Next Moves in a Global Economy: Podcasts from the 2007 Wharton Economic Summit - Knowledge@Wharton

Next Moves in a Global Economy: Podcasts from the 2007 Wharton Economic Summit - Knowledge@Wharton

Today, driving back home I was listening to one of the podcast available in this page from the Wharton Economic Summit. It was an interview with Shellye L. Archambeau, CEO of MetricStream and she was talking about the balance of life and work. I found her comments very valid and practical; here are some of the ideas:
- When it comes to life-work balance, there are integrators and there are segmentors. Integrators use technology to do things that were not possible before and by doing so, they integrate work in daily life. Segmentors, draw a hard line between life and work.
- Plan for help and put it in the budget. If you want to work hard, have a family and enjoy your life, you'll need some help. If needed, pay for that help and enjoy a smaller house.
- Be open and explicit regarding your commitments with family and work so they both know where is the line.

I personally adhere to the side of integrators. I believe in the augmenting power of technology. I do believe and practice the habit of morphing your working habits and adapting them to your family habits.

As I was listening to this podcast, I was thinking to myself that this is yet another example of attention economy in practice. The way you use your time and how you reach a combination of work and life that fits you, is essentially a choice of where are you extracting the maximum return to your attention. In some moment of the day you prioritize the quality time and attention devoted to your family. In some others the work gets the attention.

Bottomline: Decide what is the value that can be obtained from your attention and use technology to enable it!