24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week. Junior investment bankers regularly work 80-90 hours a week. Many other high profile professions require the same level of commitment. Often those on the outside claim that working 80-90 hours a week is bad/wrong/terrible/silly/etc but we’ve spoken with so many folks who say working that much has been the best decision of their life – it allowed them to develop a deep and strong skill set far faster than would have been possible otherwise. In other words, by working 2x the hours, they were able to generate 5x or more the rewards. And depending on where you are in your career, investing heavily in your skills and competence can pay dividends for a long time.

Casey Handy Smith | Entertainment & Business Attorney

When I first started my business, my focus was solely on making my business succeed and many aspects of my personal life took a back seat. Over the years, that has changed drastically. I’ve learned that in business there will always be a next level to aspire to, and to enjoy the journey along the way. Now, I thrive off of balancing my personal life (family, friends, health, etc.) with my business! Having the right balance has allowed me to work much smarter instead of harder, and as a result I’ve been able to scale my business much quicker in a way that feels good to me and those around me. Read more>>

Christina Oneal | Founder, Dash Personal Assistant & Concierge Services

There was a point in time when I thought that there was a one size fits all approach to work-life balance. I assumed I could just figure out some schedule that worked to give equal amounts of time to the important components in my life. In the early days of starting my business, the problem became very apparent that this approach is not only unrealistic, but also ungratifying. I was somewhat obsessed with my work and extremely busy getting everything up and running. I believed that I had to hustle all the time to be successful. I know differently now. It’s being consistent with small tasks that move the needle forward and leads to big goals. In order to show up as your most productive self, you have to nourish the other areas of your life. I’ve learned to prioritize. I’ve learned when to say no. Read more>>

Pauline Schloesser | Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher

Work and Life Balance has changed: When I first opened Alcove Yoga, the work / life balance was a real challenge. I tried to do everything myself, and it got to be too much. It’s difficult in the beginning because if you’re bootstrapping your own business, you don’t have much money to invest in services to help your business. It made me have less time for family and other pursuits and made me feel overwhelmed at times. Gradually I learned to start working with businesses that service business, so that I could spend more time on teaching in my business and less on administration, accounting, and computer work. The most important thing I do for my business is teach. I teach Iyengar Yoga, which is a rigorous method coming from the late Yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar and his family. Read more>>

Tat H. | Web,Digital Designer & Product Photographer

I am not sure the perfect balance actually exists. Life is messy and I feel we all can see such reality of life in 2020. Focusing on what really matters rather than trying to perfect that balancing act is a lot less overwhelming to me personally. Setting a realistic expectation, having an ability to adjust, get help where needed and be flexible are mostly important. We have limited number of hours each day and it’s impossible to try to do everything by myself. Otherwise you can go crazy and exhaust yourself quickly. I’ve learned to prioritize and get help both in life and business. That has been a big game changer. After all, understanding that life isn’t perfect and it never will actually helps set things into perspectives. Things can be messy. Learning to go with the flow, give yourself time and love when you hit the bumps, have strong faith and keep trying the best you can. Read more>>

Annette Le Pavec | Yoga instructor & Tutor

I prefer to think about work/life harmony rather than work/life balance. There is more ease and fluidity. In the work/life balance there is always a bit of struggle. Finding harmony between work and life requires questioning and reassessing yourself continuously. Changes are scary for many. We are very attached to the old, including our” old good pain”. The fear of disappointing others is very strong. And pretending takes lots of energy. Who are you trying to impress?This is a question I ask myself often. It’s a good start toward more harmony , truthfulness, and less struggle. Mahatma Grandi once said: “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” I like that. This the path. Read more>>

Jesse Alexander Kantu | Painter & Sculptor

Being an artist can be very difficult sometimes, finding the time to create Art can be tough when you are working full time. I definitely believe in taking time to decompress and create new imagery every chance I get. It can’t all be about work, you’d drive yourself crazy. I try to stay in a place of neutrality, understanding that there is a given time for a given task, and try not to let one task run into the other. I think over time you appreciate the freedom more and more and you understand that working gives you the ability to produce what you really want out of life. Read more>>