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- Why I Don't Want Balance
Why I Don't Want Balance
Read This If You're Burned Out

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Welcome to the Tuesday Trailblazer, my weekly newsletter delivering actionable advice from my personal experiences leading people and businesses over the past 15+ years.
Today’s Email:
Today we’re diving deep into the essence of work-life harmony and why the traditional chase for balance might be leading us astray.
What we’ll cover off:
The magic of mixing work and life for a happier tune.
The difference between balance & harmony
My basic strategy to bring harmony to your leadership.
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My referral rewards program!
As leaders, demonstrating how to weave work and life together harmoniously not only enhances our lives but also sets a positive example, encouraging our teams to thrive in all areas.
Here’s the Scoop:
We’ve been chasing the wrong goal.
That illusion of the perfect “work/life balance”.
Keeping work and personal life separate and equal and ignoring the reality that our energy and focus naturally fluctuate. Attempting to maintain this balance can lead to frustration and burnout, as it doesn’t allow for the natural ebb and flow of life’s demands.
In Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2023 Report, the US and Canada region along with East Asia tied for the highest level of stress at 52%, and Australia and New Zealand had the second-highest rate at 47%. These results maintain the record high set in 2021.
The above statistic (and report) demonstrates to us just how important it is to think carefully about how we fit work and fun into our lives.
Many leaders fall into the the "Superleader Trap" - it’s snagged many of us.
We strive to excel in every aspect of our leadership and personal lives, often at the expense of our wellbeing and relationships. This relentless pursuit can lead to unrealistic standards for ourselves and inadvertently for our teams.
In addition, leaders are also sticking too rigidly to the idea of balance, trying to allocate time and energy equally between work and life.
This firm approach ignores the dynamic nature of our roles and personal needs, leading to frustration and burnout when the inevitable imbalance occurs.
Life shouldn't feel like you're constantly trying to balance on a seesaw.

Photo credit: @sonudevjoshi
When we aim for work-life harmony, it means we know that sometimes work needs more of our time, and other times, our personal life needs it. Being able to shift our focus like this can really help us feel better.
If we try too hard to make everything perfectly balanced, we might end up feeling even more stressed. So, choosing harmony — letting work and life blend in a way that works for us — is a great idea. It's really important for staying happy and healthy.
The magic of mixing life and work together
Imagine your life is like your favorite song, where different parts—like work, family, playtime, and looking after yourself—come together to make something really cool. Everything doesn’t have to fight for a turn; instead, they all add to the tune, making it even better.
Let’s start a new beat!
As leaders, our challenge is to cultivate an environment that thrives on flexibility and integration, not segregation. This mindset shift from balance to harmony is crucial because it impacts not just our effectiveness and satisfaction but also sets a tone for our teams.
It influences how we manage stress, make decisions, and innovate. Achieving harmony means we're more present, more creative, and more emotionally intelligent—qualities essential for impactful leadership.
Mixing work and life together doesn't mean you don't have any boundaries; it just means you're more flexible about how work and personal stuff fit together.
So, how do we keep our life's song in harmony, hitting all the right notes without missing a beat?

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Introducing my “Harmony Hits” Strategy
5 steps to creating a life that empowers the best of both worlds…
Define Your High Notes (Priorities): Pinpoint what truly makes your heart sing in both work and personal realms. Ensure these priorities get the spotlight in your daily lineup.
Craft Your Playlist: Plan your week like a setlist, mixing work projects, family jams, solo hobbies, and rest. Visualize your week’s rhythm to keep the music flowing smoothly.
Set Your Volume Controls (Boundaries): Lay down the law on when the work music fades out and personal life tunes in. Make your availability clear to everyone in your band.
Improvise and Adapt: Stay flexible. Some days require a solo, others a full ensemble. Adjust your setlist as life plays out.
Encore for Self-Care: Lock in your solo time for self-care. This act rejuvenates your spirit and ensures you're always ready for the stage. Whether it's exercise, meditation, or a hobby, this time recharges your leadership battery.
Bring that all together and you’re on your way to fulfillment both personally and professionally!
What step are you excited to try for better work-life harmony? |
In Conclusion:
Think of life like making music. Pay attention to what's important, find your own pace, and lead your team smartly. This way, you're not just juggling work and life; you're making them sing together. And this isn't just for the big stars; it works for everyone, no matter how big your team is or how you like to lead. It's about making your life's tune a hit!
Whenever you’re ready, here are 2 ways I can help you:
The Beyond Busy OS - Coming in Q2: Transform your leadership with over 15 years of insights and strategies for creating harmony in work and life. Join the waitlist here.
Beyond Busy Mentor 1:1 Session: Tailored, actionable support to elevate your game in leading with harmony. Schedule your session now.
Here’s to creating beautiful harmony in our lives and leading with impact,
Howard
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