How to Run a Business and Have a Fabulous Life

Work-life balance is such a buzzword these days, a manufactured catchphrase for creating a life where work and home are in perfect harmony. Is this really possible? I spent a lot of time thinking about the answer to this question during the launch of my second company, The Modern Concierge. As the face of the company, which offered concierge and event planning services geared toward simplifying clients’ schedules, I became a self-imposed “expert” in how to creatively balance one’s work and life – and counseled clients and the public about how this could be achieved. Ironically, the work and the life that I was balancing – running two businesses and enjoying a resurgence of a single gal’s social life – were not what the majority of our clients were experiencing. While they were concerned with making it home in time to prepare dinner for their families, or figuring out how to get the forgotten cupcakes to the school bake sale, I was pondering the precise balance between the effects of seeing a midnight performance of an indie-rock band against my work schedule the next day, and wondering how to explain to clients that I didn’t want to “friend” them on Facebook. However, what I realized was that no matter what the particulars of one’s lifestyle or situation – if you’re a working mom, a single socializing entrepreneur, or a creative freelancer – there is always a balance to be made between the things you must do to pay the bills – simply called work – and all of the other things you want to do – warmly referred to as life. Here is how this “expert” makes it work:

Clearly Understand Your Priorities:

As modern women, we cling to the idea that “we can have it all!” This may be true, but only if you know what it is you really want. Own your own business, make partner, get married, be home when your child comes home from school, be photographed at the best parties – know what it is you want, and then…

Plan Accordingly:

As a Virgo and an event planner, I strongly believe in a well-managed calendar. If you don’t know what your work day, week, year looks like, it’s hard to make the best decisions about how to manage your time to align with your priorities – or know what you are able to commit to. Find a scheduling system that works for you and stick with it.

Cut Yourself  Some Slack:

Sometimes things don’t work out according to plan or along your priorities. This is an inevitable aspect of living in a variable world. Being able to forgive yourself and having the ability to recognize that imperfections are part of the plan will make it easier to achieve a sense of balance in the long run. These tips have become an important part of how I manage my life – for decisions both big and small. And so when I realized that helping others attain the idealized work-life balance left a disparity in mine, I phased out the personal assistance services of The Modern Concierge, and rolled the other major services – custom gift buying and personal event planning – into my first company, BDI Events. And then I went on vacation to Hawaii.

© 2009. This article was excerpted with permission from Melanie Marconi at www.busigirl.blogspot.com. Permission to reprint is granted by the author. Originally published in www.WomensOnlineMagazineLosAngeles.com, July, 2009.

 About the Author: BusiGirl Melanie Marconi is an entrepreneur and owner of BDI Events, a full service event planning company in Los Angeles. A social butterfly with a love for business, she continues to explore the interconnection between these two worlds, and how they can align to create an interesting and fulfilling life.

You can find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Melanie-Marconi/589769712 DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions reflected in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the publisher, editor, or editorial staff of Women’s Online Magazine. This article has been written and reviewed by the author. Any errors should be brought to the attention of the author.

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