On a scale of one to ten (one = lazy, ten = workaholic) where would you put yourself?
This is a question I inadvertently ended up asking my new friend Dana Byers yesterday. Related to this is another question. Are you more likely to be in need of taking a break or stepping up what you’re doing?
Let me just be clear. The goal is not ‘balance’. Some of the greatest strides forward, the best inventions, the most significant innovations would never have happened if these people had made it the life’s ambition to find ‘balance’.
That said, we do need to make sure that extremes in our lives don’t end up crippling us and our potential. It strikes me that neither laziness nor becoming a workaholic are helpful extremes to living a truly successful life.
It doesn’t matter who you are, true success will take hard work.
And yet, at the same time, can we call it true success if our being workaholics means we destroy our marriages, families, and friendships in the pursuit?
So let’s take some time to evaluate our lives today. Where would you be on that scale of one to ten? And what can you learn from that?
If you’re up for it, where not share what you think you are on the scale in the comments and any reflections and we can have a conversation about it?
Final thought: make sure you ask someone who knows you really well where they would put you on the scale as well. Sometimes we can be a little self-deluded!
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I like that you mention balance isn’t the goal, Sam. I agree that sometimes seasons of more work are necessary. That being said, I rated myself a 6. My husband rated me a 5! It gave me a good laugh to learn his perspective. I want to share the rest of his reply to me as it’s given me insight I’d not had before Sam posed this question.
“I would put you at a 5. I don’t think you are lazy. But I don’t think workaholic defines you. Though you don’t like to sit still and that is essentially work. And you are always doing something. It just might not always be defined as a single line of work. It is broader.”
My husband’s observation has helped me see I might gain something (don’t know what – but this ESTJ will try…at least once…) by sitting down and letting mediocre tasks wait.
OK. This is going to fun.
I personally admit that I am a workaholic! I am probably on the high end of the scale… maybe about an 8. My justification is my strengths. I have Acheiver and Competition… I just can’t help it! Also, my work is my mission and God’s call on my life, so where is the balance between being a workaholic and living totally for His plan.
My situation is that God has called me to work with Christian organizations to maximize income. So I give it everything I’ve got.
I have to admit though I have eased off a bit since moving to Europe as the lifestyle is so amazing… but, I shall send this comment some of my friends and see how they see me!!!
Well Miss Technobelimic.
I think your name is spot on. You binge on technology and then purge. If you’re purging then I think you are much more relaxed, but when you are onto something big… you are a work horse.When you are at your peek you are definitely a 10 out of 10.
Just last week you were up until 3am writing our Marketing Plan… crazy! But then again I guess you are passionate about what you do. At least with you, we know there is no half measure… which is a good thing. :0)
Mike.
I know Karen really well, and I rated her a 7 out of ten on the workaholic scale. She does work a lot, and she takes her job very seriously; but she LOVES what she does (most days) and she is naturaly a very driven person.
Karen also allows herself to take breaks, and takes time to enjoy life as well.
I would rate myself as a 5 or a 6, I have responsibility as one of my strengths so I find that I need to to my best when i work. On the other hand when I’m not at work or school I don’t really think about it or care about it to much.