The Balancing Act of Life, Family & Sales; The Law of 8’s.
Have you ever wanted to be the salesperson, employee, business owner, or just plain top producer for your company and in your market? Of course, we all do.
Have you ever wanted to be the best spouse, dad/mom, family member and friend? I bet the answer is yes, why wouldn’t you?
Have you ever wanted to live a life full of meaning? When I say meaning, I’m talking about an adventurous life of travel, expeditions, charity, volunteering and straight up living a 10X life?
So tell me this how can you be that top-producer who works long hours, is always available to their clients, staff, and management, who is 100% present in the life of their kids, spouse, family and friends and is still living a life comparable to that “Dos Equis Guy?’
I’ve tried it, and I can tell you it’s impossible to sustain for very long. Yes you can be the 10X salesperson and employee, but you’ll probably be a 4X parent, spouse and friend. Sure you can live a life that’s a 10X adventure, but you’ll probably be a 5X employee, boss or Value to your customers. The point is you can’t be everything to everyone, and wherever you dominate in your life, you will lack in other parts. There are only 168 hours in a week and chances are you’re sleeping 1/3rd of those hours.
There was a book written from a martial arts legend about living a life of 8’s. We all know 8’s are a B as far as a grade. Well I’m sure you want to get straight A’s, right? Well try and sustain straight A’s through your whole life between family, work and in the quality and enjoyment of life…
The Law of 8’s In Life
So we all want to live a life full of adventure, prosperity, acceptance and meaning. I’m here to tell you we all deserve that. The life we live is the life we set up for ourselves. Yes we will all face setbacks, challenges, opposition and disappointments. The fact is we can control how we let these affect us and our attitude. We want to give 80% in all of our efforts and everything we do in life, that’s the law of 8’s. When we half heartedly apply ourselves we are only going to put in and get out 50%. When we give 100% ultimately, eventually we will end up lacking somewhere else.
In life we need to balance our time, our energy and our focus on the things that matter most to us, so we don’t lose focus on the things that are important to us. Life is a balancing act; a tight rope per say and the higher you are, the more you have going on, the more complicated the balancing act. Remember to delegate your time accordingly, so you don’t lose your balance.
The Law of 8’s With Family
Now believe me when I tell you, I have been on both sides of this spectrum. I have had where I worked 60 hours a week selling cars, as well as another 20 hours a week training and coaching. I have lived six miles from work, and I have lived nearly 2,000 miles from work. I have been gone from home 27 days in a month, and I mean in different states and I have been home for weeks straight at a time. I can tell you it’s a balancing act that is tough on everyone involved.
Going from one extreme to another, I went from a 10X husband and dad, being there in my family’s presence, activities and routines. I then flipped the switch and was a 2X presence in my family’s life, sneaking in phone calls and FaceTime when my schedule and time zones permitted. This is not fun for me, nor my family and creates no schedule or stable process for family life. Yes, daddy’s got to make some money, but don’t live a life chasing money to have things you don’t have the time or energy to use.
Now I admit depending on what you do for work; if you travel, work odd hours, or any variance from the 9-5 schedule it’s tough to balance it all out. That’s why you have to put your priorities in order and keep your focus on The Law of 8’s. Always striving to delegate your time, energy and presence on what matters.
“The best gift you can give your children is your time and attention”
The Law of 8’s In Sales, Work & Career
The best way to give your family a comfortable life, is by making a good living. If your like most people, you want to give your children “More than you had growing up.” If this is the case, congratulations your a good parent. Yes, yes I know it takes going the extra-mile and do the things others won’t to make that life you so desire for your family happen. I agree, once again it boils down to balance…
Balance your schedule around your kids activities the very best you can. Balance your schedule around important dates that will be enjoyed and cherished as a family. Balance travel for work and family at opportune times. Balance your sanity and the feeling of those who love you; your family, with the balance of those who depend on you; clients, employees, team members or employers.
Balance, Balance, Balance
I know it is impossible to make things perfect, I know this, I’ve tried. The fact of the matter is when you focus to be an 8X spouse, and 8X parent, an 8X friend, an 8X boss, and 8X employee, it makes it easier to walk that tight rope. Now don’t get me wrong sometimes we need to take the inactive to be that 10X salesperson , stay late, go in early and work our day off, sometimes we need to be that 10X parent and take a busy day off when our kids sick, sometimes we need to be that 10X friend and fly across the country on the busiest week of our career to go to our best friends parents funeral.
I tell you this, if you shoot for a 10X life you will be lacking eventually in another area of life. If you shoot for a 8X life you will be balanced and less stressed out. The good news is when you need that 10X, you will have the energy, confidence and all the tools to 10X every situation in Life, Family and Sales.
The Choice is Yours.
“Conquer What You Chase”
Another motivational blogpost written by Noel Walsh CEO of NW&A “Conquer What You Chase” Sales Training.
“You don’t know what it’s going to be, and that’s a beautiful thing.”