Model Employee vs Model Parent

In my last post I quoted Jack Welsh as asserting that "There's No Such Thing as Work-Life Balance."

Trying to "balance" work and life is very difficult, which is why the topic generates so much discussion. Doing both at once requires constant effort and calculation: "Thursday I'll leave the office early and catch Timmy's soccer game, but Saturday I'll play golf with my colleagues...I'll go on the business trip next week, but I'll make sure to leave early and get home in time for dinner the week after that..."

You might be able to strike a balance that works for you - and that's the whole point of course - but being a model employee in a traditional professional setting just isn't compatible with being a model parent. Don't believe me? Consider the following profiles:

Being A Great Employee
Those who are model employees (and future executives) are those who are dedicated, reliable, hard working and well connected. This means that you are the one in at 7am and still in at 7pm, doing anything and everything that needs doing. You are the one who can be counted on to come in on the weekend to finish a big project. You take time to train and mentor others. You are always trying to improve, always excelling - and you are continually on the lookout for ways to minimize costs or increase revenue.

You never turn down an invitation to socialize with colleagues. You are spending time after work and on weekends networking, attending industry events, sitting on boards, playing golf with colleagues or the competition. You are constantly on the lookout for ways to impress and get friendly with your boss. You grab any opportunity to get more development or training even if it's an out of town seminar; you plan your social life around rubbing elbows with important people in your field;

Being A Great Parent
Those who are model parents are a constant reliable presence in their kids lives, consciously monitoring and assisting their development. They never miss a teaching moment, have the time and patience to properly discipline their kids, and keep their children engaged and stimulated.

They're scouring the internet for the safest, best, most cost effective crib/stroller/bike. They're analyzing the household budget to trim excess and make room for extracurriculars and college savings plans. They prepare three balanced meals a day for their kids. They somehow manage to keep their kids and homes clean and safe.

With small kids they play games so their brains develop properly, shower them with attention so they don't develop emotional attachment disorders, take them to parks and activities to get exercise, supervise play dates so they learn proper social interaction and read to them.

Older kids need help with homework so they maintain a decent GPA and get shuttled to as many valuable extracurriculars as possible so maybe they can get into a decent college one day. They need supervision so they don't end up pregnant or on drugs. They may be resentful and rebellious but you persevere, enforcing rules and checking in and meeting their friends' parents and not being afraid to embarass them - or yourself - in the process.

Comparison
To me the Model Employee sounds like the much easier job! Both can consume 100% of your attention and energy, but the Employee has more tangible rewards - respect at work, recognition in the way of bonuses and promotions, and the security of a benefits plan and salary.

The Model Parent doesn't have as much control along the way or security in the outcome of his or her efforts. Of course you CAN be a parent and work at the same time - millions of people do. But I think we can all agree that it's impossible to reach your full potential in either capacity when trying to balance your time and focus in both areas at once.