Success in Balance

Instapundit.com -

Finally, while I know some lawyers who are happy, most aren’t. It’s possible, of course, that they’re the kind of people who weren’t really happy before they became lawyers — not surprisingly, the field has an attraction to people who like to complain. But it’s also true that older lawyers seem to enjoy it more…

I found this post over at Instapundit quite interesting and it made me relfect on my last post. Could it be that many lawyers are unhappy because they went into it for the wrong reasons? After LA Law many people pursued law becasue they saw it as glamourous and a quick way to wealth. But often it is neither. And as we all know, money alone does not make one happy

Could it really be that simple? As this blog indicates I have looked at multiple sources for online income; something to help pay down the student loans. But nothing has “fit” me. I mean I really like my “day job.” So as I was mowing the lawn last night I had an epiphany (mowing the lawn is a great time to think). The key is doing what you love. I know you knew that already, but I am a slow learner

Well what is it that I love? All of a sudden it was clear: Digital Stakeholders + Success in Balance = help others use technology to create better relationships. Now I’m not talking about Dr. Phil type of relationships. But we all know that it is easier to retain good customers than to get new ones. But all the “programs” out there are there to show you how to get new “affiliates”, “partners”, “clients”, the list goes on.

So why me? Well I have spent years observing how successful companies use technology to enhance stakeholder relations. I wrote a dissertation on this topic to complete my Ph.D. So there’s a lot in my brain that can help others. Now I just need to get it out there and that will be my focus for the future. That is true success in balance. Stay tuned.

SI.com - The Fortunate 50

But the average wealth of the 50 actually fell by $500,000 since last year’s list. The reason? Endorsers are taking fewer chances on athletes and increasingly turning to Hollywood celebrities (No. 2 Phil Mickelson and No. 4 Kobe Bryant are the only others on this list to have a noticeable increase in corporate income).

I read this last night and didn’t think much of it. But as I was thinking this morning I wondered, why do so many people put so much effort into sports? Sure there are a few that can make it big time. But if we put our efforts into business and building things, what’s the potential there? Well I posted eariler on Warren Buffet and Bill & Melinda Gates. What sport did they play? They passionately pursued their dreams on the business field and either one of them could buy everyone on this top 50 sports list and still be amongst the wealthiest people in the world. So instead of looking for a shortcut to wealth and fame, learn from Warren, do what you are passionate about. The rest will take care of itself.

As some readers might know, I have been looking at ways to suplement my income to help pay down student loans etc. Earlier I experimented with the Auto-Surf business and it didn’t work. Sure there are some that make it work, but it is very high risk. What I am looking for is something that I can build with minimum risk. For now, here are some things that I am using to host and promote my sites. My belief is that if it is something that you believe in, the rest will take care of itself

Great hosting company. Incredible price, and oustanding support. I have never been disappointed!

These sites have free programs where you exchange your surfing for other people surfing your site. I am focusing on the free programs until something gets started.

Also, because I am using blogs as my mechanism, I am using these blog exchange programs as well:

I will keep you posted as things progress. If anyone has any insights feel free to let me know (paul @ successinbalance.com)

What You Can Do When Guilt Affects Your Career - - Work / Life Balance from Monster.com

Different types of guilt can surface in relation to your career. If you’re in a situation like Jackie’s, you may be suffering from “I’m being selfish” guilt, because you feel bad about putting your own needs first. “How dare I…” may lead some of your thoughts, as in “How dare I contemplate a lower-paying job when I’m successful in my current, higher-paying one?” Or, “How dare I consider going back to work when I have little ones at home?”

Exploring some of the resources at Monster I saw this. What a great piece! I don’t know about you, but guilt has impacted me in all kinds of ways. Perhaps becasue of the way I was raised, but reading this article helped me see that I am not alone and gave me some good ideas to correct my thinking. Perhaps it will help you too.

BaseballAmerica.com: College: LeClair, 40, Dies Of ALS

“Most people are defined by what they do in terms of wins, honors, accomplishments and things like that. Keith is defined by the way he lived his life. He put his family and religion first and did everything else after that the right way.”

Today his family, friends and ECU lost a great man. But that great man taught even those who did not know him a great deal about life. A great deal about what true success in balance is. I arrived after he had already stepped down. All I was able to see was the disease get the best of his body. But it never got the best of his spirit. He always had a positive word and wisdom for those who needed it and he always kept things in perspective. When great men like Keith (I am reminded of Keith Green as well) leave this world at such a young age I wonder, but as Keith would often say:

“We can never live our lives wondering why,” he said during an interview in December of 2001. “We have to be grateful for what we have. It’s like the 5,000 people on Sept. 11. Why them?

“We don’t know the answers, and we never will until we have that day of judgment. I don’t ask, ‘Why me?’ That’s irrelevant. I’m just grateful to have today.” (Reflector)

We can all learn a lot from Keith. I know I did.

CNN.com - The mean value of the ‘Nasty Boss’ - Jul 7, 2006

Nor does Stanford professor Robert Sutton, an organizational psychologist. He’s developed a whole philosophy, presented in an upcoming book, on bosses who are, well, jerks: They’re a drain on society. They shouldn’t be hired in the first place, and if they won’t change their ways, they should be fired.

This article is fascinating and it makes me want to see the movie and by the book that is soon to be published…or perhaps I will listen to it. Anyway, as we seek success in balance it reminded me that it is not just an individual balance that we should seek, but corporate/communal balance. Often mean bosses can have their life in “balance” while forcing everyone around them to be out of balance. So are they really in balance?

What about you? What about me? As I seek to get balance in my life do I force others out of balance? Actually, as I reflect I realize that when I am out of balance I often cause others to be out of balance. If I do too much for others I allow them to not do enough for themselves. Remember what we do impacts more than just ourselves.

FOXNews.com - The Lesson of TGI Friday’s: Never Take the Customer for Granted - Business And Money | Business News | Financial News

The lesson is that you can become a victim of your own success, unless you always keep in mind that you are not responsible for your success — your customer is.

Hum. So how does this apply to us personally? I think for me personally it indicates that just because things start going my way (hopefully they will soon I should not become complacent. You know, sort of taking it for granted. In a sense to truly have success in balance there always has to be a hunger for self improvement. For businesses it means always looking out for the customer. For individuals it means always looking to make yourself better.