HDE Series: Jeremy Wright

The following is part 3 of my 8 part series on entrepreneurs and their attempts at work-life balance.

Jeremy Wright and I have a history. I first met him through his website when he was fired for having a “blog.” Inadvertently he had mentioned some of his actions at work and his employer didn’t appreciate it. Jeremy quickly became an expert on blogs and business. A year later, Jeremy published his book, Blog Marketing. I was actually credited as one of his reviewers. Shortly thereafter, Jeremy and a few partners launched a network of blogs employing over 80 individuals. I serve as the bookkeeper. In short, I’ve had the opportunity to watch an entrepreneur grow and become, in my eyes, extremely successful.

The very first thing Jeremy said during our interview was “I have to work all weekend.” I found this to be extremely representative of his self-imposed work style. He, like Steve, loves what he’s doing. But, unlike Steve, he spends a lot of time doing it. Granted, not every task is something Jeremy can be passionate about. Writing a business plan on a Sunday morning is not something many people can get excited about. Times like those are where balance becomes absolutely necessary.

“I have to work all weekend.”

Jeremy consciously makes an effort to balance his life. Whether it’s scheduling something “fun” every fifth task or traveling with his family, Jeremy maintains a clear balance between work and his personal life. But, that’s not to say that the two worlds don’t collide. For Jeremy it can be difficult to achieve balance given the fact that he works from his bedroom. Discipline is absolutely necessary for successfully balanced entrepreneurs. In Jeremy’s case, his family must practice a certain level of discipline and respect too. Although Dad is “home” he’s not always “available.” Jeremy mentioned that he needs to respect the family at the same time. For instance, he’ll be traveling all through the month of May. But, sometimes he’ll bring his family out with him on a business trip. As one can see, a few rules and some conscious effort are a few of the simple concepts that allow Jeremy to successfully balance his work and personal lives.

Jeremy also mentioned one of the most important things to becoming a successfully balanced entrepreneur: the ability to progress. Obviously, Steve Pavlina dedicates his life to continually progressing. Jeremy works hard to balance his personal interests, hobbies, passions and his profession while simultaneously trying to progress each one. As a musician he makes sure to take time to practice. As a nerd he plays Xbox every so often. As a professional I see Jeremy learning new things every week (like how to write a business plan). Again, it’s only through conscious effort that Jeremy can achieve the level of balance he enjoys.

Series: Background, Steve Pavlina, Jeremy Wright, Rory and Sandra Burke, Angie Chang, Shivani Sopory, Conclusions, Final Thoughts
[tags]entrepreneurship, blogging, passion, family, stress[/tags]

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1. HDE Series: Final Thoughts The following is part 8 of my 8 part series...
2. HDE Series: Conclusions The following is part 7 of my 8 part series...
3. HDE Series: Angie Chang The following is part 5 of my 8 part series...
4. HDE Series: Shivani Sopory The following is part 6 of my 8 part series...
5. HDE Series: Steve Pavlina The following is part 2 of my 8 part series...