Not so many years ago, career ambition was seen as something to admire. Why bother with a job if you don’t want to get ahead? After all, aren’t folks who think small just losers? And who doesn’t dream of making it big one day! At least that’s what gets drilled into us at home, school, and even films from our earliest years.

But times change — and perhaps so has the way we look at certain things. Including what being a winner is … and what type of ambition is increasingly admired nowadays. Somehow, though I can’t pinpoint the exact date, working hard above all else (especially for younger folks) has been gradually pushed back as a balanced life begins to take center stage.

⇒  Why “Work Hard” Is NOT Always the Key To Success

A different kind of ambition

From their 2025 survey of Gen Z and Millennials, the accounting & consulting firm Deloitte offers some perspective on the subject. Their findings show that, while these generations still pursue money, they are far more focused on [Read more…]

The oh so hopeful phrase “work-life balance” carries with it the idea that somehow, somewhere jobs that make work-life balance possible actually exist. But many of you reading this right now are thinking “Oh yeah? Not with my boss!”

Adding to workaholic bosses and companies that set high productivity goals, the internet and mobile phones have theoretically made us available 24/7 for far too many jobs.

Even if we get to sleep uninterrupted, an urgent email or text may already be waiting for you when you open your eyes. Or may arrive just as you’re heading to bed.

Australia work-life balance law

Recently Australia’s new “right to disconnect law” took effect. [Read more…]

I get comments from readers talking about how much they dislike their current job. But a recent comment from Mark got me thinking about people who, looking back, actually feel they wasted their life in the job(s) they’ve had so far.

That brings the issue to a whole new level where it not only touches on your job history, but can affect how you feel about yourself. And so I’d like to talk more about that part, since it can also affect everything else you do — and want to do in the future.

⇒  Don’t Care About Job? Why You Should (Maybe)

⇒  Riding Out a Bad Job (That You Can’t Leave)

What does “wasted your life” mean?

Turning to Mark’s words he brings up some key points: [Read more…]

I’m an introvert. And I can happily work from home for long periods of time. But a friend of mine, Delia, just wrote me about her experience returning to the office after over a year away: “I didn’t realize how social I am!” she told me, adding how depressed she had been when forced to work from home day after day.

We see lots of articles about employees working from home and loving it. And that might leave the impression that getting to work in your pajamas or sweat clothes is everyone’s idea of perfection

“Didn’t realize what was missing”

Delia didn’t realize just how depressed she was. Between her kids’ needs and work and finding time to spend with her husband — and of course the extra layer of protecting everyone from COVID — her days were so busy she pretty much assumed she was just tired. [Read more…]

At this holiday time, as the new year beckons, I figured it might be nice to add a quick post about one of my favorite, easy ways to give. It’s a site called Free Rice. (This link goes to an English spelling quiz, just one of the available categories. More on that later.)

While it’s not a glamorous site and has been around for many years, it’s still a simple, fun way to give a little gift of food … playing every day if you want. For each question you answer right, the site gives the cash equivalent of 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Programme.

According to the World Food Programme site, they are “the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.” Not a bad thing as we remember those individuals and families all around the world who need help and a chance to live with dignity.

How does FreeRice.com work?

[Read more…]

It’s all about the balance.  Even if we don’t lose our jobs (when you might also lose some of those work friends), having most of our social life center around job social life and work-based relationships never really gets you away from the job.

At least on some level, with a job social life you always bring your work with you. And, in many ways, work becomes your life. Even if you don’t always realize it. And time away, even just mentally, does matter.

Looking for job social life balance

As much as I encourage you to love your job and build good work relationships, life is a whole lot richer if we surround ourselves with friends from a variety of places. And if you’re spending most of your social capital on your work-based relationships, maybe a reader’s words will get you thinking:

The social effects of losing my job was something else I wasn’t prepared for at all. It never occurred to me that about 90% of my social life was directly related to my job. My previous job was very social and every day I had lunch with co-workers or a vendor. Almost overnight I was spending the entire day by myself.

What about your work relationships?

Having a good job social life and strong work relationships can be important. Not only can it make the job more pleasant, it’s an essential part of working smart and building a solid social network. But what percent of your time and energy do you give work relationships in relation to your whole life?

Early in my career, I avoided getting too close to anyone at work, because I didn’t want my social life to cross over with my job life.  And I just hated being forced to socialize with my colleagues, as many places do to encourage camaraderie and teamwork.

For some, depending on their particular job and preferences, keeping a distance may the right choice. Although I’ve learned that it does pay to give in to the forced (uh … highly encouraged) socialization if you can at all bring yourself to do so. Even for introverts like me.

A question of setting boundaries

On the other hand,  some people bring 100% of who they are right into the workplace from day one and set no boundaries whatsoever. Again, while I think in most cases workplace boundaries are a really good thing, there may be circumstances where this works for an individual. Although I do want to mention one very extroverted in-your-face woman I helped hire for a senior manager’s  job.

Turns out she had almost no boundaries and spent all her lunches with just the same few members of her staff. Often gossiping about other co-workers. Unfortunately,  she was not good at interpreting the organizational culture, which highly discouraged such behavior. And, for this and other reasons, she eventually lost her job.

Anyone have a good balance scale?

 As for me … after all these years, I’ve found that a mix of both works best. Finding the balance – as that reader suggests. Apart from the good friendships I retain to this day, there have been great social networking benefits.

Friends I’ve met in former jobs have been there for me many times over the years, pointing me to cool new job opportunities. (And, of course, I’ve done my best to return the favor in one way or another.) Then again, as I said before, there are also many situations where creating a professional distance is exactly the right approach.

My way of looking at it is there is no absolute rule that works in all cases. For me, it’s kind of like great art … you know it when you see it. But whatever your preference turns out to be, work-life balance is well worth considering. Does yours need tweaking?

~ Ronnie Ann

How’s your work-life balance? Is it working for you? Will it work for you in the future?

More articles you may enjoy

How YOU Can Make a Difference at Work Today

How Changing Your Attitude Can Change Your Job!

7 Reasons People Don’t Enjoy Volunteering (& Ways To Help)

Career Success? All I Do Is Work!

Are You Tired of Being Judged By Your Job?

Approval Seeking: Who Are You Really Trying To Impress?

What Makes a Job Good?

The Non-Linear Path to Happiness at Work

Pros and Cons of Flirting With a Coworker

Should I Go Out With My Boss If He Asks Me?

Work Friend Is Asking For Money. What Do I Say?

Overly Friendly Coworker Wants To Be Friends!

I’ve been thinking about what makes a job good. And who gets to decide if it’s really good or not. (Hint: The decider probably should be you.)

Many, many moons ago I found this poem in a little joke book. It made me laugh at the time, and, for whatever reason, stuck in my head and has stayed there ever since:

Don’t worry if your job is small

Or your rewards are few

Remember that the mighty oak

Was once a nut like you!

Well …  I was only 9 when I found the poem. And I didn’t have to worry about paying for stuff like rent or food. But there was a kernel of wisdom that always stayed with me.

It reminded me that what is true for us now is not always true. And that life can provide for a future we can’t even imagine today. Not bad stuff. So as I sat down tonight to work on a post about what makes a job good, for some reason those comforting words popped into my head. And they brought a smile.

I began thinking about the phrases “small jobs” and “few rewards”.  What exactly do they mean? Isn’t the way a job feels really in the eyes of the beholder? And just what does make a job good for you?

With a good job does size matter? [Read more…]

A friend just sent me a YouTube video of birds singing in the woods. I was totally consumed by something I was writing at the time, and my first thought was “This is stupid. Take a nature break NOW?”

But as I’ve learned over the years, sometimes it pays to stop, take a sec, and reassess. “What the heck,” I thought. “Worth a shot.” So I sat and listened. And, despite my old buddy skepticism, I was soon smiling. I felt myself breathe out and begin to relax. Hadn’t even realized how unrelaxed I was.

Science behind taking a nature break.

[Read more…]

When I was a little girl, I watched a lot. And listened. Most kids do. And although my parents probably never thought about it, I also learned about work from them. Whether we realize it or not, kids are learning about work all the time from things parents and other people say. And from tone of voice. Even body language.

Things we teach our kids about work

Most parents make a conscious effort to help their kids learn about life. But it’s hard to fully realize all the things we convey to our kids unintentionally. Sometimes even when we think we are sending good messages. And that includes what kids are learning about work from us.

If you can take a moment to go back in time and think about what you saw in your own household, I bet you’ll remember things that your parents never realized you saw. Or heard. Or just felt, almost as if the knowledge was transmitted through the air. [Read more…]

I am sure many of you have had the thought at some point in your career “What if I never find my dream job?” Or, what if my dream job, once I do find it, is not what I want it to be?

It’s hard to keep dreaming when doubts creeps in. Or when we start to learn the harsh realities of what our dream job is like in the light of day — or dark of night. (I want to be a movie star, but do I really have to get up at 3am for a shoot?)

Role of dream jobs in our lives

[Read more…]