Paula is one of the world’s leading biz development coaches for lawyers, entrepreneurs & service providers; award-winning author & speaker.
getty
You’re a successful professional. You’ve worked hard, risen in the ranks, perhaps even started your own business. You’re respected by your colleagues and in your community. You’re earning a good living.
But if you’re like so many professionals whom I’ve spoken to over the years, there is sometimes a quiet voice in the back of your head wondering, “Is this all really worth it?”
From years and years of work with my private coaching clients, I can tell you that if you’re hearing this voice, it’s usually because you’ve developed a habit of putting your career ahead of all your other priorities in life. Let me tell you… it doesn’t have to be that way!
So I ask you—despite all your success professionally, do you ever feel like you’ve lost yourself along the way? Like you’ve had to sacrifice just about everything that’s important to you, including your health, your hobbies, your time or sometimes even your family? All of it, forced to take a back seat because you’ve been so focused on your career?
Well, you don’t have to choose between your career and the rest of your life. It really is possible to create a life that you love, while still succeeding in business. In this article, I am going to share three tips to help you do it.
1. Make time for the things that really matter to you.
Every single one of us struggles to find enough time in the day to get through our to-do list. You’re not alone! I work with my clients not to find more time in the day—because that’s impossible—but to re-think their priorities and ensure they’re making time for the things that really matter.
One of my clients, an attorney named James, was overwhelmed and burned out because he was working all the time—and when he wasn't working, he was checking his email in case something happened at work. There was no time for him to have a social life or pursue his hobbies.
We said no more! James began to make time for his priorities. In the last few years, he’s been able to take a series of two-week vacations to places like Paris and Scotland. He also made time to marry the love of his life and enjoy a honeymoon afterward.
And guess what… his business didn’t suffer. In fact, it continued to grow. Today James is happier, more relaxed and as successful as he’s ever been. The key was deciding that he needed time away from work, scheduling it into his calendar and then figuring out how to make the business work without his constant presence. It seemed impossible, but now he’s doing it.
2. Follow your own north star.
Remember, you get to decide what happiness looks like for yourself—nobody else gets to make that decision. Another of my clients, Karen, was rapidly rising through the ranks at the IRS. But she wasn’t happy. And so she made the courageous decision to start her own business and structure her life in such a way that she could spend time with her husband and daughter.
It took time, planning and creativity, but she’s done it! Her practice is thriving and she enjoys plenty of quality time with her family. And it was all because she had the courage and the self-awareness to say, “This path isn’t for me,” and make a bold change.
What’s your north star? Are you building the life you really want to live? Or are you building your life based on the expectations of those around you? Don’t be afraid to make a change.
3. Structure your career to support your personal goals.
For years, I wanted to spend more time with my mother in Denver. The problem was, I lived in Miami and my business made it very hard for me to get away consistently. Then, one day, I had a thought. What if I developed a coaching practice in Denver, too?
So I did. And for years, I spent one week every other month in Denver. I was able to build a financially lucrative practice and I was able to spend priceless time with my mother consistently. My business became a tool, helping me build a life that I loved, rather than a burden holding me back.
I share these stories because I want you to know it really is possible. You really can be successful in your career without sacrificing the rest of your life. I’ve done it, I get to see my clients do it day in and day out, and I know you can do it, too.
Decide what your priorities are. Make time for them. Follow your own north star—don’t let other people tell you what your life is “supposed” to look like. Develop your career so that it supports your goals in life instead of holding you back. Trust me—it really is possible.
Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
