You may want it all, but it’s unlikely that you can. It usually comes down to choice. We often admire individuals for what we believe they have in their lives. We think they have it all only to discover later they, too, are lacking in some aspect. Our misconception is that a tradeoff is negative. We feel that we are giving up something for something else when we merely decide what is more important, what we value most, and what we choose to accomplish.
We get to choose between work, family, and the scene in our individual lives. Work is our craft, family is the people we care for, including close friends, and the scene is the fun stuff we enjoy and get to be whimsical with. To be successful, we need to choose. Take two. You will never be great and have all three. While you may believe you have created a balance, you have likely compromised, and all three have suffered to some extent. So we instead have mediocrity of all and by choice.
Even organizations have elections. New market segments, new products, potential joint ventures, and geographic expansion. In some instances, it may merely be an extension of what we do and represent growth, and in others, it could be divergent and a shift away from our center and a distraction and lack of focus.
There is abundance and lots we can do. There in itself is a beauty. What we need to decide is what we want to excel at. If it is nothing, then we can likely participate freely in all. However, if we’re going to be a success, we will need to make a tradeoff. Choose two of work, family, or scene. Choose the specialty area you will be known for or the organization you will excel.
The author Ryan Holiday states, “You can have two if you say no to one. If you can’t, you’ll have none.”
