Beyond Juggling: Rebalancing Your Busy Life [Paperback]

Kurt Sandholtz (Author), Brooklyn Derr (Author), Dawn Carlson (Author), Kathy Buckner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 2002

People who want to both make a living and have a life often find themselves juggling ever-increasing demands on both fronts. Debunking the myth that juggling can lead to true balance, this workbook presents four alternative strategies -- Alternating, Techno-Flexing, Outsourcing, and Bundling -- and helps readers choose the one best suited to their needs. In a style both hopeful and realistic, the authors explain each of the four strategies, detail the rewards and tradeoffs involved in each, and include case studies of people who have used these methods successfully to create a sustainable and satisfying equilibrium in their lives.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

“We know professionals seek both hope and help in striking work/life balance, and this book contains extraordinary wisdom for them. But I'd advise every HR department and line manager to get to it first. This is a real eye-opener about how to attract and retain top talent. It is a message for corporate America." —Jack Zenger, Vice Chairman, Provant

“At last I realize that my meager attempts to balance a complex life are not hopeless. This is a useful and timely book for all who seek balance but can not find it.” —Dave Ulrich, Professor of Business, University of Michigan

"Work-life balance is the holy grail of the 21st century. But, as Sandholtz, et al, show us, it’s managable. They offer practical remedies for how individuals and families can get in firmer control of their priorities, and how companies can help. Beyond Juggling is as good a business book as I've read." —Jon Younger, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Leadeship Development National City Corporation

“The people profiled here provide great examples of real options to consider if you want to better balance your work and the rest of your life, and they also show a realistic picture of the trade-offs those options present – both personally and professionally. As an HR leader, I plan to use this book both to coach managers in creating more options in work structure and design, and to work with individuals who are looking for their own ways to improve their balance. The practical tools and advice captured here can help any reader reassess their situation and their choices, and can help surface new ideas on the best use of time and resources.” —Kathy Spinelli, Divisional Vice President, Merchandising Human Resources, Kmart Corporation

“Beyond Juggling offers a fresh perspective o n the needs of both talented employees seeking work-life balance and their employers. The strategies are creative, yet practical, and based on solid research into individuals and organizations who have been on the quest. A must-read for employers who want to attract and retain talented executives struggling with work-life balance issues.” —Koh Boon Hwee, Prominent Singapore Technopreneur and Board Director, Centre for Effective Leadership (Asia)

“As a woman keeping a very demanding family, career and volunteer schedule, I find Beyond Juggling a substance-oriented book that paints the reality of work-life balance issues. It offers great insight on the challenges and preparation professionals must face to adopt different balance strategies successfully. An excellent read for both individuals and employers seeking to retain them in the war for talent. —Denise Phua Lay-Peng, Regional Director, Centre for Effective Leadership (Asia) and Chairperson, Worldwide Collaborations for Autism Needs

About the Author

Kurt Sandholtz leads the career development practice at BT.Novations, an HR consulting firm. Brooklyn Derr, Ed.D., is a management professor at the Eccles School of Business, University of Utah. Dawn S. Carlson, Ph.D., is assistant professor of management at the Hankamer School of Business, Baylor University. Kathy Buckner is VP of Consulting Services for BT.Novations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers; 1 edition (May 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576751309
• ISBN-13: 978-1576751305
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #501,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tame Your Job Before It Eats You Up, July 30, 2002

By 

Beth D. Tueller (Laie, HI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Juggling: Rebalancing Your Busy Life (Paperback)

Beyond Juggling was useful to me, a mother of young children, planning to reenter the workforce. I knew I didn't want the long hours and constant intensity of my previous job, but nor did I want a boring, low-stress, low-expectation job. The authors lay out the pros and cons of five strategies to keep your work and life in balance. I learned that I shouldn't work at home (what the authors call techflexing) since I need--and enjoy--the motivation of interacting with coworkers. On the other hand, my preference to concentrate on one thing at a time makes me good at alternating, a strategy of "intense work periods followed by breaks to recharge." The authors' suggestion that alternaters choose occupations that have natural peaks and valleys, such as tax accounting helped me focus my job search.
In addition to helping readers recognize and use balancing strategies that fit their personalities, Beyond Juggling shows how to incorporate other balancing strategies on a smaller scale. My need for spontaneity makes bundling, "packing multiple purposes into a single event or activity," a poor choice for me generally, but forming an investment club may be the perfect way for me to stay in touch with both my friends and my portfolio once I go back to work.
Since I love to give advice, I relished the appendix, "How Managers Can Use This Book," a whole arsenal of tools to get the best from your employees, not just the most. A wise manager may just give this book to his team members, and prevent burnout before it happens.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book I've Read On Balance -- Hands Down, August 27, 2002

By 

Bryant Ison (Berkeley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Juggling: Rebalancing Your Busy Life (Paperback)

There are lots of books out there just waiting to organize your life and tell you what to do. Problem is, once you finish reading the book, it's impossible to put everything into practice. I really enjoyed Beyond Juggling because it went past that. It gave real, workable solutions to fit work and personal life. I work at a Fortune 500 company and find it difficult in the early part of my career to take the advice of most books. I can't "get off the treadmill" or work flextime until I've build up some organizational credibility. The great thing about the book was that I found solutions that worked for me. It wasn't preachy by telling me I should, of course, put family first. I know that already. Rather they listed great strategies that have really helped me to help balance everything that's important to me.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves work, and loves their life, but doesn't necessarily want the two to be one and the same!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended--rebuilding balance in our lives, July 28, 2002

By 

Jennie Bowen (Palo Alto, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Juggling: Rebalancing Your Busy Life (Paperback)

I highly recommend this book! It's invaluable for all of us committed to meaningful work, friends and family, life, spirit, and self--and who don't want to give up any of them. It contains great, practical ideas on how to rebalance our chaotic lives. The authors have interviewed hundreds of professionals over the years and received an inside look at how they have achieved work-life balance, and this book summarizes the findings for the rest of us.