Asset Services Insights - Fall 2016

Personally, I have maintained my sanity by understanding that work-life balance is fluid and varies over days, weeks, and months. Whether faced with work challenges or personal challenges, one must always adapt—this is the key to successfully managing your life. The right balance when I was a single parent was quite different than it is today. I believe the right balance for anyone today will probably be very different for them tomorrow. If you wake up one day and say to yourself, “Look what I have achieved!”, but realize you did not enjoy the journey—then you have not gotten it right. You have to find a way to achieve your goals AND enjoy—at work, with family and friends, and most importantly yourself. SANDRA BOYLE N. California City Lead, Asset Services

LORIE DAMON Healthcare Practice Group Lead

My challenge finding a healthy work-life balance was more prevalent on weekdays when my children were younger, due to my long commute. Very, very early mornings meant I always missed the mornings with them, and the long evening commute often meant I showed up to soccer games late still wearing my suit. We planned fun family vacations where, if I absolutely had to, I would wake up early to catch up on work while my family was still sleeping. Now my daughters are all away at college, and although the commute is still not fun, my wife and I really try to enjoy the weekends together. We hike, visit the vineyards, and go see movies. It gets easier! BEN COMM Washington, D.C. City Lead, Asset Services

LEIGH GRIFFIN Vice President, Asset Services

Work-life balance is a struggle, made more challenging by a heavy travel schedule. My “containment strategies” to keep work from taking over my life includes trying not to travel on Mondays and Fridays, so I have some dedicated time at home that’s predictable. I absolutely, positively do not allow devices at the dinner table. Period. I strive to make time to exercise. Rest is very important; I need at least seven hours of sleep. When I am traveling, I try to use “gate-waiting time” for something restorative rather than checking email, having conference calls and the like. Yet, best of all, for emergencies I believe in retail therapy.

When I started my family, work-life balance seemed like an unachievable notion. I soon met other female decision makers in the industry who were managing to “juggle it all”; it was inspiring! I decided to alter my way of thinking, fight the guilt, and create a plan that worked for my family. I’ve come to realize that it’s most important to be present in the moment, whether its work or family, and that it’s okay to be selfish sometimes.

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