For the professional or executive in the high-paced technology industry, work-life balance is often a frequent topic.  I recently finished reading Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi, one of my favorite all-time business books, and he had the best advice I’ve seen when asked what is the appropriate work-life balance.  He argues that there is no right balance … the right balance is unique for everybody.  When you get it, you feel fulfilled and have equilibrium with yourself, your family and your profession.

So I wanted to pose a poll to my readers … how would you prioritize the following:

  • Work
  • Family
  • Health

First, think how you would prioritize work, family and health, then highlight with your mouse the text that follows, where I argue what I think is the “right” priority for these three areas of one’s life. Then feel free to agree or disagree with my position.

Ok, start highlighting here:

The correct priority in my view is: 1. Health  2. Family  3. Work

I once got into an argument with my sister as to why I would put my own health before the well-being of my family.  My basic response was that if you are dead because you don’t take care of yourself, then you aren’t going to do much good for your family. The best analogy I have found is with the oxygen mask demonstration that flight attendants do at the beginning of many flights.  They always tell those traveling with children to put the mask on themselves first, then put one on the child.

[Note: If you aren't using your mouse to highlight the text, then you are just staring at a big blank spot!]

Health in my definition, includes physical and mental health.  Mental disabilities can be just as problematic as physical trauma (depression would be an example of a mental health issue).  Again, without being sound in mind and body, one will not be at his or her best with either family or job.

Family before work will seem logical to most so I will not belabor the point. Suffice it to say that having a supportive and healthy family environment means an absence of some of the emotional problems that an unhealthy family environment generates (marital tensions, challenges with kids at school or at home).   External stresses outside the work environment clearly impact performance inside the work environment.

Anybody have a different opinion?  Or check out Seth Godin’s unique take on work-life-balance on his latest post.