Life seems to be made up of many dichotomies - worker or family man; accumulate wealth or focus on service; take care of your team or take care of your stakeholders. Does this sound familiar?

For some reason each of us are struggling with how to make sense of two seemingly opposing thoughts or concepts. How can I be a good father and a good employee? Am I doing what is best for my team or what is in the best interest of the stakeholders? Can I focus on my needs instead of focusing on getting more money and benefits? Can’t I do both?

I believe that it is important to be aware of these challenges and try to find a way to make them co-exist. We need to find a way to make all the aspects of our lives to become one coherent life. I am an employee, a husband, a son, a team member, and so on. These are not opposing forces that have to be controlled or put away during various activities in my life. I will not go into “worker mode” and neglect my wife. I will not do what is best for my boss and leave my colleagues out to dry.

So go out there and find concepts that seem to oppose and find ways to make them coherent.

Good luck,
Paul Heidema