Life and Business – Taking it Forward

Originally, in Old English before the 12^th century, ‘business’  meant ‘a state of being occupied or concerned’ with or about something but by the 18^th century it had come to mean more specifically a ‘commercial enterprise’ and had become a separate entity beyond its earlier 15^th century meaning, ‘the state of being busy’, which is now what we understand by the word ‘busyness’.

There are some phrases which reflect the original meaning such as ‘going about one’s business’ or what we might be currently concerned or occupied with.

Perhaps because ‘a business’ is normally defined in law as a separate entity from the owner of the business this has led to the concept of ‘work-life balance’ implying anything to do with ‘business’ is not part of life.

But you and I are always, in the original sense, ‘busy’ with what we are doing in the Activity lifestream – we are always ‘doing’ something, so we are always ‘busy’.

The idea that what we ‘do’ in our business or what we are employed to ‘do’ in someone else’s business isn’t a part of life doesn’t make sense.

The corollary is also true. We can be very ‘busy’ outside the context of a business. We can be busy running a social club, a networking group, a sports team, we can be busy painting, writing or playing music for our own satisfaction, we can be busy doing DIY home improvement.

Although none of these might give us a financial benefit they do provide value, significant value, when we’re doing what we love to do.

There is no reason why what we ‘do’ inside a business structure as an employee or a business owner, self employed or sole trader should be any different. We are doing things which provide value and often much more than just monetary value.

Even when the work people are employed to do doesn’t suit them in one way or another it still provides value. It may not be the quality of value they are looking for but that’s no reason to conclude these activities are not part of ‘life’.

What is really going on here is the streams of life are conflicting, and the source of conflict is largely within the Activity stream. If you do have this feeling that what you do ‘at work’ and what you do in the rest of life are ‘out of balance’ then you need to look at how you can manage your Activity stream in line with the value you are seeking from what you do.

What you do ‘at work’ and in life are no different. You choose the activities you undertake – or at least you should, but even if certain things are ‘thrust upon you’ this is a result of decisions you have made in the past.