Feb 19, 2009

work-life balance and Jack Welch


what kinda silly thing is that? what does a retired CEO of a large US major have to tell us about work-life balance?
NOTHING NEW, but that is exactly the point... Winning is a fabulously written book and let me tell you that i am not a great fan of management literature and do not, on purpose, read books that tend to give only their take on life, work, business and the rest, reason being that i have my own take which, i feel, is fairly rational and workable...
this is what differentiates Jack Welch. while he gives his opinion on things which make and remake global conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies, he does not forget that all of these are made possible by PEOPLE like you and me and led by people like him... he is humble enough to say that he had very ordinary beginnings, like people in middle class America in the 1960s have had, that it was only after having worked his arse off that he landed at the top job, but that did take a toll on his work-life balance... i am back to where i began from...
he says, "There are as many work-life balance equations as there are individuals. But no matter what balance you choose, you'll have to make trade-offs. After all... it is a rare and lucky person who can have it all in life, all at the same time. Usually, that's not the case. Working parents who want to be very involved in their kids' lives, for instance, often have to give up some of their ambition. People who put business success first most likely have to give up some level of intimacy with their kids.
"Work-life balance is a swap -- a deal you've made with yourself about what you keep and what you give up."
need i say more?
read the book... it is meant for anybody who is already somebody, or who dreams to be a somebody some day... it will throw up reality on your face, drawing up from facts of life that could well be yours... that's the beauty.

No comments: