The Word “bal-ance” Doesn’t Even Have Balance by Virginia Munden
The word doesn’t even have balance, I mean 7 letters, come on….so the question is, what is balance? What are the fundamental elements of balance? Does it even exist? Can balance be created…and most importantly can balance be achieved?
Balance is something I struggle with daily…I am a wife, a mother of 3, a daughter and I work full time in an industry experiencing change – REAL ESTATE…and then everything else in between…that is where the madness begins. I try very hard every day to prioritize, however it is a challenge and I will not lie. Developing a crystal clear manifesto of what balance is will have a dramatic impact on your life and the results you are so desperately seeking!
First of all, let’s look at a random list and I am sure it is the same for all, of some items you need to balance…HOWEVER, I will prioritize my own as I have changed the order of my list in order of importance to suit my lifestyle and that of my family…I have put people and passions first above all, they are the center of my world and from that focal point I move outwards…here is my list…
HEALTH & WELLNESS
LOVE & PASSIONS
FAMILY & PETS
SPIRITUALITY & PRAYER
RELATIONSHIPS & COMMUNITY
CAREER & CLIENTS
PERSONAL FINANCE & FRUGALITY
CHARITY & SHARING
LEISURE & EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
FUN & ENTERTAINMENT
LEARNING THRU TRAVEL
SELF IMPROVEMENT & EDUCATION
GETTING THE WORK DONE @ HOME
QUIET TIME means MIND TIME
OH and there are others! 
When I plan my week, I try to plan in priority and way in advance so that my schedule is in sinc with the life and schedules of my children, this is the most challenging yet most important for Wayne and I. Unfortunately, by the time the week arrives, many other issues have entered into the schedule and change again takes place throwing balance out of wack! However it is a rule that the children’s schedules remain the same, this is non-negotiable.
Being self-employed is often a challenge on its own. Being in Real Estate and having a team is also part of the struggle to find balance. A team is essential to leverage time so that a quality life for all is established for not only our family but for those of our team members who use our brand to secure business in our community. The struggle is staying focused and committed to what is important in elevating our brand and business yet keeping our lives in balance…now try throwing ‘ working with your husband ‘ into the scenario and WOAO…let’s talk STRUGGLE and let’s find BALANCE and where is there time for LUV! However, my 10 year old always says to me ‘ mom, you gotta luv a struggle ‘
How does a married couple who lives, luvs and works together find balance?…well…I have been trying to write this BLOG for Ian Watt for a few weeks now and something has always caught me off guard…I finally said, I MUST SIT and WRITE THIS BLOG TODAY…without any distractions and perhaps then I will figure it all out. Ahhhh Distractions…EVIL…after a few weeks of travelling, speaking and training I have decided that it is time to write this blog so I myself may learn…
I asked Wayne this morning ‘ hon, do we have balance? ‘ He answered, ‘ define balance… I know we have luv…balance I am not so sure about… ‘ so there you have it. Working with your husband is not easy, it is actually challenging as we both are quite different yet respect one another’s qualities. Wayne is the quiet, client comes first, negotiating businessman who runs with the waynemunden.com brand, where as I am the networking, creative mind who pushes the brand to the consumer and partners. I guess here we have balance. We respect and value each other’s business styles, strategies and ideas when it comes to real estate. But this is not the challenge. The challenge is with ourselves and our family because FAMILY ALWAYS COMES FIRST! NON – NEGOTIABLE!
Having 3 children, ages 17, 15 and 10, whom are all very much involved in elite sports, school and community, we try to set the foundation for them with the concept of family and making the right choices. That is a priority for us and always has been. To do this, one must be healthy and aware. Children must make good choices in life and the message of choice is sent with them each day to school ‘ make good choices today and remember to make someone smile! ‘ For me that is balance. Let’s leave children out of the equation now…
When one works with passion, all falls into place, I truly believe this. I never let the business control me nor my husband. Is this difficult, yes it is. However we are the masters of creating the schedules and the schedules need to be set according to our own personal schedules, it is the only way our passion for the business will be maintained. Schedules need to be set, and followed. Client appointments, showings, evaluations, offers, meetings are always set during the day 9 to 5 Monday to Friday. Evenings should be set for family, children, activities etc. The beauty of Wayne and I both being in the business, is that if any work has to be done in the evening with one of our buyer/seller agents, Wayne will always do it so I may stay home with the children. It is important for us as a family and that decision will never change. Weekends are structured as well.
We have a wonderful team of business professionals and buyer agents who work the business with passion. We also encourage them to spend time with their families as well as they have cottages, children who are also involved in sports and traditions to follow. We will never ever take these times away from our partner’s lives. This is equally important to us. They represent The Wayne Munden Team by creating opportunities for buyers and sellers, delivering success and creating loyalty and this makes us proud. Our children play sports on the weekends and it is essentially a rule to be a part of their interests and passions, we never ever miss these events. Another NON NEGOTIABLE!
Now throw aging parents into the mix…the rule is this, HOLIDAYS and special occasions are always spent in our home. I luv creating an atmosphere of family, culture and tradition for all who surround me, it is important for my children to experience tradition and to be together with those who luv them so very much. This is also NON NEGOTIABLE…
Date night? Always!
I am trying to get better at balancing much of what we do as a family. Life is always interesting, never boring, always something to see, learn and luv. If family, traditions, luv and passions are in the hub of your priorities, then all else will fall into place, guaranteed! I am not sure if balance can be achieved, however I do know if priorities are set, you will be very successful in living a life that is meaningful. So ask yourself that question instead of DOES YOUR LIFE HAVE BALANCE…ask yourself DOES YOUR LIFE HAVE MEANING? You will then figure it out.
Gary Vaynerchuk summed it up quite nicely for me at a recent REMAX AGM meeting and it went like this…’ LEGACY is more important than the CURRENCY ‘ and this is the MANTRA I now live by each and every day!
Ian, thank you so very much for allowing me to be a contributing editor to your BLOG SITE, you are a mind of brilliance.
vx
Virginia Munden
www.waynemunden.com
www.virginiamunden.com
