Page 80 - Free Yourself From

Balancing Your Work and Life 63

how to sustain and grow my business. In different ways, all these
folks help me work through my work-life issues and succeed at the
things that are most important in my personal and work lives.
Think for a minute about the people who constitute your “life-
line” and think about how they might help you in the next week as
you begin to rebalance your life and work. It’s important to remem-
ber that you have others you can call on for specific help or for moral
support. Reach out to them and let them contribute to your success!
And do the same for others who reach out to you.
In fact, that’s the one thing I think is okay to do even if it’s not on
your weekly “to-do” list—help someone spontaneously and consider
it your repayment to those who have helped you along the way!

Start Now and Don’t Worry About Being Perfect!

What, you can’t start today? Why not? Too late at night to think
about it? Too many other things to get done? Come on, the only
excuse I think is acceptable is that you’re sitting on a beach reading
this book and there’s no one in sight to loan you a piece of paper and
a pen!
Really, go back to step 1 and get started! At the very least, you
can figure out the four or five things that matter most to you this
week (at work and in life) and write down what you need to do in
the next seven days to make them happen. (And please note, a week
can begin on any day; let’s not wait until Monday!)
You can also get started with your time log. See what you notice
and be prepared to make some hard choices. My good friend used to
always say, “Fake it until you make it!” If you miss an hour on your
time log—fill it in as best you remember. The time log is a tool, a
means to an end, and not something you’ll be graded on! See what it
has to show you at the end of the week, decide what changes to make
in how you’re spending your time. Eventually, your time log will begin