Is Work Life Balance in a Startup A Good Thing?

What do you think about this (quoting a discussion at thefunded.com): I Don’t Believe in Work Life Balance as a Startup Person. Am I Wrong? In the discussion on thefunded.com, the person who asks the question is co-founder and CEO of a startup, and is working 60 hours a week. But there are problems:  I … Continue reading Is Work Life Balance in a Startup A Good Thing?

The Business Lesson on the Stairway to Heaven

What’s “the stairway to heaven” to you? Is it about God and Heaven? A metaphor for business growth, maybe? I think of the Led Zeppelin song and a picture on the album cover something like the one here. It’s a long stairway heading up into the sky, with landings or stopping points, and changes of … Continue reading The Business Lesson on the Stairway to Heaven

This New Year’s Resolution is About Time

On this last working day of this year, staring 2011 in the face, I’m reminded: Time is the scarcest resource. Don’t waste it. In the 1987 Wall Street movie, as they board his private jet, Gordon Gekko tells Bud Fox: Real wealth is not having to waste time. Meanwhile, somebody suggested to me that we … Continue reading This New Year’s Resolution is About Time

True Story: Home is Where Business is Good

We were in our early twenties, and he was in his late forties. We knew him as the quintessential Oregon lover, born and raised in Oregon, running a lumber business, loving the advantages and ignoring the disadvantages of living in Eugene. He was smart, successful, and very easy to like. We both liked and admired … Continue reading True Story: Home is Where Business is Good

Choose Your Own World View. Pick One.

Sometime around the middle of last week I published the following quote from Walt Disney: A man should never neglect his family for business Somebody who read that quote followed up by asking me: Yes, it’s possible, but you need to apply common sense too, no? That comment started me thinking. And I ended up … Continue reading Choose Your Own World View. Pick One.

10 Tips for Saving Your Life From Your Business

Your business or your life? The nagging question comes up a lot. Recently I saw this startling statement: Maximizing your chance for success means sacrificing health and family. That was in this post by Jason Cohen on VentureBeat. He’s serious. He quotes Mark Cuban and one other successful entrepreneur. He says you can’t get it … Continue reading 10 Tips for Saving Your Life From Your Business

Research Agrees: Time is the Scarcest Resource.

I was going to do another strategy piece this morning, in keeping with the time for planning theme I’d thought I was doing for this week. But no. We can do business strategy next year. Instead, for this last work day of this long and less-than-stellar year, let’s please enjoy, now, this excellent new research … Continue reading Research Agrees: Time is the Scarcest Resource.

Your Business is No Excuse for Being an A**hole

To be honest, I thought it was a joke; irony, perhaps, or sarcasm. But no, to my surprise, I clicked on Love Your Business More Than Your Family, a column on entrepreneur.com, and he’s serious. Author George Cloutier says: Your cell phone is for keeping in touch with clients and sales managers in the field, … Continue reading Your Business is No Excuse for Being an A**hole

Take a Break. Get Out for a While. Do Something for Yourself.

I really like Anita Campbell’s How to Put the Life Back Into Your Company post yesterday on the American Express OPEN Forum. She starts: After the past two years of the recession – watching expenses like a hawk and keeping a close eye on receivables – it wouldn’t be surprising if you ended up with … Continue reading Take a Break. Get Out for a While. Do Something for Yourself.