A host of factors, developments, and dynamics have made most industries more competitive than ever. As a result so many of us wonder whether there is still such a thing as work-life balance. We reached out to the community to hear perspectives on finding the right balance.

Madeline Mutina | Owner and Baker at Madeline’s Macarons

I’m a stay at home mom first! I love being a mother and I want to give my boys my full attention. When my load gets a little too heavy, I take a step back. I take less orders sometimes so I can be present! It’s taken me a long time to figure out that balance, but I feel great with where I’m at now. Read more>>

Sabella Reyes | Licensed Master Social Worker & President of Covert Beauty, LLC

Before I started Covert Beauty, I’d often find myself in situations where I sacrificed what I wanted for what I needed. I needed my job, I needed friends, I needed companionship and I needed to be successful. This caused me to train myself to believe that having a job I actually enjoyed, friends/companions who actually knew me, and being naturally successful were too far-fetched. I had totally neglected my need for balance! Once I realized how critical the balance between what I wanted and what I needed was to my success, I immediately began to prioritize my wants. This new balance eventually led to me making a major career change, losing a few friends, making a few enemies, committing to a marriage, moving across the country, and starting a new beauty brand! These changes will always be the reason why I fight for this balance in my life, because without it I’m not at my best. I’m convinced that every big dreamer needs this balance. Read more>>

Melvin Nelson | Logistics & Baker

In the beginning there was no balance. I was all over the places, but I learned very quickly that it is ok to take a break, its ok to stop responding to customers at an certain time. When you first start out you feel like you have to be on top of everything 24/7 not true you will burn yourself out fast. Read more>>

Jody Cornelius | Licensed Interior Designer, ASID

Balance is one of the tools you have to sharpen as you rise through life. In 2017, life became completely out of balance for me personally. I unexpectedly became pregnant with my second child, our best friend passed away from Glioblastoma and I decided to walk away from a retail business, I had built over the past nine years. I was approaching my 40th Birthday and wanted to take some time to refocus on how I wanted the next phase of my life to look like. I have always had a passion for design, and everything involved with construction. So, I knew I wanted to continue to stay in this field but not be in the retail side of design. Our best friend who, I mentioned, passed away, left his beautiful wife, Amanda Machowicz, with us. She and I have been friends for over 20 years, we actually went to high school together. Life put us both in a situation where we had design talents and time, so we decided to start buying homes to remodel and resale. Read more>>

BlackLand | Music Duo

DRANK ANTHONY: In the words of 21 Savage ALOT! When Covid hit we both were working on site at our 9 to 5. So when we got sent home we thought it would only be for maybe a week or two tops… That was March 20th of 2020. But we balanced it pretty well if I can say so. Ma’LIK: We try and make a schedule and stick to it, so with work, home life and studio time we divide the times as equally as possible. But I hate to say it at times home gets the most lol but we have managed to make it work out still. Read more>>

Jennifer Yuhas | Yogi, Yoga Teacher and Co-Owner The Atrium Yoga Studio

Work life balance, ahhh…what a big topic! I have been working since I was 15 years old. And often, multiple jobs at a time. When I look back at the meaningful family and friend events that I missed because of work, it makes my heart ache just a little. What I have come to embrace is finding a rhythm of life that aligns with my core values and not only how I want to spend my time but how I want to feel while living this life. I am fortunate that I now get to do work that I love and that also aligns with my heart’s deepest longing. The work of my life is not just a job but a chosen lifestyle. I teach yoga but more importantly, I practice yoga. And the practice of yoga for me is about daily choices that best optimize the best version of me. Read more>>

Ashleigh Thompson | Creative Nursery Owner and Designer

One of my major goals of starting my small business was that it wouldn’t cause any stress to our families current work/lift balance. I have always had a vision of balance, I see myself being successful in business, a present mom, and an engaged wife. My business was created to give me a creative outlet and still be able to succeed at those. In the beginning, I was set to put together inventory here and there, with the help of my boys or when they were napping. After a few months of being in business the demand for my products grew and I had to find more time to get everything in order. Customers were referring me to friends for private events and other small businesses were inviting me to markets. These were all wonderful things happening for my business and I had to make sure to keep up the balance. My goal of doing one event a month grew to having something every weekend. Read more>>