Busy Mom's!

Busy people are smart, efficient, resourceful and quiet…which is a result of their being busy. Show me someone who “tells” you how busy they are and I am likely to pass on giving them a new assignment or opportunity. They may provide some value but are probably not raising themselves to their level of success. I believe that if you want to get something done you should give it to a busy person.

Having 5 balls in the air is not easy but adding a 6th isn’t all that much harder. Those who can do 5 can do 6 in my opinion  And on it goes, some people just seem to have a limitless capacity to do stuff or achieve. I have learned that mothers are probably the best at handling a lot of stuff in tandem.

After I left Albridge Solutions which is a company I helped build and sell to PNC Bank, I decided to take some time off to be with my family. I had a lot of time to think about my career, the people I had worked with and the type of people I would like to work with again.  I became involved in the daily routines of our household of three teenage boys, a dog and a busy mom.  It took a while to get use to but I  learned a lot about how busy moms get stuff done. They set their priorities, plan for changes, have a support group for help and run until they can’t anymore. They seem conditioned to deal with the constant distractions and disruptions. I came to know my wife’s network of busy moms and it wasn’t really easily to be accepted into this group.  But once I showed up at baseball games, teacher conferences, the cleaners and the checkout counter at the supermarket (with discount card in hand) things started to ease for me. I was accepted into the group and over time they taught me a few tricks of the trade.

When my mid career sabbatical came to an end I joined the management team of Princeton Financial Systems, a unit of State Street, to help them grow the business. The life I was living at home suddenly changed, the skills I had learned in helping to run the household though were transferred back to the workplace. I rarely get worked up now over changes in my schedule, or disheveled when a project isn’t handled correctly. Constant change seems to have become the new norm and I am just fine with that. Before I went back to work I had a chance to talk to my wife about the changes that were going to happen around the house once I wasn’t around anymore.  I asked her if she was going to be able to handle the extra responsibilities and a few minutes later after she stopped laughing, she said “Yes”. I guess one of the things I hadn’t learned while I was off was that the skill set of busy moms is always on call when the need arises. It is part of the game.

I think there is a trend in our society where dad’s are getting better at helping out around the house as women advance in the workforce and more men are unemployed as a result of the contraction of our economy and the workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that there are about 7 million people out of work and that the unemployment rate for men is a full percentage point above woman at roughly 7% vs 6%. My suggestion for all the guys at home is to get involved with your family and all the things that happen around the house. Learn to juggle 3 balls first then keep adding them. You will be much appreciated and will have added a new skill to call on when you land back in the workforce.

My Best,