I have to warn you…this week I am writing about something that I certainly am not an expert on. Not even close. It’s something that I’m trying to do better. Sometimes I come close, but most times I fail. I know it’s important to do, but when work piles up it’s something that seems almost impossible to achieve.

I hear the same from many people so I know I’m not alone with this and know that many will relate, and some of the comments that relate to this come from many of the “seasoned veteran” leaders from around the community. This week I hope to help some people that may also be in my boat as I will also look for help from others that can relate and do a much better job than me. So this will be a short article, but hopefully will provide some great value to me and many others in the future.

It’s Monday afternoon and I am sitting down to write this week’s article. I’m mulling over a few topics that I’ve been thinking about. I’m looking at what kind of articles I’ve written over the past month or so to keep the topics at least somewhat even between marketing, sales, networking and attitude. But this week’s article really doesn’t fall into any of those categories. On the blog, this article will be filed under “Uncategorized.”

To my right are the job folders of projects that are going on and a flock of coffee mugs and soda cups that I need to take downstairs. To my left is a never ending to-do list of websites and other projects to start working on, notes of follow-up calls to make this week and four 3-inch high stacks of business cards that I’ve acquired over the past few months that haven’t been scanned in to my Outlook Contacts yet. And there on the corner of my desk is a row of books that I reference and some that I need to read yet.

But just to the left of my screen is perhaps the biggest and most important reminder of something that needs some attention. It is a picture of me with my beautiful wife and our two girls. (Actually, it’s more like one daughter and one diva!) What is it that I need to do? Achieve balance.

In the next week we will have two anniversaries – wedding and first date. We’ve been together for five years now and cannot believe how fast it’s gone! They say that time flies when you’re having fun. It has been fun, but it’s also been busy. All my girls have been great and very understanding of the late nights and early mornings. They know that there is a lot of work that always needs to be done so they don’t really complain.

But therein lies the riddle – for me and I’m assuming for many others: Achieving balance between working hard to both provide for your family and over-the-top service for your customers while carving out more consistent time to spend with your family. It seems like it should be such a simple riddle to solve, but your insight and experience is very welcomed and appreciated. Please e-mail your pearls of wisdom to workinghard@helpingusellu.com and let me know if it is ok to share them with everyone in a future newsletter.