverage: Greater results with less effort.
1. Leverage equals speed.
2. The longer the lever, the greater the impact.
3 Millionaires are masters at using all five kinds of leverage:
* OPM = Other Peoples Money
* OPE = Other Peoples Energy
* OPI = Other Peoples Ideas
* OPT = Other Peoples Time
* OPW = Other Peoples Wealth
*OPR = Other Peoples Relationships
* OPN = Other Peoples Networks
4. Millionaires are constantly looking for leverage.
5. There are 11 key forms of leverage:
* Mentors
* Teams
* Networks
* Key Contacts
* Tools and Skills
* Systems
* Health
* Time
* Education
* Relationships
* Spare Time
What can you simply get rid of? Are you doing something in order to please others?
Build a team of helpers around you – let go of the belief that only you can do a particular job – this just isn’t true. If you want more time you need to have help!
Energy: This is a result of the other too really – if you are managing yourself well, being creative with money, have the focus in the right place, then your energy will flow.
When you eat right and look after yourself you will have good energy and focus, when you enrol a team in your dream then you use your time efficiently and at that point the money will flow and you can distribute it appropriately!!
When you build a great team around you and you are supported you feel good and have the time to look after yourself; and as you expand your financial vision, you will create more money in every area of your life.
When you set up your financial structure correctly you will have stability, this will mean you can relax and spend the time looking after yourself and your team.
You will have to decide which area you start from first, but you will want to be aiming to have it all flowing nicely.
What will you do when you get there?
When you have this all set up as you want to you will be in control of your live, your destiny and your dreams – make sure you have a solid money management system in place and enjoy the time you’ve created.
Top Tips
Money: if you don’t like or understand money, then you must go out there are get some education – go on some courses, read financial book and magazine and learn to love money. The books: Think and grow Rich; Rich Dad – Poor Dad and many others will be a great starting point. Get to grips with your personal budget, Net Worth, business finances and passive income/wealth strategy.
Time: be strict; plan ahead, prioritise; let go of what didn’t get done; delegate; build a team of helpers; outsource. We all have the same 24 hours; it’s how we use them! Book: the 4 hour work week. Set boundaries and enforce them. Get excited about what you are going to do with your life, be happy and laugh a lot every day!
Energy: sign up for the gym, attend a fitness class, or yoga class; go swimming, take a day out to go to a spa and relax; book in plenty of social activity; go for walks, create meal planner for the week; eat less & drink more liquids; drop carbs after lunch-time; listen to soothing music; listen to pd cd’s and dvd’s; attend pd courses – good for the mind and the body! Use visualisation techniques.
Passive income, financial freedom, chosing what to focus your time on – all this can be achieved and more if you have the belief, passion and focused commitment!
