Balancing life and work well is an everyday hero’s journey

“Downshifting”
By John D. Drakes
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc., 2000


For the past two weeks, conversations with friends and associates began with work and ended with something loftier and longer than work: Life.

You say, it may be the company I keep. But, no. One was born before World War II, and the other when it just began. Two of them are “baby boomers” (born after the war). The last is a Martial Law baby, born in 1972 when the country was placed under martial rule.

The pre-WW II baby just retired — and he is producing a book containing speeches delivered over a ten-year period, if he is not busy at the golf course in Malarayat or fishing near a vacation house facing the Batangas Bay.

The WW II baby is concluding a dizzying — and very rewarding career in the corporate world as CEO of a number of firms — who began with three private planes and decided to retain just one, as part of his “downshifting” strategies. (Mortals like us settle for earthbound and land-based vehicles, while the rich and famous simply downscale their options for airborne “toys”.)

A baby boomer has limited his consultancy jobs to a few favorite clients and decided to lay the foundation for becoming an “arm chair” professor and, possibly, an author – after earning a doctoral degree in a year or two.

The youngish manager, armed with an MBA, decided to put up an outlet for a specialty coffee shop with his bride-to-be, and relishes the prospects of a slowed down life over coffee and cookie.

That’s the theme of “Downshifting,” a book whose sub-title says it all — almost: “How to work less and enjoy life more.” The author is John D. Drake, who was himself a workaholic CEO who, one day, decided to drop everything — and start a simpler and satisfying life.

Mr. Drake says the decision to “downshift” has become more attractive to some – but at the same much more difficult — because of the demands of the internet age. He quotes a consultant from McKinsey & Company:

“The fast pace and pressure to be plugged-in at all times, made by the omnipresent cell phones, voicemail, e-mail, laptops and faxes, fueled the expectation that employees quite literally be available to deal with work issues 24 hours a day —wherever they are whatever they are doing.”

He tells of a boast from a co-employee on time spent in the office: I work half-days —12 hours!”

The book -- written in an easy, warm style — leads the executive through the process of considering shorter hours at work for the bosses and longer hours for life at home with loved ones and friends — from staring the “work trap” in the eye to egging you to act with the question: “What’s stopping you?”

From considering “low-risk downshifting options” to strategizing how to persuade your boss or your organization to buy your idea of a less stressful job, reduced hours, or working at home half of the time. Finally, the book gives you insights on how to deal with your “newfound free time” as semi-retired. Locally, others call this “retire-ded” (derisively taking off from “retarded).

The author opens up a long discussion on “work that consumes our lives” — even the justification that it is only in the workplace where you get fulfillment, recognition and the means to buy the finer things in life. That’s quite true, the author admits. An interesting chapter is his juxtaposition of what “one would miss” with options that begin with the phrase, “on the other hand.”

For example on the issue: “Will I have enough money?” the author adds: “On the other hand, you may not need as much.” Read happy stories of lives enhanced with altered work habits. The author, who once was CEO of the world’s largest human resources consulting firm, shares insights on the liberating effect of a decision to downshift. By no means is he advising that the executive bid goodbye to work; only changing his work mindset.

His discussion on Type A personalities — the driven, perfectionist ones — is enlightening, and we see ourselves. “We make our own crises,” he declares, and we can only agree — because we make such high demands on ourselves.

He advises: “Avoid business travel on weekends,” and we know he is pointing his finger at you and me. He gives a quote: “Control your destiny or someone else will.” It’s from Jack Welch, celebrated CEO of General Electric, now enjoying his retirement.

His parting shot could be our shot in the arm as humans first, workers second: “Your quest for success defined by simplicity, love, and meaningfulness, in a world that defines success as material gain, is truly a hero’s journey. Go for it!