The IBM blue suit and sturdy brown briefcase. That was the standard for men when I joined the ranks of corporate America a few decades ago. Women wore it too, adding a single strand pearl necklace. Business was business and personal was something you cringed if anyone caught wind of it.
Today that briefcase is only seen in movies to hold ransom money and the blue suit has been replaced by sweatpants and a t-shirt. Or maybe a button down on Zoom meeting days.
And the line between business and personal? That is so last decade.
Millennials Got it Right on Work/Life Balance
The term “work-life balance” implies that work is separate from life, but really, it’s all life. “To Millennials, work-life balance is about what matters most to them as individuals…Millennials want work-life balance to be fluid, free, and flexible to prioritize whatever (work or life) is most important that day” (Inc., 2018). In the world of “be careful what you ask for,” wish granted.
In fact this entire year has been one big blur of shifting daily roles. A silver lining, it’s also been a time to reflect as the old ways of doing things become obsolete and you have an opportunity to create something new from the inside out.
Now’s the Time to Bring Your Full Self to Life
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion helps companies create work environments where employees feel welcome to bring their full selves to work. These same tools and tactics can be leveraged for personal effectiveness in your business, projects, and life. How do you bring your full self to your life? How are you leveraging your passions, world vision and self-identity to build your business?
I created the Intercultural Talks Facebook Live show to have conversations with people who are doing this, via a platform that lets you not only listen in but ask questions and participate in real time. Marcelo built community around language by founding Brazil in Chicago (aired 8/19). Lindsay is a global citizen leading Fortune 500 companies to leverage technology and build new markets (Show on 9/9); Tim’s company is soaring as a B-Corp and LGBT-certified biz enterprise (Show on 10/14).
Hear How Others Are Doing It
I hope you will stop by Intercultural Talk on Facebook at 1 pm Central on Wednesdays to see how these entrepreneurs, business leaders and individuals who decided to be the hero in their own life, are connecting to their gut feeling…the one that tells you what you stand for, how you want your community and the world to look. And see how they are translating that into powerful action to build thriving, meaningful businesses and life projects.