According to Webster’s, here are the definitions of Balance:
Noun- a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.
- keep or put (something) in a steady position so that it does not fall.
- offset or compare the value of (one thing) with another.
We’ve already completed two months of the year, and have moved onto March. These are the three busiest months of the year for our agency, so I should have a handle on balancing my work life and my home life, right? Wrong! For me, it’s an ongoing struggle every day to successfully “juggle” all the balls in the air. In fact, I do not do it well. I’d love to be one of those gurus that can tell you how easy it is to do this, but alas I am not–not even close. I yearn to finish every single task on my to-do list each day. I wonder what it would be like to actually call back, or email a response to every person I speak to daily. You know, the ones who are depending on me to give them a life changing, memory making vacation, honeymoon, or destination wedding experience. I’d love to do equal justice to the Destinations Facebook page, our blog (hasn’t seen the light of day in a year and half), and follow-up email blasts to potential clients I met at the local bridal show. I should reach out to them 7 or 8 times before they book. Uhh, when??? When should I try and fit that in? And I realize that every one of these tasks is critically important to the future success of our business.
Now the day is over, and it’s time to head home and fix dinner for my hubby, do some laundry, and try to relax before I need to head back tomorrow and start all over again. If your spouse is like mine, he’d like to have a meaningful conversation with me about my day, or something going on at home. The very last thing I want to do is talk more, after spending 8 – 10 hours on the phone, but he deserves more of my attention. And, since I often take work home with me, something has to give.
Does anyone else wonder how others in our industry do it all? You know the ones I’m talking about. They are the ones who have a highly successful business, and a wonderful home life. They even volunteer at church and other organizations, then come home and fix dinner and play with the kids. How do they do it? I read about how much they have it together every day on Facebook, and other industry publications. Is it even real? Or a façade?
“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” — Thomas Merton
The older I get the more I realize, I’ll never be one of “those” people. My desk will always look like a bomb exploded. There will always be brochures to file, callbacks to be done, employees to mentor, and 10 more new things on my to-do list. I’ve decided that I will do my best to complete as many tasks as I can during office hours; and then I will go home and try to feel no guilt. While we all recognize we have to work to be successful, it can’t be at the cost of our home life. We’ve got to find the balance between our work and home lives so that both “are equal or in the correct proportions”, and “keep or put (something) in a steady position so that it does not fall”.
Tracee Williams is a 32 year veteran of the travel industry. She has extensive experience with both corporate and leisure travel agencies in Northwest Arkansas. She specializes in Honeymoons, and Luxury Travel. She is a CTA, ACC, Platinum CSS, and a Sandals Weddingmoon Specialist. She is currently studying to get her CTC. She lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas with her husband Darrell, and their fur babies, Callie, Annie, and Peanut.
2 thoughts on “Destinations — Trying to find my balance”
I can relate!
The life of a travel agent! I used to think I had to keep up the webpage, Facebook, blog, etc… and never had time. Then I realized how wonderful it is to have so much business and that my clients really don’t care about all that, nor do they want a ton of email blasts. Now, I just put all my efforts into their trips. My close rate, repeat and referral business is very good. I hardly spend a dime or time advertising. I’ve given myself permission not to jump on all the bandwagons driving by me and its great!