Work-life balance is a topic of constant debate. Can you achieve it? Does it exist? What’s it all mean?

Wendy Piersall is asking those very questions. This time she’s asking dads for their input. Certainly, this is a topic of much debate and difficulty for moms. But dads get less attention. It’s assumed that dads will exist more on the work side than the life side. There’s no question, we do.

Yet, I know more and more fathers unwilling to sacrifice the life-side of the equation. They want to be there for their families, they don’t want to be married to their work. It’s tough. Lots of expectations weigh on our shoulders.

So when asked the question, “How do you balance work and life?” I reflect on my current situation – starting Standout Jobs at the same time that I’m raising a young family. Here’s what I’ve got:

You work hard.

Really, really hard.

Sometimes you win.

Sometimes you don’t.

You live on a roller coaster.

Each day you go to battle…

And hold on for dear life.

But you love every minute of it.

And that’s the secret. That’s how you start a company and a family at the same time.

Love your family. Love what you do.

Beyond the love and passion you have for your family and your business, here are some additional things to think about:

1. Every day, try and move things forward, even just a little bit. Think chess. Granted, your life is more like chess on speed…
2. Spend time with your kids. As a dad, I like to do those things my wife isn’t fond of, to complement the many talents she brings to the game. Kick a ball. Roughhouse. It can be simple, your kids will love the time.
3. Don’t take things too seriously. I would never de-value the importance of your business; but it’s not worth sacrificing your life for.
4. Date your wife.
5. Become a master of productivity.
6. Realize that no situation lasts forever. Your child might be having trouble sleeping – that’s OK, it won’t last forever. You need to spend more hours working to get your business going – that’s OK, you can balance it later. As grim as any situation might look, remember that it won’t last.
7. Develop a routine. This is perhaps the most important thing you can do – for yourself and your family. Kids thrive on routine. It sets good expectations for how things ought to be. It won’t be perfect, but it will help tremendously if you can setup a routine that’s manageable. Squeeze the chaos just a little bit.

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