For years, I have done nothing but make sure that I will succeed in my adult life. I tried to get straight As and enter an Ivy League school; I had some fun in college, but I always stayed as far from trouble as possible. My attention was solely focused on coming out on top of my class and opening a company.
As much as I amaze people with my long-term plans, I always hear the same warnings. “If you are all work and no play, your efforts may become futile.” “Being a business owner is not an effortless job; it may not be what you genuinely want to be.” The most common one makes me wonder if I should rethink my decisions: “Many successful people are losers when it comes to love or family.”
After all, they have a point. Just look at Angelina Jolie, Tiger Woods, Elon Musk, and even Demi Lovato. They have all the fame and money that anyone can ever ask for due to their careers, but they have had more terrible relationships than great ones. Thus, it may be true that success in a career may jeopardize my ability to develop life-long connections.
Nonetheless, every time I veer towards giving up on my dream, I see the likes of Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates on TV, and my resolve becomes more potent than ever. These folks are known not only for their successful careers but also for their healthy families. Their stature in society has not prevented them from sticking to one person and becoming incredible parents.
The only remaining question is, “How do successful people maintain family connections?”
Separate Your Emotions For Work And Home
Life becomes complicated when you cannot separate your feelings at work when you are at home. That is especially true if your business suffers from losses or you cannot finish a project on time. The latter makes you anxious and irritable, after all. If you take these emotions into the house, the kids may notice your attitude and not want to come to you.
To keep your loved ones from getting scared of you, you must detach your work from home life. As soon as you roll into your driveway, remind yourself to get your act together and prepare a genuine smile for your spouse and children. They are not part of your problems anyway, so they should not be your shock absorber.
Avoid Bringing Too Much Work At Home
It seems impossible in the real world for a devoted employee not to bring work at home. The reason is that some projects must be completed early, and it cannot happen if they wait for another day to come. Hence, the only solution is to take the materials to the house and finish it until the wee hours.
Although your family may understand why you are doing that, you should try not to take home too much work too often. Doing so will reduce the amount of free time you have for bonding with your kids and life partner. The more you insist on that, the more it may cause a rift on your family connections.
Take The Family To Your Workplace
Most companies have a “Bring Your Kids” or “Bring Your Entire Family To Work” day. You should take advantage of special occasions like that and do as your bosses say. This way, it will be effortless for them to realize why you are always busy.
Taking your family to your workplace also ensures that they know your co-workers. It is especially ideal when your spouse seems to get jealous quickly of the people they have not even met. When they get acquainted with everyone, their constant worrying and nagging may stop.
Make Sure Your Loved Ones Are Aware Of Your Decisions Before Announcing Them
Another vital factor for maintaining family connections is making sure that your loved ones are aware of your decisions before letting others know about it. For instance, if you want to launch your business online, they should be mindful of it while the website is still in the works. That will allow them to ponder through your announcement and give you a piece of their mind.
Sometimes, talking to your loved ones about your decisions is beneficial since they can offer free advice and voice their worries. It will then help you reconsider all your options or figure out if you are on the correct path.
Final Thoughts
Don’t you love it when you hear about successful people at work and at home?
I do love that; it gives me hope that I can have the same fate as them. I am merely waiting for this pandemic to end before I get started with my plans. The best thing I can do is guarantee that my business ideas are as fail-safe as possible and that my family is never in the dark when it comes to my work decisions.