The Balance Sheet

Both Sides of Which Equation?

The pangs of keeping two sides of give and take balanced, was an ominous task for me. In the consultancy role, the investments of time, energy and money came way ahead of receiving the reward of financial equivalency. In the role of executive director of the LifeWorks Institute, a 503 (c) non-profit organization I founded in the late 1980s, I depended on outside sponsorships, grants and donations to keep the ball rolling for 20+ years. After the 2008 crash in the economy, I finally let it go and celebrated the good works we co-created for disadvantaged youth. When I endeavored into a bricks and mortar establishment, it was just over ten years before profits appeared.

Watching the economy through the years of and following the COVID pandemic, I literally felt the distress of small business owners. Some were resilient and recovered, contrasted to so many who failed. The long pause as a retired person gave me the luxury of watching.

How we as humans define success and failure can be measured materially, but there is a wider spectrum when we consider personal responsibility, capabilities to understand partnerships, relationships and emotional intelligence. The experiences of winning and losing are baked into our culture.

My corporate experience, my non-profit ride, my international client relationships, and my retail journey, all gave me deep satisfaction. I was engaged and proud of the work I did with others, whether employees or colleagues.  Forced to learn on a continuous basis taught me humility about what I didn’t know.

My husband’s focus was on security while he remained in a professional position he had come to despise. We talked about the opportunities he could create, but security was too big a hurdle to jump.  I left my corporate job to chase my passion. A huge risk that has paid out in unexpected ways. These days my balance sheet is defined by service to others aligned with fun and aliveness.