"Mum, thank you for spending time with me even though you're really busy at work.” I was devastated to hear this from my preschooler son this time last year. 

All I could focus on were the words: "even though.” Even though you're really busy… even though your job comes first. 

Was this what I really wanted to teach my son? 

That he should be grateful for my attention in the moments I get “really busy”? 

The reality is that no career achievement can make up for missing my kiddo's precious moments. 

And precious to him right now is dancing in front of the television learning the moves to the gummy bear song. 

But sometimes I do get really busy. And I enjoy what I do! So I started thinking, how can I be there for my kiddos without sacrificing my career, and the things that make me happy too?

Sometimes it feels like an impossible choice… However, in this edition, I’ve got the answer.

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Todays Topics

• That’s Interesting: Finding real work-life balance
• Monday Mindset: What is success?
• Career Hack: The Whole Life Success Planner - click here for this must have tool

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Finding real work-life balance

"In 20 years, only your children will remember that you worked late." - Ethan Evans

We pour ourselves into our work, thinking we're doing it for our family's future. 

But in the process, we risk missing out on the moments that truly matter most to our children. 

Kids don't care about fancy titles or big bonuses. They just want our time, our attention, our love. 

They want us to be present for the little things — the silly jokes, the bedtime stories, the after-school chats. 

The problem is, too many of us get caught up in the grind, the pressure to be "on" 24/7. 

We're afraid to push back or set boundaries at work because we don't want to let anyone down or miss out on opportunities.

I feel this in my own business. 

I don’t want to let clients down when they need me, and I also have a thousand ideas I want to implement in my programs! 

My mind is often in overdrive and it’s so easy for me to keep picking up my phone and checking emails even when I’m supposed to be playing hide and seek. 

(My son's favourite game at the moment is hide and seek with lemons…a whole basket of them! I have since found many rotting lemons throughout the house - yay!).

I often find my mind wandering when I’m reading a bedtime story of all the things I want to get to as soon as the kids are asleep. That’s not how I wanted my parenting journey to go, and yet, here I was…wishing away time so I could “get more work done”.

Can you relate? 

Often, we keep saying yes, taking on more and more, until work totally consumes us. We start defining our worth by our output and sometimes, our kids get the leftovers. 

But here's the thing — it doesn't have to be an either/or choice. 

There are many of us who have cracked the code on having both a thriving career and a close, connected family life. It IS possible to excel professionally without constantly sacrificing precious hours with your kiddos. 

For me, it started with a shift in my mindset. 

I asked myself: what if I started prioritising my own needs (and my family's) as much as my clients and programs? 

What if I got ruthless about cutting out busywork and nonessentials so I could be all-in when I’m home? 

What if I trusted that making time for me and my family is actually an investment in my long-term success and fulfilment? 

In this week’s Career Hack, I’m diving into how to achieve real work-life balance. 

I’ll explore the top strategies that hard working women, including myself, have used to build amazing careers AND family lives. 

It's time to stop choosing and start going after the best of both worlds. Let's do this!

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Energise baby!

Keep this one pinned to your desk this week!

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Get more strategic

Last year I was burnt out. I was running my business, consulting in HR and I was fitting the kids in around it.  

If you have been reading our newsletter for this long, you would remember how bad the end of last year got.

However, this year has been different.  

The business is going great in supporting amazing women (seriously, I have the best clients) and we are totally living our mission, and…

…I’ve had an incredible period of time with my kids, and my unwell mum.

Here’s what I’ve learned: 

To achieve a better balance between my career and family life, I needed to be strategic and proactive about how I approach my work. 

I had many priorities I wanted to fit in. 

So, let me share with you how to get laser-focused on work that really moves the needle: 

Firstly, I listed out the things that matter most:

1. My family.  Specifically; my young children, husband and my mum.
2. My own mental and physical health.
3. My business success (aka customer success).

Here’s the thing; if I can’t do 1 & 2 properly, then number 3 will suffer too. 

I started to categorise the tasks I was doing:

Instead of doing everything, I categorised the items using the Eisenhower Matrix and removed what was non essential. 

Second, I got myself an incredible planner. It’s called “The Whole Life Success Planner”.

This isn’t a plug, I make no financial benefit from this…

This planner has been life changing as I get to set out how my entire day and week goes, plus focus on the areas that I most value and want to prioritise. 

The reason I love it is because it reminds you of the things important to you, so you don’t get lost in the ‘do everything’ mindset.

Once I have my planner open I: 

• Zero in on the tasks that make the biggest impact and align with my goals 
• I schedule the important stuff FIRST, then other priorities after i.e. I carve out dedicated "deep work" slots where I can tackle your most important stuff without distractions 

You can do the same with your work calendar, there are some tricks to this that I will share in an upcoming newsletter.

This process has allowed me to say no to certain meetings or projects that aren’t the best use of my time or talents. 

Then, I start looking at where I can streamline my processes or delegate: 

• I look for tasks that can be automated or handled by someone else (or be totally removed!). It’s important to get comfy with delegating and trusting your colleagues to step up.
• I’m always on the lookout for workflow improvements that can save me time and hassle

I schedule in that precious family and personal time like it's a non-negotiable: 

• I block off my calendar for the stuff that matters most i.e. date nights, kiddo events, and some solid self-care 
• I then fiercely protect my personal time and communicate my boundaries clearly (see my email signature below as an example) 

That allows me, when I’m in “work mode”, to be fully present and focused so I can make the most of my hours.

Alright, so you’re implementing the above but sometimes, no matter how much you optimise, your current role just might not be compatible with the balanced life you're striving for. 

I get it! 

If you're in a work environment that doesn't support your goals and well-being, it may be time to explore other options: 

• Don't be afraid to have honest conversations with your boss about your needs and propose creative solutions 
• But, also, know that it's okay to draw a line in the sand and seek out a company that better aligns with your values 

If you lead others, this sets an example for others too, which is empowering others to focus on the right things for them.

Remember, your career should enhance your life, not consume it. Creating work-life balance is an ongoing journey, and what works for someone else might not work for you. 

So keep experimenting, stay flexible, and don't be too hard on yourself. 

You've got this, and I'm cheering you on every step of the way! 

Plus seriously, check out The Whole Life Success Planner. It really is awesome (and again, I have no affiliation, I just really love the planner!).

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Cheers & Claps: Our Success Stories

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Wrapping up another fantastic week! A huge thank you for subscribing and diving into our newsletter.  

We trust it sparked some inspiration, motivation, or perhaps offered a delightful distraction. 

Em & the PY Team

P.S.  Whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways I can help you accelerate your career: 

1. Book your FREE Career Growth Session

If you’re a professional woman who is tired of tolerating your job, then you might just be a few strategies and tactics away from getting the clarity and confidence to land a role that not only excites you, but aligns with your life.  Talk to us today to see what's possible for you - Click Here

2. Join my FREE Career Clarity & Confidence Group 

Inside, we’ll be sharing with you how to get the clarity and confidence to secure a career that not only excites you, but aligns with your life — Click Here

3. Join me for a FREE Online Career Workshop

I’ll be teaching you how to discover your perfect job, confidently go for it & get it (without endless searching on SEEK, the headache of perfecting a resume, or struggling with interview nerves) - attend for FREE here.

4. Apply for our Thriving Leaders Club

It's our exclusive community for women who want to be impactful, influential leaders that radiate confidence and enjoy ease and balance in their careers (and stop suffering from burn out, feeling unseen and unrecognised and simply surviving dealing with hard team members). 

Watch Explainer Video Here