Comments on: Work Life Balance – Interview

By: Dan Blank

Dan Blank — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:27:53 +0000

Darren – thanks for sharing. There is an amazing social barrier to so much of what you do. Can’t believe you weren’t plugged in during vacation!
Have a nice evening.
-Dan

By: Evan Hadkins

Evan Hadkins — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:20:52 +0000

Thanks. Your directness is very refreshing.

I’d like to see more interviews (or posts) like this. The blogosphere often revolved around work I think.

I’d also like to see more attention on people identifying with their work – seeing themselves as having the worth of their income or job title. I think this is a huge (especially, STILL, for men – of which I am one).

So I’d like to see more of a broader discussion in the blogosphere like this one.

Would others like this too? Any ideas, if so, on how we could do it?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:02:30 +0000

Yes – great interview. The question of life balance is not a simple one to address..

I’ve seen people who’s very motivation for NOT accepting promotions or in escaping one career in favor of another is to increase their time spent with family.

I’ve also seen people who clearly place their priority on career, but still manage to maintain a happy life as well as a decent relationship with their family.

Key is to know what type of person and priorities YOU have, then live in line with those. If you have been raised to expect that the father or mother MUST be home for dinner every night, then you will not be happy having your schedule controlled by someone else.

Not sure there are any principles other than know what YOUR priorities are and design your life in concert rather than in opposition.

Jeff

By: jsanderz

jsanderz — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:31:09 +0000

Darren,
I really enjoyed reading your interview, you are an inspiration to us all (I bet you hear that all the time). For me my family will always come first, my daughter is my life and I always will be there for her.
Regards.

By: MG

MG — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:18:42 +0000

Nice interview! Tnx for that ;)

By: Max Powers

Max Powers — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:26:26 +0000

That was a very revealing and interesting interview. Something different from the norm.

It was hard at first for me but I learned that family time requires no cell phone, pager or any other electronic device, except a camera for our getaways.

We like to get away from the city so we can remember what Mother Nature is doing out there in the real world.

By: Agile Blogger

Agile Blogger — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:16:24 +0000

@Darren: This was a very nice and informative interview.

~ Anuj @ AgileBlogger.com

By: Internet

Internet — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:39:54 +0000

With The Internet, Broadband, Cell Phones and Web Apps having such societal, global impact, it will be increasingly difficult to seperate work hours from personal time

By: John Motson

John Motson — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:23:19 +0000

Thanks for doing the interview Darren, I learned heaps.

It was also interesting to get an insight into your day to day life and all the things you had to overcome to get to where you are today.

Cheers mate

John

By: Darren Rowse

Darren Rowse — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:09:41 +0000

thanks all – it was a fun interview to do. Made me think about things that were important to me – but which I’d not pondered for a while. Very worthwhile from my end.

By: JoLynn Braley

JoLynn Braley — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 06:51:25 +0000

Darren, I really enjoyed the interview Derek did with you. I can only imagine what it must have been like for you to be down for a month in bed, unable to do much of anything. That’s a really good reminder for all of us bloggers to set some limits and keep our health in balance instead of pushing ourselves to the brink. I can see why you would be more conscious of keeping in balance now.

It was also interesting to learn more about your background. Thanks for sharing so much in the interview…oh, and I love the tip of using the door on your home office as a signal that you’re working. That is ingenious (LOL). :) On the serious side, it’s also good to have those boundaries to let family and friends know, “hey, just because I work at home doesn’t mean I’m not working”.

I think it’s easy for others to think that because you work at home that you’re always available, which could get you a bit out of balance with your work goals if you often get sidetracked with other peoples errands, etc.

By: Advice Network Writing contest

Advice Network Writing contest — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 06:39:53 +0000

Being a good dad is really the best thing in my life. What did the Beatles say? “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”

By: Derek

Derek — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:54:36 +0000

Darren, I just wanted to say thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences with me for this interview. It has been a real pleasure learning a little more about you away from the blog and encouraging as a dad to know we have faced some of the very same struggles.

Thanks for the mention here as well and I hope your readers enjoy the interview!

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:41:32 +0000

A really great interview, thanks guys :)

By: Jeremy Steele

Jeremy Steele — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:10:52 +0000

Great interview – gives a lot of insight into your background and life. It’s nice to see that the great ProBlogger is actually a human :P

By: Abhijeet Mukherjee

Abhijeet Mukherjee — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 02:52:12 +0000

Good Interview….informative and motivating….its astonishing to know that you suffered from Bells Palsy..and then further your recovery from it and reaching great heights in the blogosphere is amazing…great going Darren!!!