Our community is filled with hard-working, high achieving entrepreneurs and creatives and so work-life balance is a complicated, but highly relevant topic. We’ve shared some responses from the community about work life balance and how their views have evolved over time below.

Keiko Akamine | Owner and jewelry designer at Yu|Mono

I learned the importance of balance the hard way. Most of my youth revolved around wrestling and being a competitor in such a grueling sport consumed every aspect of my life. When I was 19, I suffered a neck injury during training and in an instant, I lost the one thing that I felt defined me. It took most of my 20’s to realize that I was much more than an athlete and, as silly as it sounds, that there was more to life than sports. Though I will never regret pouring myself wholeheartedly into something I loved, the lesson I gained from this experience is that life is unpredictable but finding balance is a way to weather the storms. Read more>>

Graham Cochrane | Author and Podcast Host

I truly believe that if you build a business it should serve your life, not the other way around. People seem to hate the term Work Life Balance. Perhaps what we need (and what I think people are after) is a work life REDESIGN. Work is a huge part of my life. It’s one of the greatest ways I can impact the world and make a difference in people’s lives. But it’s not the only way. I’m a husband, father, brother, son, friend, and so much more. Read more>>

Tisha Galloway | Mom & Lifestyle Photographer

My work life balance is still a work in progress, but I’ve come a long way from when I started my photography business in Fall 2019. I have been in the “hustle” phase of starting my own business for quite some time. Aside from shooting and editing, there is so much that goes on behind the scenes – marketing and trying to grow my clientele, accounting, social media, customer service, website maintenance, education, etc. That’s all very time consuming! Throughout 2020 and 2021 I worked to put more efficient business processes in place and to streamline my workflows. By working more efficiently, I’ve been able to set better boundaries between my work and personal life. Read more>>

Emily Jaime | Founder/CEO Yireh

Work-life balance is not something that can easily be obtained. I feel like one may never be able to have 100% balance every day. I think what is most important is that overall a healthy balance is upheld! I started my brand when I was 22 and I’m 30 now so a lot has changed! I started during a time of my life when I could be completely selfish with my time. Now I am a wife, and mother of two, and my responsibilities have changed so much! What is interesting is you would think I would have gotten more done before having the commitments but I actually have way more balance and flow after having my children! Read more>>

Galina Marcus | Visual artist and a host of In The Art Scene podcast

To be honest, I think any entrepreneur struggles with life-work balance, LOL. It’s all life and it’s all work, and you have to deal with it. I had no idea what I was getting into when I decided to pursue an art career. I just knew that I can’t continue working at an office job and I want to enjoy what I’m doing. After a couple of years pursuing an art career, I can tell that there are multiple avenues an artist can take to create a sustainable business. It doesn’t have to be just producing and selling artwork, which is probably the most challenging of all options. But whichever way you choose, art is going to take only a fraction of your time. Read more>>

Diana Sciacca | Photographer

At the beginning of my photography business, I had little to no work life balance. I was scheduling anywhere from 10-15 shoots a week. It feels crazy to admit to that amount, but it’s the truth. I was virtually dragging myself into the ground and didn’t really realize it until my health, both physical and mental, forced me to realize it. I was constantly stressed and anxious. Always trying to move things around in my schedule to accommodate new & old clients while neglecting myself along the way. I took every single opportunity that was offered to me. It was a whirlwind. I don’t regret the hustle, at all. I’m very grateful. It got me to where I am today, but it also taught me the very important lesson of rest: Read more>>

James Lee | Head of Research & Development

I was usually alone, working as the sole tax person for a large corporation. When I wasn’t alone, I was in small teams, all of us working late to complete deadlines. My colleagues would put in ten to thirteen hour days and I would too thinking this was the expectation. As I became more familiar with my role, I was able to organize data, create better process efficiencies and automate much of the work. I regained some control over my time to a reasonable eight hour day schedule instead. Read more>>

Tommy “MOTZERO” Orosco | Award-winning artist

I am a huge advocate for finding the perfect work/life balance. Scrolling through social media sites like LinkedIn, I see so many people romanticizing long work hours. Or working while on vacation. I see people at their kids games pounding away on their laptops or taking another business call that just “can’t wait until tomorrow”. I know people that are constantly checking work email on their phone, even while laying in bed or first thing in the morning. Well, if thats how they choose to spend their time, that’s cool. That’s on them. But that’s not for me. Read more>>

Craig Madden | Gardener/Chef

I really like this question. I became an urban gardener after nearly ten years in the restaurant industry, working as a chef. That life consumed me. In order to be successful in that industry you need to be married to it. Toward the end of my culinary career I was forced to make some tough decisions about balance. I had no time to spend with my family at home. My wife and I hardly saw each other, I felt like I was missing much of my daughter’s toddler years and I was miserable. I learned a tough lesson in work/life balance. I could not possibly be the person I needed to be in the kitchen without sacrificing nearly all of my time to myself and my family. Read more>>