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Winning at Work Almost Cost Me My Family
Twenty-four years ago, a love of product and overwork left Dan’s family learning to live without him—even when he was home. Hard boundaries made him present as a husband and father, and his career accelerated anyway. Winning at work isn’t worth losing at home; if that hits close, he’s open to being a sounding board.
24 years ago product almost made me lose my family.
This is a story that I’ve shared with most people that I’ve coached over the years.
Here’s the short version. I’m a workaholic in remission. I love product and I love work. It was a perfect recipe for disaster in the early years of my career.
I came home from a business trip and realized nobody seemed to be excited dad was home. In fact, it seemed like I was in the way. I brought this up with my wife and she said that she and the kids had learned to live without me. I was never there. I traveled a lot but even when I was there, my average time getting home was after 8pm.
I was excelling in my career. I justified that it was for my family. I was failing at home.
Through a series of events that to me are truly miraculous, I changed. I set and kept hard boundaries. I was present at home. I became the father and husband that my wife thought i could be when we started our family.
The interesting thing - when I found the right boundaries my career accelerated even faster.
Winning at work is not worth losing at home.
If this resonates with you and I can help you think through this, message me. I’m happy to be a sounding board and tell you the rest of the story.