Finding the Balance
We hear a lot about the importance of work-life balance, and it’s a good conversation to have.
With hustle culture constantly telling us to push harder, to sacrifice more, it’s important to remind ourselves that this is our journey, and work is only a part of it.
But for many of us—especially those working with social impact ventures and startups—the boundaries between passion and profession aren’t neatly drawn.
In these cases, balance isn’t always the goal so much as integration.
What’s the Difference?
Where balance is about maintaining boundaries, integration is about seeking out those places where our personal goals and professional opportunities overlap, and inhabiting them.
It’s about finding ways to translate our personal values into value for others.
Which is why, at Green Gate, we love brand strategy so much.
It’s a process that begins with self-understanding—knowing who you are and what you care about—then integrating it with the value you’re offering and the market you're offering it in.
Unique Value
That describes a lot of the work we do with brands, but it’s also work we’re trying to do within ourselves: building value around the things we believe in and care about.
Admittedly, this isn’t the easiest path. Nor is it the most “balanced.” It asks a lot of us. But in return, it invites us to bring our whole selves to every part of our lives. Including our work.
When you seek to integrate your passions rather than relegate them, you’ll be shocked by the value you have to offer others. And the opportunities it opens up.
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