As Ultradent's Information Technology VP, you probably expect to hear a lot from me about technology.  It’s hard to shut me up on this once I get started, but this time I’d like to share something more relevant for everyone.
 
This past Monday was our Labor Day Holiday in the United States.  Labor Day started in 1882 in New York City as a "day off for the working citizens." Today, it's often considered as the last chance for travel with the family,  a day of parades, and a day of rest.  For my family, it was a great way to wrap up our family vacation at a beach house in San Diego. My wife, our four children (aged ten, seven, four, and three- months), and some of my wife’s family spent a great week enjoying our children and each other.

When I think of the time I have spent working over the last twenty-nine years at Ultradent, it’s been highly rewarding. I enjoy the people we work with and what we do, I enjoy my industry, and I love seeing our growth.  At times, however, it has had a “cost” in terms of family. Before I was married it was common for me to work two to three days before going home for a shower and some sleep – there was and always is too much to do and not enough time to do it in. After I was married, these habits abated slightly, but not by much. It was during a particularly long and grueling project that my wife finally got thru to me on what I was sacrificing. I couldn’t continue to work on a laptop all evening and thru the night, oblivious to her and our children.
 
During that time, I also heard a great piece of advice from a consultant we were working with. His name was Marcel – we were all working together in the office on Saturday, as usual, and it was his wife’s birthday. After working a few hours, he excused himself very courteously by saying “It’s tougher to get a new family than a new job.”

I still enjoy pulling occasional all-nighters and I know there are many people working at Ultradent who make similar or greater sacrifices from time to time.  It’s amazing how much gets done in the quiet hours of the morning without interruption.  However, I often think of what Marcel said.  My young children are growing and changing so rapidly – an infant’s speech and mannerisms change in mere days, and as a responsible, caring parent, I really NEED to build strong relationships with each of my kids so I can be in a position to help as they mature. Beyond that, I ENJOY it – time with my wife and children is time I will treasure to the day I die, and these relationships are at least as important as any others I’ll ever invest in.  

We’ve added “Life Balance” to our Core Value of “Caring” here at Ultradent.  It can be a tough act to pull off. From time to time we all may slip and “fall.”  At the end of the day we’re only human, but we must keep trying.

Are there ways you’ve found to keep your life balanced? Favorite vacations, hobbies, and things you do with your family or alone to recharge your batteries and stay balanced with the other passions and work in your life? I’d love to hear from you…