Bill Taylor: Balancing Your Work and Life
The Meeting Professional, April 2000

    Before William Taylor, co-founder of Fast Company magazine, began his speech on Tuesday morning at MPI's Professional Education Conference-North America in Nashville, he asked the audience a question, "Which would you rather have: a 20 percent raise, five more hours of free time a week, or a one month sabbatical?"

    The audience responded using Meridia's wireless audience response system. Fifty-five percent responded that they would take the sabbatical. Twenty-five percent would like five more hours of free time a week and twenty percent would take the raise.

    "Five or six years ago, the answer probably wouldn't have been the same," said Taylor.

    Work/life balance is a hot topic, not only for the meeting industry but for the business world in general. Time, not money, seems to be the more precious commodity. "People are taking a look at their lives and saying `If winning at business today means working 60 hours a week, traveling three to four nights a week, checking my e-mail at 11 p.m., then maybe losing isn't such a bad idea,'" said Taylor.

    And it's not just about having more time to spend with family. It's about control. "You have to figure out how to design a life that works," Taylor said. "You have to consider your business environment; achieving balance isn't a solo mission. You have to maintain control of your life."

    If it seems the world is more stressful, he said, in many cases, it is. "What's so different about business today? Three things: demands from competition, demands on you from colleagues and the Internet," said Taylor.

    "There's been a shift in competition," said Taylor. Rather than a few large businesses, there are a large number of many smaller businesses that work more efficiently. "It's tougher to do business now because there are so many people out there. If you're average, you go out of business. And not everyone can be above average," he said.

    Colleagues expect more now. "People have higher expectations of their work than ever before. They want to be excited and challenged." While this may be a romantic view of life, it's also one of the reasons people quit jobs: they think they aren't making a difference in the organization; they aren't recognized for their contributions; they aren't learning anything new or, in some cases, they simply don't like their colleagues.

    Not only do people expect more out of work, but the Internet has changed everything about business, Taylor said. " The Web is the most powerful laboratory for business research ever invented. There are lots of experiments in business going on, and if you aren't experimenting with how the Web can further your business, you are in serious trouble," he said.

    So, how can you regain control of your life, still make a living and be reasonably happy? You have to be smart and creative, and you have to be willing to change, Taylor said.

    "First, understand that your job is not to outwork the competition," he advised. "It's to out-think them. You have to do things that are different. You can't define success as being a copycat. You have to be unique. Remember, the best ideas are easy to describe and difficult to duplicate."

    Taylor told the audience that it's sometimes easier to start a company from scratch than it is to reform one. He also advised the audience to prioritize needs. "Figure out what's precious and what's expendable."

    Second, Taylor said we should rethink the way we view time. "Business today moves faster than ever. Treat time as an important asset-as important as money or people."

    Third, Taylor advised managers to hire the best people they could find. "The only way to survive in this world is to hire good people, stand back and let them do their job," he said. "Ask yourself why great people would want to work for you. And hire for attitude, not skill."

    However, Taylor said none of these ideas will help you adapt to the new business environment if you're unwilling to change, and most people are wary of change, especially if it involves the way we think and view life. "The only way to get comfortable with change is to do it. You can learn the most from people who aren't like you. Remember that nobody is as smart as everybody and just because you're in charge doesn't mean you have all the answers."

    Taylor agreed with the 55 percent of the audience who said they needed a sabbatical. Though many business people view any type of vacation or time off as slightly suspicious, creative people have long known the value of rest and rejuvenation. "Take a break," Taylor said. "Take time to be by yourself and recharge so you can think."

Balanced Lifestyle?

    Before Bill Taylor's speech, audience members were asked to take part in a quick electronic survey using Meridia's service. Here's what people in the audience, on February 1, said about their work habits:

What kind of business are you in?
25% - Corporate Planner
11% - Association Planner
10% - Independent Planner
47% - Supplier
 7% - Other

Where are you from?
94% - North America
 2% - Europe
 0% - Asia
 1% - Central or South America
 3% - Other

How many hours a day
do you spend working?
 5% - 0 to 4 Hours
18% - 5 to 8 Hours
53% - 9 to 10 Hours
24% - More than 10 Hours

How often do you work one
day of the weekend?
 2% - Never
44% - Rarely
48% - Frequently
 6% - Always