39. Are professional success and a fulfilling personal life mutually exclusive? ; f' y. w$ n4 i, n8 {
Probably not, although it is more difficult today to achieve both.6 Q% O/ n- F+ J( d% ^3 x; ^1 P$ K6 @
Undeniably, today's professionals must work long hours to keep their heads above ! S# o% R3 T: ^" T/ l
water, let alone to get ahead in life financially. This is especially true in Japan, where
% z/ J3 J& }& W/ P" A$ {8 ccost of living, coupled with corporate culture, compel professional males to all but ) i9 ^) H% ]" q4 v7 m
abandon their families and literally to work themselves to death. While the situation
# L! [3 I- Z! T. h+ s l: Where in the states may not be as critical, the two-income family is now the norm, not by 8 V5 U! O& X; N: s* H
choice but by necessity.
" o; v: l) D3 p+ m7 c' k However, our society's professionals are taking steps to remedy the problem. First,
6 j. _8 O# H$ v ~2 d: ~! P! T9 Xthey are inventing ways—such as job sharing and telecommuting—to ensure that
( k. q, @. b9 O- tpersonal life does not take a backseat to career. Second, they are setting priorities and ; w6 r; d' V9 q( o' |$ _# T
living those hours outside the workplace to the fullest. In fact, professional success ' @' b0 Q# C% e) E
usually requires the same time-management skills that are useful to find time for family, ; D, E4 e0 x* c2 H" {. ?: O) E" q
hobbies, and recreation. One need only look at the recent American presidents--Clinton, ! A% m- M8 V$ K% q: h
Bush, Reagan, and Carter—to see that it is possible to lead a balanced life which
% N6 \6 s6 F' y1 E! Y4 lincludes time for family, hobbies, and recreation, while immersed in a busy and
% I; R+ }4 O! F4 ~successful career. Third, more professionals are changing careers to ones which allow # k# B2 z" u* K. u2 a
for some degree of personal fulfillment and self-actualization. Besides, many
1 f; b) `! Z' v6 Bprofessionals truly love their work and would do it without compensation, as a hobby.
/ ?4 Q; x4 E4 u. z& u7 AFor them, professional fulfillment and personal fulfillment are one and the same.4 _ F3 h5 X5 ?5 V5 `
In conclusion, given the growing demands of career on today's professionals, a
3 F: P' C: S8 Y, f3 C0 Efulfilling personal life remains possible by working smarter, by setting priorities, and by 5 d+ q, Y2 t! g5 V3 J# A' @8 j
making suitable career choices. |