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.

Chalon Clark | Lawyer and Interior Designer

Early in my career, I constantly prayed for and sought “work life balance” and complained that I did not have enough personal free time. Now that I have three babies under the age of 5, and there is literally no such thing as personal time, I look back and laugh at myself. Being a parent and excelling in your career works muscles you didn’t even know you had and increases your capacity. You become more efficient and get more done in less time simply because you have no other choice. But in addition to that, Read more>>

Grant Zubritsky | Musician, Music Director, Producer

Work/life balance is on my mind even more now that it ever was before Covid. Starting out as a musician in Brooklyn in the late 00’s, I didn’t have much of a balance, and I think that was because I had a lot of big goals I wanted to accomplish. I haven’t necessarily accomplished all of those goals, but I think I’ve recognized that I need my career to be sustainable. Some of those goals have shifted, and others have gone away entirely because I’m more interested now in being a musician for my entire life rather than burning out after 5, 10, or 15 years. I still think I work hard at my career, but am just more mentally comfortable with the down time and personal time. Read more>>

Haley Morgan Miller | Interdisciplinary Artist, Choreographer, Dancer, & Teacher

Growing up as a dancer or in any activity that requires tremendous outside of school hours can create a flow where it’s difficult to set this boundary between work and life. I danced 5 days a week after school in high school, and in college I worked 3-4 days a week after a full day of classes from early morning to afternoon. Because my life had always functioned in this method I never really experienced a true balance on the life side of the spectrum. When covid hit I was actually thankful for that initial moment of rest to sit down and reevaluate what works for me and why. Read more>>

Hunter Harkins | Willow Craft Goods

Work-life balance is a funny one when you have your own thing going. You never really clock out and call it done; yet I’m never wishing for it to be over either. For myself personally, I split my time between my part time hours as a Telecom Director and Willow Craft Goods. The Telecom Director hours are set, while Willow Craft is fit in certain days of the week and wherever else possible. Read more>>

Amie Villa | Boutique Owner & Flight Attendant

This is a great question. When I started this small business I was all over the place. I really didn’t know how I would split my time up. I was seven months pregnant with two toddlers, and in the middle of the pandemic. So starting off I was already being challenged. I am also a flight attendant which can make things difficult at times since I am out of town two-three days a week. Read more>>

Natalie Fuson | Graphic Designer & Creative Director

I have often struggled with feeling “balanced” as a person who loves to work and has a tendency towards being a work-acholic. It wasn’t until more recently, 7+ years into owning my own business, that I came to terms with the fact that there is no simple formula for achieving “perfect balance”. Each and every day looks different in order to achieve a balanced feeling – some days are heavier on work, other are heavier on play. Feeling balanced looks more fluid than the rigid picture that is often portrayed. Read more>>

Lauren, Megan, Kristen | Podcasters – Realtors – Moms – Sales Mgr – Investors – SISTERS!

I believe our experiences and circumstances impact our outlook on work life balance (along with everything else in life). Most recently, Covid-19 has obviously had an incredible impact on a shift in the mindset of work life balance. Also, on a more personal level, losing our mom in a tragic car accident in October of 2020 is a deep loss experience that has shifted our thoughts on many things, including work life balance. It’s given us a very real perspective of life and how little control we actually have. Living with the end in mind keeps us in check. When our final day here on earth comes, Read more>>