“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life."”
- Unknown
- Unknown
A few
months ago I met with a friend who wanted me to help her with her finances. She
felt she never had any money and she didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t asking
me for money but she wanted me to go over her budget and see what things she
needs to change.
After she
asked me to help her, I paused for a bit and asked her a question.
“Wait a
minute,” I said, “don’t you manage a multi-million budget at work?”
“Yeah, I
know,” she responded, “I guess I never thought about my own budget.”
Many times
we acquire great skills at work – skills we probably didn’t have before. We
might have learned a bit more about finance, accounting, time management,
organization, leadership, management, and teamwork or communication skills. The
interesting thing is that time after time I meet someone or someone I know
comes to me because they’re struggling with something personally that they
might be doing well at work. Below are a few of these things many people do
well at work but, for some reason, don’t do a good job at home.
Manage a Budget
As
discussed in the introduction above, there are many people who manage a lot of
money at work, but for some reason can’t or don’t manage their personal
finances. Money management is a great skill to have and many of us have it. Use
that skill to take control of your spending, your budget and your credit. Just
like you spend an ample amount of time at work looking over numbers and making
decisions, you should do the same at home. Make the time and effort because I
can guarantee you that your money is more important to you.
Organize Yourself
I had a
friend a few years ago who introduced me to his co-worker. His co-worker
bragged about how organized my friend was. I was shocked. I didn’t say
anything, but I knew my friend for at least 5 years and our circle of friends
knew that he was awfully unorganized. My friend was messy, he never knew where
he left papers and he was always late paying bills – and he was my roommate.
Organization is another great skill to have. Transfer that skill to your
personal life and, just like you do at work, you will become more productive.
Follow Up
As a
program manager a few years ago, my goal was to acquire and retain new business
for the company. Anyone that has ever worked on sales knows that following up
is key to getting the sale. I did a great job at work, but a terrible job
following up with friends and family. At work, I used to respond to our stakeholders
in less than 24 hours. At home, I would receive a call, a voice message, a text
message and you would be lucky if you heard from me. The people outside of work
are very important to you, probably more important than the people you’re
trying to sell to. Apply the same rules at home as you do at work. Be
responsive at home, be accessible and just make sure you return phone calls.
Manage Your Time
Productivity
is important at work. Many of us use an Outlook calendar to schedule our time
at work and we try to stick to it as much as we can. We include meetings,
tasks, projects and more meetings in our calendar. However, many of us don’t do
the same with our personal life. We don’t schedule our life! Plan a date with
your significant other, schedule the time when you’ll pay your bills, don’t
forget your little cousin’s birthday party, and schedule some time to grow. You
will accomplish more in life if you apply the same time management strategies
you use at work.
Exercise Your Patience
I had a
niece that used to work at a fast food chain. Anyone that has ever worked in
fast food knows that you have to be very patient with the customers. My niece
was always very polite, patient and professional when speaking to customers. At
home though, my niece was the opposite. She hated waiting, she hated how her
younger sister would nag and she couldn’t stand being at home. Patience is a
great virtue. At work we become very patient with clients, co-workers and our
boss. It shouldn’t be any different at home. Why does it all of a sudden
change? Take the same measures and effort you apply at work to your home and
you will be happier. There is no difference.
Are you a
different person at work as you are at home? I always believed you should
always exercise the great qualities you were given as a human being, no matter
where you are. In fact, I think these qualities are much more needed at home than
at work.
Don't forget to share this blog so you can encourage others: family, co-workers, friends. Give them something to get motivated! You never know what they might be going through. A few words of encouragement can go a long way.
