“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
– Unknown
A few months ago I met with a friend who wanted me to help her with her finances. According to her, she never has any money and was getting very stressed because of it. She didn’t ask me for money, but instead, wanted me to help her create a personal budget to make some changes in her life.
During our conversation, something peculiar occurred to me. I looked at her and asked, “don’t you manage a multi-million budget at work?”
“Yes, I do.” she responded, “I guess this is different? I never thought about my own budget.”
Many times we acquire great skills at work – skills we probably didn’t have before we began working. Such work skills can include strategies on finance, accounting, time management, organization, leadership, management, and teamwork or communication skills. What still fascinates me is that time after time I meet someone (or it can be someone I already know) who has a personal struggle that they totally nail at work. Below is a list I produced of things that many people do well at work but, for some reason, don’t do a good job at home.
1. Manage a Budget
As discussed in the introduction above, there are many people who are responsible for handling lots of money at work, but for some reason can’t or don’t manage their personal finances. Money management is a great skill to have and many of us have acquired it. Use that skill to take control of your spending, your budget and your credit. Mimic the way you look over numbers at work and the way you make decision. Practice doing the same at home.
2. Organizing Yourself
A few years ago, I had lunch with a friend and his co-worker. To my shock, his co-worker praised my friend on his strong organization skills. I didn’t say a word but continued to listen. I’ve known my friend for more than 5 years and within our close circle of friends we always labeled this friend as “awfully unorganized”. We considered my friend to be messy and the one who could never find anything. He was also late in paying most of his bills. I knew my friend well because him and I were also roommates for some time. Organization is another great skill to have. Transfer that skill on to your personal life and, just like you do at work, you will become more productive at home.
3. Following Up
Year ago, I held the title of a Program Manager and my biggest goal at work was to acquire and retain new business for the company. Anyone that has ever been in sales knows that frequent follow up is key to getting a sale. I did a great job at work, but did a terrible job following up with friends and family. At work, I used to respond to our stakeholders in less than 24 hours. At home, if a relative called me or a friend sent me a text message, they most likely would not hear back from me at all. The people outside of work are very important to you, probably more important than the people you’re trying to sell to. Apply the same rules at home as you do at work. Be responsive at home, be accessible and make sure you return phone calls.
4. Managing Your Time
Productivity is important at work. Many of us use an Outlook calendar to schedule our time at work and we try to stick to it as much as we can. We include meetings, tasks, projects and more meetings in our calendar. However, many of us don’t use those same techniques within our personal life. We don’t schedule our life! Plan a date with your significant other, schedule the time when you’ll pay your bills, don’t forget your little cousin’s birthday party, and schedule some time to grow personally. You will accomplish more in life if you apply the same time management strategies you use at work.
5. Exercising Your Patience
I had a niece that used to work at a fast food chain. If you’ve worked in retail, fast food or a restaurant, you know how patient you must be with customers. At work, my niece demonstrated strong customer services skills and possessed great patience when speaking to customers. However, at home, my niece was another person. At home, my niece couldn’t wait for anything and everything else (from her sisters to her parents) seemed to bother her. Patience is a great virtue. At work we become very patient with clients, co-workers and our boss. It shouldn’t be any different at home. Why does it suddenly change at home? Take the same measures and effort you apply at work to your family and friends and you will be happier. There shouldn’t be a difference.
Are you a different person at work as you are at home? I always believed you should always exercise the great qualities you were given as a human being, no matter where you are. In fact, I think these qualities are much more needed at home than at work.
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