By far the most common conversation we have with the folks we interview is about work-life balance. Starting a business or pursuing a creative career makes finding work life balance really tough because there is no clear start and end to one’s work day. We’ve shared some of our conversations on the topic below.

Brian Kaleh | Father, creative, and avid gamer.

That’s the question isn’t it? Work-life balance, what even does that mean in todays world. Having graduated from UT in 2010, leaving for NY to work in film while my fiancee at the time was attending NYU for her Masters, to moving back to Austin and finding myself in TV, then to go into Advertising, to then start my own business with my wife, after we had our first child, and soon after get hit with the first wave of Covid, and finally finding myself in a position to return to UT as an employee, balance is something I think I’m still chasing. Read more>>

Annika Walden | Executive Director + Interior Designer

I used to think that my energy would be boundless or inconsequential when I started out in my career. I would choose work over almost anything, including eating at times. I thought my work ethic was a reflection of my identity and my level of success would determine my sense of self worth. Little did I know, this leads to burnout, which happened twice by the time I was 25. So the day of reckoning came, after some serious introspection I realized that a brand or company existed before me and will after, so I needed to stop taking things so darn serious. Life and work should be challenging and FUN, if there is an imbalance it shows. Read more>>

Sailboat Lewis | Sneaker Customization/Restoration Artist and reseller

Since beginning my sneaker company, I won’t lie, my life has been dominated by work. Being that I work a “traditional” job in the health care industry, I put in regular work hours and then come home and work my sneaker business. It’s not uncommon for me to work an 8 hour day, hit the gym, and then come home and work another 6 hours on my sneaker business. The thing is, working on sneakers doesn’t feel like work to me. It’s a passion. It’s something that I do because I love. Read more>>

Jordan Masciorini | Financial Advisor and Certified Retirement Counselor

It can be commonly thought that once you retire, you should have all your money in super conservative investments, such as bank CD’s or government guaranteed bonds. However, the landscape has now changed. People are living longer, healthier lives, and interest rates are near historic lows. Depending on your individual situation, you may want to consider whether having some exposure to stocks in your portfolio could be beneficial to you, especially in the beginning part of your retirement. Of course, since the optimal plan for each investor depends on his or her individual objectives and circumstances, I recommend reviewing your investment strategy and time horizon with your Financial Advisor to find your appropriate investment mix. Read more>>