It seems like there are two camps of opinion when it comes to how to get ahead in life or in business.
There is the Elon Musk way. Elon advises people to “Work like hell. I mean you just have to put in 80 to 100 hour weeks every week. [This] improves the odds of success. If other people are putting in 40 hour work weeks and you’re putting in 100 hour work weeks, then even if you’re doing the same thing you know that you will achieve in 4 months what it takes them a year to achieve.”
As the owner of SpaceX and Tesla, Elon certainly seems to know a thing or two about success.
But, then there are experts like researcher and author Brene Brown who say “It takes courage to say yes to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol.”
So which is it? Is hustle the key to success or is it rest and self-care?
My experience says both.
When my business was in its first years, I spent all day designing and working in my clients’ homes and businesses. Then at night, I would attend networking events to find new clients.
It was exhausting, but it was also necessary to create the foundation for the company Lisa Gilmore Design is today.
And now that we have been in business for 10 years, and we have a team of professionals working together, I am able to balance the hours of work with more rest and time to foster my creativity.
I have been taking a pottery class at a local studio every week. And I am horrible at it. But I find it to be so restorative and replenishing.
It is a non-negotiable appointment on my calendar every week because I know that the time away will make me better during my working hours.
Just like nature, our lives unfold in seasons.
There are seasons to be single-minded, to put much of your focus, energy, and time into one thing or area of your life.
And there are seasons to step back, enjoy what you have accomplished, and pour into other areas of your life.
Our spirits were made for that ebb and flow too.
And knowing that I don’t have to live in one extreme or the other helps me to enjoy what every season has to offer.
You can read more about my interior design journey in my recent interview with Business of Home. And, for more of my thoughts about business and life, follow me on Instagram.
