Category: work life balance

Winsight Episode 6: Don’t Be a Street Sweeper

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[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/winsight/06_Winsight_Episode_6_-_Dont_Be_a_Street_Sweeper.mp3]

 

On our street every Friday a street sweeper comes by and supposedly cleans the side of the road near the curb. Call me cynical, but that machine has to be the biggest waste of money known to man. All it does is swirl the dirt and debris in the air and spray some water down. It doesn’t actually pick anything up or clean the area. In fact, it seems like the only purpose is to catch people who don’t read the parking signs and give them a ticket. To me, the only winner here is the city.

In today’s episode I’ll discuss why a street sweeper is similar to how we live our lives. We’ll cover the following points:

  • Why being “busy” isn’t a good thing
  • What a rocking horse has to do with motion vs. progress
  • Where relaxing went wrong and prioritizing went right
  • Why money isn’t the most important currency anymore

So after learning about how you can be a street sweeper sometimes, what are “busy” doing? Please share your thoughts below!

street sweeper, street cleaning, parking ticket, parking violation, no street parking, santa monica parking, being busy

Winsight Episode 4: Successfully Failing

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[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/winsight/04_Winsight_Episode_4_-_Failure.mp3]

 

A successful failure? Seems like an oxymoron huh? But actually it’s not.

In this episode learn how failure is essential to success. Here is what is covered:

  • Failure is simply a numbers game. Learn how to play it and win.
  • What a baseball players batting average has to do with your success
  • The myth of risk and why resting your past successes is a recipe for disaster
  • Insanity, growth and what regret can do to your soul

How willing are you to fail? Share your number and why you chose it below. Remember transparency is part of growing.

no risk no reward, failing forward, john maxwell, failure and success, entrepreneur, fail then succeed, success stories

Why You Need a Side Hustle

Scott Asai10 Comments

Everyone needs a side hustle. It’s not optional, it’s mandatory. Why?

Here are 3 reasons:

1. The Economy has changed forever

2.  You can’t put all your eggs in one basket

3.  Boredom

side hustle, everyday i'm hustlin', rick ross, katt williams

Currently, we’re in an economic recession, but your professional life going forward will never be the same. The definition of “security” (or the perception of) has changed. Long gone are pensions, retirement and 401k’s. Entering in is a longer “working” life, less long-term benefits and uncertainty. We live in a world where if you’re not looking over your shoulder for competition, you’re getting passed up yesterday. You need a side hustle because you never know when the rug will get pulled out from under you. This leads to my next point.

Just like you wouldn’t put all your assets into one stock, when it comes to your career you need to “diversify your portfolio.” Stay with the “stable” job that pays the bills, but in your free time work on your side business. The more passionate you are about monetizing a hobby, the better chance you have of turning your side gig into the main gig. Even if you never leave your primary job, it helps to have a secondary/passive income. Business is about selling (experiences and networking too) so the quicker you learn that skill, the faster you’ll see results.

That being said, we’re victims of an instant gratification society. Nothing keeps our attention for long. We’re all a little A.D.D.. So if you’re not pursuing your next “new shiny object” you’re setting yourself up for complacency and boredom. You and I are wired for: mastery, autonomy and purpose (according to Dan Pink). Translation: if you’re not able to chase your dream(s) and do it “your way,” there will always be some internal discontent.

So stop thinking about it and do something! If you haven’t started, start! If you’ve already started, keep going! When you make it a priority to always pursue your side hustle, it guarantees forward movement and personal growth. If you’re stuck and need some help moving, let’s talk.

In fact I’m offering a FREE Webinar tomorrow “Start your Side Hustle in 3 Easy Steps!“, you should check it out!

Work-Life Crisis Mode (Part 2)

Scott Asai2 Comments

Last week’s post was about “work sucks” when you’ve reached your 30’s and realized you’re not where you want to be in your career.

Today I’ll talk about why “my life sucks” when it comes to your personal life.

Not everyone’s dream is to be married and have kids, but a very large majority is. 

work life balance, life stage, time is running out, mid life crisis

It’s like a conversation I had a while back with my one my best friends, “You know you’re getting older when Crate and Barrel all of a sudden becomes cool.”

I wasn’t married at the time, but I was close. That life stage makes you think about who you want to spend the majority of your time with outside of work. You’re not in college anymore, so there aren’t a ton of single, available people on the market. You’re probably head deep in work also, which doesn’t help your dating life. 

All these factors may be stacked against you, but my question is, “What are you going to do about it?“

Easier said than done, but just because something is harder doesn’t mean you don’t try. If you are looking to settle down your best bet is a reference (same as work) to put in a good word for you to their friends. Start looking where your interests/values lie. It won’t come overnight, but it’s worth the effort.

On the other side, maybe you are married and do have kids. That’s doesn’t guarantee you’re happy (although I would have to say happiness is pretty elusive so stop chasing it). Maybe it’s not “who” you’re spending time with (family) that’s getting you down, but “how” you spend it with them. 

Who knows, maybe you’re married to your job? That could be the problem for your mid-life depression. Speaking for myself, I want my career to support the lifestyle I choose. Therefore freedom/flexibility of schedule is what I desire (here’s a link to a great article “Flexibility: the New Definition of Success“).  

You have to decide what work-life balance looks like for you. Sometimes when you’re so focused on one aspect in your life, everything else falls by the wayside. Figure out what you value most, prioritize your time and go towards that. 

When your personal life isn’t right, it doesn’t matter what you do at work. You’re just delaying the inevitable. Deal with it. Resolve it. Move on. 

If you’re having trouble and feel “stuck,” contact me.  

Work-Life Crisis Mode (Part 1)

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Everyone has an opinion about the 20 somethings and once you hit 40, you’re over the hill, but little is said about the stage in between: your 30’s. Why is that?


Maybe because once you hit your 30’s it’s “gut check” time.

It’s either “work sucks” or “my life sucks.”

Translation: I’ve been working this job for while now. I know it’s not the best fit for me, but I have no idea how to transition into something else plus I’m not willing to risk quitting my job if nothing better opens up. 
lonnie millsap, work life balance, my job sucks, comicon
Have you been there? Are you there right now?

I’ll actually cover “my life sucks” in part 2 of this post next week. 

So you’re at a crossroads where you look back at your 20’s and ask yourself, “Where did time go?” “Why didn’t I plan more?” “Is this really what work is supposed to be like?“

This is post-dreaming…it’s reality. I’ve seen this stage in a lot of my clients who want to get into a new industry, but have no idea of how to do it. It’s too much of a risk starting over, but you’re also rotting away from the inside-out if you continue to stay where you are. 

Try this perspective: do you want to look back on your life and regret not taking a chance? I don’t.

Landing a new career is not an extremely fast process, but it can happen if you’re willing to do the right things.

What are your strengths? How strong is your network? How willing are you to go through the “back door?” 

These are challenging, but necessary questions to answer in order to move forward. Everyone’s situation is different, but I believe the same process works across every industry.

If you’re at a point in your career where you need a change, but just don’t know how to make it happen, let’s talk. 

Once you have a game plan and are committed to execute it, it’s only a matter of time before things change.  

How to Actively Wait

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Sounds contradictory doesn’t it? Whether you’re job hunting, anticipating the next big customer or hoping for that promotion, here are 3 things you can do in the meantime:

Plant more seeds. Network like it’s going out of style. It’s a numbers game. The more connections you have, the better your chances to accomplish your goals. Attend networking events. Ask for introductions. Follow up like your life depends on it. You can never have too many connections. If you desire growth, never stop meeting new people.
Clarify your niche/offering. The average employer/recruiter looks at your resume for 6 seconds. That means you have a single sentence to communicate what you do. What are your strengths? What makes you unique? What is your brand? If you’re not clear, the recipient leaves confused which means you’re forgettable. Simplify your message. Now the receiver can make a decision. 
Ask for help. Seems simple, but most of the time your ego gets in the way. It’s not any less of an accomplishment if you collaborate. Can you think of one successful person who’s gone it alone? The more people you share with, the more eyes looking out for you. Think of it as a value proposition. What can you give that brings value to the customer?

Waiting is hard. Anyone who says otherwise isn’t ambitious. Timing is everything and you can’t rush that. Be proactive by reaching out, define your message and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can’t control time, but you can control how hard you prepare for the opportunity. What are you waiting for?