It’s time to surrender in the war between chamber work life and your personal life.
The pipe dream that balance is possible is dead. Work life, in most cases, is the victor. This is a sad thing for those who drew that line and lost.
But for the rest of us who enjoy what we do, it becomes such a large part of us that we don’t differentiate between the two. We declared a cease fire and are the better for it. Here’s how you can too.
9-5 was a Funny Movie. It No Longer Fits the Way We Work.
Chamber professionals know the day doesn’t end at 5. Those who think that, don’t last in the industry very long.
You can choose to draw a line (in the sand, or in the snow as may be the case for some) and secure your borders between work and personal, but sometimes that fight becomes more exhausting than the actual task at hand.
The way to love the chamber industry is not by drawing lines but embracing the freedoms that are possible and making your chamber work / life easier.
Technology
While some people chose to blame technology for work hours extending well into the night, others appreciate technology for what it does — let’s us work from anywhere.
Technology frees us, by loosening our desk shackles.
Flex Time
I was inspired to write this post because of a discussion in the Chamber Professionals Group on Facebook regarding working on President’s Day. The topic is one I think about a lot as I’m working late into the night at my own business. I have the flexibility as a solopreneur to go to my child’s school play and then work later in the evening. I don’t bemoan the fact I’m writing at 11:30 p.m. Instead, I appreciate the opportunity to watch a 7-year old say his lines in such a monotone, rehearsed way that it makes only a parent beam with pride.
Jason Camis, President and CEO of the Gardner Edgerton Chamber of Commerce best put into words this changing view of business versus personal and the new way to work:
Honestly I think chambers, along with many other businesses, need to change their philosophy of its “chamber/work” time vs. “my” time. In today’s day and age we are almost always on and I rarely separate my personal time from my work time. I like it that way too, since it means when I want to skirt out early for a kids event or go to opening day or play golf, I do and I don’t worry about missing time because I give it back on days off when I choose to go in or on weekends when I swing by to do some filing, etc. To me chambers should be an example of what a 21st century workplace can be and flexibility is key, because it’s what many young professionals want.
Off but Connected
Are you a stalwart clinging to a “me time” versus “my job time” mentality? If so, you may find you’re in the minority very shortly because while Millennials do believe in taking personal time, they stay connected. If you’re not available, what will that mean for your working relationship?
Join this very interesting conversation about the future of work here.
