How does Cynthia Kay* define work-life integration? She doesn’t. As the founder and owner of Cynthia Kay & Co and the author of Small Business for Big Thinkers, she says work and life are all connected and there’s no separation. As a small business owner for 28 years in a highly technical field, she reinvents her business regularly and has evolved in the way she manages her work-life. Her vantage point is unique because of her experience with her own small business and her experience with lots (and lots and lots) of client corporations over the years.
- Work During Vacation Days. Cynthia’s strategy to ensure a successful vacation? Work every day. Really. And it makes perfect sense. Each day of her recent vacation to Phoenix, she got up early and handled her work responsibilities and then she was free to focus on the fun of the day. Staying on top of her work helped ensure that she wouldn’t be deluged when she got back, nor would she miss critical responsibilities while she was gone. Some people scoff, but the bigger lesson here is to do what works for you. Work-life integration is nothing if it’s not about making your own choices and managing boundaries in the ways that are best for you.
- Turn Off the Device. The flip side of working on vacation is not working on vacation. Cynthia has learned to turn off her device when she’s done working and to separate from work effectively. She communicates with her staff and her customers about her availability. She works when she needs to, but has also found that people are understanding and appreciative of her need to be away now and then. Instead of being managed by her device, she manages it.
- Work when it Works. Cynthia has also learned to pay attention to how she’s feeling and to be flexible about how and when she accomplishes her work. She’s discovered that she’s more productive if she can make room for relaxation during some days. If she has a lull in the schedule, she’ll leave the office early and get away, and then turn back on in the evening. Instead of shaping her work around the clock, she shapes her work around her energy levels. Her productivity and effectiveness are higher this way – when she’s energized for the tasks in front of her.
- Choose for Tomorrow. When she provides coaching to her young interns, Cynthia recommends they choose jobs not based on today’s responsibilities but based on where the business is going and based on whether they see themselves growing with it. Consider the future potential and whether you want to make a contribution to shaping the business of tomorrow.
- Don’t Stay Too Long. Cynthia says that a mistake she sees people make is that of staying too long. She says that it’s a good thing to move on when you’re no longer challenged or when you’ve outgrown an organization. Burnout is a significant factor for many people she knows – whether they are running their own businesses or working for someone else. There are risks with moving on, of course. But they are worth it.
Overall, Cynthia’s lesson is to find something you love to do, because when you love what you do, it will never be a burden. Words to live by!
*Cynthia Kay is the founder and owner of Cynthia Kay & Co, an advocate for small business, speaker, and author of Small Business for Big Thinkers: Unconventional Strategies to Connect with and Win Big Business.
Would you like to tell your story? If so, let me know by emailing me at tbrower108@gmail.com. Why? One of the foundations of Bringing Work to Life is abundance: the idea that it is possible to find fulfillment, have it all, and avoid the trade-offs between work and life. After all, work and life aren’t separate things to be placed in containers, but part of an integrated whole of a satisfying life. Another foundation of Bringing Work to Life is the idea of multiple right answers. As we’re all seeking ways to bring work to life – and bring life to work – we can learn from each other’s unique solutions and stories. I’d love to learn about your story!
Tracy Brower is the author of Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work: A Guide for Leaders and Organizations.