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I picked up a special "ReInvent" issue of the HBR (Harvard Business Review) today. And several things inside have got me rethinking my work life balance strategy.

We all talk about improving our work life balance. Now to take an example from HBR, when we think of Tiger Woods do we wonder about his work life balance. (Overlooking the kidding about his infidelity admissions and loss of Accenture, TAG, Buick, AMEX and other million dollar sponsorships.) When Tiger is traveling the world as a professional golfer do we worry if he is satisfied with his life. Aside from the fact that all the investment companies and brand associations of this sports hero did not protect him from his own demise. But I don't think any of us have spent any time wondering if he "likes" traveling in first class all the time. Or if "golf" is something he "likes" to do. (WORK)

I'd say, prior to December's major fail, Tiger Woods has a pretty rockin work life thing going. He's doing what he loves and loving…well, "golf" anyway. (Couldn't help it, sorry.)

Okay so the other magazine I was reading falls on the opposite side of the yin yang of life balance from HBR. Kripalu puranam is a magazine devoted to the study of yoga and health, based on a non-profit retreat and research center (Kripalu) that focuses on "yoga and health." In my balancing act this would be the other side of the coin from HBR. (LIFE BALANCE)

What I can tell you from my personal self-observations is that I am as drawn to HBR as I am Kripalu.

Here are the top three stories from HBR that caused me to buy the magazine at B+N.

• Ten Breakthrough Ideas for 2010
• ReInvent: Your Company, Your Strategy, Your Marketing, Your Career
• Five Ways to Bungle a Job Change

And here are the top three stories from Kripalu:

• Your Brain on Yoga
• The Yoga of Leadership
• Dancing for Life

And so what I can observe is I am drawn to, fascinated by and driven in both halves of my life. The two feed one another in both career and family. And both are essential to happiness. Both magazines are about how to make your walk through life more centered and focused. Continuing down this thought progression for a minute, what struck me was how the two seemingly disparate paths are actually part of the same journey. And that my intention is to walk confidently in both WORK and LIFE BALANCE activities.

Back to Tiger for the last time.

So what makes Tiger Woods' life seem like such a dream? Security? A beautiful wife and kids? Lot's and lot's of money? Love of the public?

Or, my guess is, it is that he is doing something he loves, day in and day out, as his WORK. His balance, his joy and fun, are all combined in the activity of playing golf. So our fascination also blooms with Tiger's infidelity crisis, because it is hard to imagine someone with so much still wanting to cheat. What was he lacking in his support system that caused him to get things so wrong with his life? What does someone like Tiger suffer from but his own self-inflicted mess?

While I have ignored the roar of the Tiger drama as it unfolded across the internet, television and newspapers, I have not been able to put the question out of my mind: "What else did Tiger want from his success?"

So as I look to balance my work, my intention is to infuse my working activities with joy and focus. I cannot escape having to work any more than I can escape having to get up in the morning. But I can define and shape that work with integrity and by leading activities I enjoy. Part of that is doing what I call "the good work." If it's only about selling more CPUs or soft drinks, I'm not all that interested. I mean, don't get me wrong, I will do it for a living, but I will be eyeing "green" ideas and ways to actually "help" people if I can. And through that awareness, through an aspiration towards blending my career with my life goals, I can draw from both sides of the coin of work/life and enjoy my time ON equally as well as my time OFF.

@jmacofearth
permalink: http://bit.ly/two-paths

(image from creative commons: path.jpg)

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