Google’s CFO, Patrick Pichette, is retiring – “After nearly seven years as CFO, I will be retiring from Google to spend more time with my family”.

Yet another example of why we must harness the power of Intentional Imbalance.

“Tamar (Patrick’s wife) asked the killer question: So when is it going to be time?  Our time?  My time?”

Patrick reflected, “I am completing this summer 25-30 years of nearly non-stop work… it has been a whirlwind of truly amazing experiences… but… it has also been a frenetic pace for about 1500 weeks now.  I remember telling Tamar a typical prudent CFO type response – I would love to keep going, but we have to go back.  It’s not time yet, there is still so much to do at Google, with my career, so many people counting on me/us – Boards, Non Profits, etc.  But [Tamar] deserves more [quality time].”

Sound familiar?  Patrick shared his thought process on his retirement “because so many people struggle to strike the right balance between work and personal life” – the work-life balance dilemma.  The key issue here is that the ‘balance’ that Patrick refers to, in it’s pure form, is a myth.  People are chasing something that doesn’t actually exist, and then living with a sense of failure, guilt and stress for not having achieved this state called work-life balance.  Too often we give most of our lives to this frenetic search for balance and it takes its toll.

If work-life balance is a myth, then what is the new reality?  At Opening Gates we call it Intentional Imbalance.

The key to Intentional Imbalance is to be intentional and to have pre-defined intentions.

It starts with knowing what a life well-lived looks like to you – yes, in your rocking chair looking back, how will you have lived, loved, contributed – what legacy will you have left, and are you proud of you, did you spend your time well?  In order to live this life by your design, you must be clear on what your intentions for you are around work, family, community, learning, wealth, recreation, health and well-being, and your legacy over your lifetime.  These intentions then become your points of reference in decision-making and critical to how powerfully you can direct your career or your business towards enabling you to live this extraordinary life of yours, with Intentional Imbalance.

You don’t have to spend 30 years working and sacrificing family or life!  You can win in business and in life, and you can do it NOW, by being intentional – by embracing this concept of Intentional Imbalance.  It is likely and totally acceptable to have imbalance towards a particular aspect of life at different points in time – and that is ok because it is intentional – you have a plan!

When we get this right – when we design a business that enables the owners, the leaders, and the team to live intentional lives – we are positioned to prosper.

Learn more about Intentional Imbalance and the impact it will have on your life and your business:

You can read more about Patrick Pichette’s story here.