Meet Rocco, a successful lawyer who hired me as an Idea Coach a couple of years ago to help him get back into writing his poetry. His idea was to publish a poetry book.
That was the beginning of a long and meaningful journey. For the past 2 years, we have had a coaching session every 4-5 months. Each coaching session helped him define his priorities and set goals with weekly actions he could achieve.
An Idea Requires 3 Steps to Make It Happen:
- Break it down into small steps.
- Create time to execute.
- Make it a priority.
I started working with Rocco as an Idea Coach, but eventually, I became his productivity coach.
It is not enough to have steps for projects, the most important thing is to know when you will be able to take action.
When we started working on finding time for his poetry project, we discovered that his job was really draining, and he had no energy left to create poetry after work. Quitting his job was not an option. He was a husband and dad, and his number one priority was being a fantastic family man. Having no energy after work encouraged him to look for other jobs and eventually, he found a new job where he felt recognized and worked regular hours.
At last month’s coaching call, he asked me if he should take on a new job with more money? He could become a partner but that would require working long hours.
While I was super excited about the new opportunities that were on the horizon for him, I had to ask him an important question.
As a productivity coach, who helps people define what is most important to them, and then create a plan how to make it happen, I had to ask, what was the price he would have to pay?
The cost for him would be that he would spend less time with his kids and his wife and there would be no time for his poetry, period.
You cannot have it all at the same time.
This is where Rocco had to be honest with himself and commit to what was most important to him. For the next year, what would make him happy? For my long-term coaching clients, I aim to provide a compelling perspective on their life as a whole. I reminded him that he had 20-30 years ahead of him in his career, but his kids are never going to be one and five-years-old, 20 years from now. I had to mention his kids because I knew as his coach, that they were his priority.
The Balance Recipe
A Balance Recipe can help you focus on what is most important while realizing what you need to ignore at that time.
Rocco’s Balance Recipe
Working regular hours, making decent money (not the highest number he could make) and being able to continue being a great husband and dad while slowly working on his poetry project. Working together we figured out what his Balance Recipe would be for the next 4-5 months, which meant he knew what was most important and what he needed to ignore during that time.
During our lifetime you will go through different phases and play different roles.
You need to take the time to define what is most important to you exactly at this phase of your life.
Perfect Balance Is A Myth
Balance is a myth. Life is always changing and we are changing with it, what we have is a never-ending balancing act.
You have to continue to work on your Balance Recipe because it is never going to be the same and you will always be distracted from what most important.
That is why it is essential to reflect, understand what is most important now and in the future and plan accordingly.
Need to create your balance recipe?
Schedule a Focus Hour to understand your balance recipe and plan your next 6 months.
