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The Balanced life

© Herb Wexler

Balance

The second law of thermodynamics states, that in any closed system energy will flow to a state of equilibrium. In other words an ice cube in a cup of hot water will melt and the water will cool. The total energy in the system (the cup) will stay the same just change how it is distributed. It is the imbalance that makes life interesting.

Over the years I've read many articles about the importance of a balanced life. I'm not sure I accept the assertion. If you haven't been to some extremes how will you know where the balance point is?

Here are some ways to be out of balance

Work	Personal Life
Short Term Goals	Long Term Goals
Stability	Risk Taking
Balanced	Extremes
Contentment	Ambition
Poverty	Wealth
Saving	Spending
Conservative	Liberal
Internal	External
Specialist	Generalist
Couch/Mouse Potato	Athlete

Taking any of these to extremes can cause problems. The opposite is also true. Your life can be greatly enhanced by going to these extremes.

I am an advocate for risk taking however this must be balanced with consistency. Your customers, employees, and other stakeholders like consistency. In fact they require it. McDonalds became the largest fast food chain not because they have the best tasting burgers but because of consistency. McDonalds also introduces new products regularly. This allows customers to take the risk of trying a new product or staying with what they know.

Risk taking takes the risk out of risk taking. The first time you introduce a new product you are taking a big risk. By the time you have rolled out 20 new products you know how to manage the risk. The more risks you take the less risk there is in each one.

Small businesses and entrepreneurs are good at finding places where the marketplace is out of balance. They look where the supply and the demand are not in equilibrium. If there is more demand than supply then there is a need for a new product or service. More supply than demand indicates a change in trends that most people have not spotted.

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