How to Gain Work/Life Balance. I don’t know about you but I spend a great deal of my waking moments thinking of how I can live with intention and meaning. Life used to be about success for me and acquiring things. Thankfully my life was interrupted and I realized what matters most: Time, impact and relationships. It is paramount to me to be building memories with my wife and kids as well as those I love around me. It’s so easy for us to think that “providing” and being successful at work is the key to happiness. Money isn’t the answer to a meaningful life.
Recently I came across a wonderful illustration that personifies the meaning and enrichment of loving what you love to do while being able to provide your family great quality time and connection. Bill Watterson is a long time hero of mine with his Calvin and Hobbes cartoons. Recently, Bill’s words were illustrated by a great artist Gavin Aung Than who also love’s Bill and his work. Gavin is a living example of what I call escaping the status quo to live his dream and passion with the time he has on earth.
This strip was executed beautifully and capture what really matters.
Kid’s grow up fast. So do we. We have to pause and realize what matters, what we make and how we spend our time to live with meaning and bear fruit in the relationships we have.
This way of living became so meaningful to me that I wanted to help other artists, entrepreneurs and dreamers get their lives structured to be effective on all areas. I spent 27 years building a life on success rather than a life of impact and significance. Visit: www.noahuniversity.com to learn more.
As you read the strip below please leave a comment and let me know how it makes you feel. Is what we are doing today going to matter in a week, month or year from now? What decisions have you made that provide you with more family time and relationship building? How have you leveraged your job or career for measurable impact?
Recent comments
Stephanie Cassata 10 years ago
What a great reminder to value our lives, calling, and purpose. Every other day on Yahoo there’s an article that highlights careers based solely on the $ and not about what it does for your soul. Basically a career do this/not that. It seems that those behind these articles (and those that follow) are only out for the number of zeros in their paycheck. Many of us with the calling of creativity know very well it’s not an easy one (and are too often reminded), but the fire in our hearts is an amazing force that too many are missing out on. We who are serious about it are willing to put in the hard work, long hours, and even deal with the nay-sayers because we know we would be silly to ignore it. It’s a shame when we’re looked down upon for going against the flow, but we keep going because we know there’s something special there.
noah fine art 10 years ago
Stephanie, thanks so much for the comment. Great stuff. Appreciate you being here.
Eduardo Delacruz 10 years ago
Longer can say is WOW…… That illustration Describes my life to a T. I’m a stay at home dad of 2 boys ages 2 and 1 month. But I am also a freelance airbrush artist and illustrator who works from home. I resigned for my city job here in NYC to be a stay at home dad because we no Longer were going to have a babysitter. And being my wife had the better benefits and pay it made sense for it be me to say home. We down sized dramatically from a house to a 1 bedroom for 4 of us and I run my business from home. It’s an amazing feeling to be here for my kids in a way my parents weren’t for me because they were so consumed with making money that they over looked spending quality time with me. Seeing this illustration brought a tear to my eye and made a proud stay at home dad and business owner. My company is called M.A.D. Kustom Airbrushing. Thank you so much for sharing…
noah fine art 10 years ago
Eduardo, thanks for the comment. Your family will benefit from all the wisdom you are puting in place. Keep it rolling!
Andy Haigh 10 years ago
I’ve been an admirer of Gavin’s Zen Pencils for some time. I find as much as I want to “find my way” I’m stuck in the mire of working a mind numbing time vampire of a job and it is disturbing how fast time goes by when you’re just shuffling along going through the motions.
noah fine art 10 years ago
Andy, totally understand. That’s why I created Noah U. I’ve seen some members that leverage their current career to help underwrite their dream on the side and get it to grow to to the point of leaving. I appreciate you sharing and your transparency.
shawn 9 years ago
Noah, thank you so much for sharing this. I felt as if I was seeing myself in the frames as I read it.
“To invent your own life’s meaning” is exactly what I’m trying to do and why I’m a proud part of Noah University. I have a feeling I’m going to revisit this often.
noah fine art 9 years ago
Shawn, awesome. Your brand and product is amazing. More important, your story and heart. Keep it rolling buddy.