Thanks ... and Beware, Superwomen!

Thanks to those who have blogged about the work-life balance today. You raised some excellent points.Sabrina started us off this morning asking us to think about where we place our loyalties to career and family.

Emily mentioned, "I know for me personally, if I was a mom of three children, had a dog, and a household to run, I would not want the extra responsibility of being a CEO of a large PR firm."

Alyssa asked, "For men, 'wanting it all' is applicable to accomplishment in their careers, where as women still find a fulfilling home life to be a major part of life’s success. Is it so wrong for women to also 'want it all' in a business capacity while putting a house and children on hold?"

See my comments to Emily and Stephanie earlier in the blog today. I for one dedicated a lot of time and energy to my career, and enjoyed professional success as a result. However, the time this took away from my wife and children represents a distinct "downside." Looking back I realize I should have done a better job balancing my priorities, even if it meant giving up some of the time I spent trying to succeed in my career. At this point in my life, I appreciate how important it is to succeed at being a parent, spouse, family member, etc. Think about this as you begin your careers.

Also, for women, be careful of the "superwoman syndrome" ... trying to "have it all" in terms of career, family, personal life, etc. You risk burnout if you stay on that track. Click here to read an interesting advice column by a marketing professional, which appears on a Microsoft Business site. Also click here to read another column about "superwomen" in a British newspaper.

Finally, keep blogging. By the end of the week we should have gained some amazing insights into gender and leadership!

Thanks,

Mark