Harvard Business Publishing

Now hold on, you're forgetting a major, major thing here, which is that the one thing we can't change is time. There are only 24 hours in a day and there's not a thing we can do about it. You talk about all these things we can do that will make us better at other things but there are only so many things we can do. We have to make choices. So Kenneth, if he's a real person, decided to join a nonprofit board. What did he have to say no to so he could join that board?

Hi Mark, Thanks for your comment. Yours is the immediate concern I hear from clients and students every day. Of course time matters. What else do we have but time, after all? And, yes, we have to make choices about where, when and how to invest our time. What I've seen in my Total Leadership program, with experiments like Kenneth's, is that when you get really clear about what's important, then find out what the people around you actually expect from you (not what you think they do), and then intelligently experiment with the way you get things done, then you make smarter choices and your performance and satisfaction improves, in all four domains of life. Not convinced? Learn more about results we've seen at www.totalleadership.org. /Stew

The Total Leadership principles set a strong foundation for sustainable change in all domains of your life. As a TL student, I focused in on my stakeholders and got real with their actual expectations of me - not just what I perceived or imagined they expected of me. Plus, I learned to create synergies among my domains to make the limited time I have for each domain more robust. TL breaks the myth of work/life balance! As an alumni coach, I've seen the TL program work for people of varied backgrounds and interests. Simple, focused experiments lead to long term, sustainable changes in your life.

You know, I have to agree with Mark here... I used to participate with a community program for at risk youth, and sat on the board of directors for this organization, as well. And, as much as I found it to be very personally (self) rewarding, was of great benefit with my work, and of course, fulfilled my community need- I did need to give up something to make it work. It was my home time that needed to give in order to coordinate meeting times and activities. I did eventually have to leave the community program due to increased travel committments with work, but I must say, I do miss it! I think I need to start with a 'Small Experiment' to work myself back into the Four Ways!

Hi Marisa, It's not easy, and sometimes sacrifices are necessary. The important thing, I've found, is to be seeking those four-way wins, and when you're on the lookout for them, you're more likely to find ways of fitting the pieces together in ways that work not just for one part, but for all four. In your case, then, I'm wondering whether there might be some way to make your community involvement a "win" for your home life. You'll have a better idea about this after thinking through then talking about what your community involvement means to you, and how you see it benefitting your "key stakeholders" at home, then listening carefully to what they actually tell you about this. These stakeholder dialogues are at the heart of the Total Leadership process, and they're essential for gaining real buy-in and support in bringing others along with you. Thanks for posting, and keep us posted on what happens next! /Stew

hi,
I'm a student fast approaching university and was wondering how I could adapt these ideas into a university envirnoment and also how new gradutes can develop these skills in a new firm with so many financial pressure i.e university debts that make them revert back to the balancing act, opting to focus more on work than other areas of their lives

Great question, Richard, and it's one I hear all the time. Let me try to answer by asking another of you: If you don't start now, doing whatever's in your power to pursue the things that matter most to you, when will you?

The First Step to a Richer Life A mouse that squeaked, the mouse that roared, and the mouse got oiled was put into the ship to the moon. I simply do not understand, being lenient? What is leniency is not understood by me, therefore I must to look at the other side and see what the richer life is. Let me talk. I see being kind is very good as I get back in turn somehow. But there is a limit to who I am kind to. I have experienced that being better and give, gives me more. No. This is not preaching religion. It is the law of nature.
I thank you
Firozali A. Mulla