You know....Maybe in US it's obvious when grown-up like you hardly uses social networks, twitter and other web stuff. Here in Russia it's not true. So I'm really appreciate you and other guys I've met.
Respect!
Have fun. Do good. As always. :)
Ryan Irelan
· 2 years ago
You shouldn't even have to post that, but good for you.
To the doubters out there: You can be highly productive, involved in many projects and _still_ have time for your spouse/children/family.
It's all how you manage your time.
Annie Boccio
· 2 years ago
I think the questions come from a lot of us seeing in our own lives how easy it is to get wrapped up in this stuff, and how quickly the time disappears. And you acknowledge that before you were able to do at least some of it for a living it sucked away family time.
I'm glad you have such balance. I know my husband and I have always made choices based on how they would affect our relationship and our parenting, and some of those choices are hard. So don't feel like people are accusing when they ask the questions about family. Maybe they're hoping you'll answer as you did, and provide an example of a family that is making it work!
Eban Crawford
· 2 years ago
Hey Chris,
First, no person from this online community has the right to judge your situation, so please don't let them have any gray matter real estate. That being said, when you do make your occasional references to your family here and there online, it is obvious that you are totally enamored with them. That is a great thing. The forest Tweets were great!
There is also one other aspect. Look at what you are building for their future. Not only social networking and media, but also the solid base you are building for their life. You are also setting a great example to the power of hard work and the success that it brings.
In other words, you are doing fine. Keep it up!
Cheers, Eban
Britt Raybould
· 2 years ago
I thought the whole point of getting involved in social media and technology was to have more time with family and friends. It seems contradictory to assume that you'd spend LESS time with your family working in this field. My perception would be the opposite and matches what you've outlined. Aren't you actually accomplishing more in comparable or less time than what you were pounding out before at a regular 9-5 job? And, enjoying yourself in the process?
Joel Mark Witt (FolkMedia.org)
· 2 years ago
You said that before you used to work 60 extra hours a week when you had a day job. Now that you work in the social media / events biz you are able to spend evenings and some weekends with your family.
Had you not started working with Pulver Media - would you have burned out your family life trying to move into this space. I only ask because it applies to me - not because I am judging.
I still have a day job and I feel that the extra hours per week puts a strain on family life. Right now I am making an investment in social media & content creation but not really making a living at it.
Sometimes it seems so hard with little provable or measurable reward. Some close to me even view it as a hobby that seems to over-run my life.
I'd be curious to hear anyone's thoughts on striking a better balance in this realm... ??
Sean
· 2 years ago
People shouldn't ask that question. Still, as Annie mentioned, they may just be intrigued.
Thanks for devoting time to social media. It's refreshing to see that people with families can blog and podcast.
It's great you set time apart just for those closest to you.
Mark
· 2 years ago
I can relate. I have been accused of neglecting my family because of two things - my blogfather role at completerunning and also when I started running at high mileage (about 12 hours running a week).
It's not really fair. People don't know how a person organizes their life to NOT neglect their family AND commit to their passions.
For example, I am able to do high mileage training because I go to work very early so that I can leave early and run home. It works and my family doesn't even notice.
jonnygoldstein
· 2 years ago
I appreciated this post. It's good to see how other folks do it.
jonnygoldstein
· 2 years ago
I appreciated this post. It's good to see how other folks manage work and family.
Kat
· 2 years ago
@joel it *did* put strain on us sometimes i wanted to throw that mike/camera/computer through the ^%&^%* window we had to hammer out what we needed repeat daily/weekly etc I was very supportive but I wouldn't have lasted long at that pace.
@Eban Chris talks about us a lot because he adores us but there's an alterer motive talking about the kids is ressuring it's a little visual signal for "Hey, You matter."
He will talk about us with friends at an event and remember to tell me "Even though I am far away, You're still part of this." these all help his/our lives go smoothly I think (hope) that it also establishes respect for us for those of you who call after 6? I hiss at you.
-------- one example of why it works : I was getting resentful of his cell phone's voice mail everybody's chris telling me he was once again not able to talk to me now? my own direct separate msg He's sorry he can't talk to me, he loves me etc.
Small action = HUGE change tweak it, fill it in with silly stuff , little things make or break it
it's very odd to be part of a world i am not part of. : /
Ben Yoskovitz
· 2 years ago
As a father with two kids myself (3 and 4 months) all I can say is: ROCK ON CHRIS!
I've written about "balancing" family and work life (starting a new company) and I think more Dads should talk about it. The difficult times and the good times.
Kudos for posting this. Oh, and the smooshing game doesn't sound all that odd to me. *chuckle*
Ben Yoskovitz
· 2 years ago
I realize now that it looks like I have a 3 month old and a 4 month old. I've got a 3 YEAR old and a 4 month old. Not that I really need to clarify that to your audience, but oh well. *smile*
Clintus McGintus
· 2 years ago
Thank you for this Chris. It puts things in perspective for me and my family. I'm not quite there yet with juggling my time, but getting there.
Joel Mark Witt (FolkMedia.org)
· 2 years ago
@Kat
So - was it an end goal you both agreed on (i.e. getting a job as a social media pro) that kept you from killing him while he was investing time away from your family?
Joel Mark Witt
JasonFalls
· 2 years ago
First off ... beautiful kids. Second, thanks for sharing. I have a two-year-old and one on the way and would completely prefer to spend every waking hour at home. But like your comments indicate, managing and balancing time and schedules well makes for happiness at both places.
It's easy to get twitchy when people question your commitment to your family (since that's how we busy bodies take the comment). But as long as you're good with the wife and kids, what others think doesn't matter.
Congrats to you for being able to list the special things you do with your son and daughter. Some folks would be hard pressed to figure that out.
Dr.Mani
· 2 years ago
Chris, from my not inconsiderable experience of knowing entrepreneurs, professionals and self-made people, the biggest clue to those who have their priorities right is that they are *concerned* that they may not be spending enough time with family.
I'm always wary of those who claim they are giving adequate (or more than enough) time to their spouse and kids. Truth: they are NOT.
The most powerful statement I've heard is this... "To a child, love is spelled T-I-M-E."
Each time I ask my little girl (she's eight) if she thinks I'm spending enough time with her, the answer is prompt and clear... "No". And she's right - even if she has my undivided attention for 2 or more hours daily!
You're lucky to have such a lovely family - and they are lucky to have someone like you who cares!
All success Dr.Mani
@ Kat - you should talk to my wife... she's completely endorse your views re the window thing!
@ Ben Yoskowitz - took me a few seconds, but I figured it out before reading your second comment ;)
Dan Schawbel
· 2 years ago
You gotta teach them how to blog now. They can have their own small boxes ;)
Good seeing you last night.
marshal sandler
· 2 years ago
It is to your credit, that you are not just a signature or a nickname on a website ! I think most people like to know about the people they follow on the net ! Socially yours Msandler
Joel Mark Witt (FolkMedia.org)
· 2 years ago
@ Dr. Mani
Great point. I guess it is a good thing that we are concerned about not spending enough time. At least I am aware.
I think when people ask Chris if he ever sees his family they are really looking inward at their own family life.
Joel Mark Witt
joec0914
· 2 years ago
Take this from someone 60 years old and with a very successful 35+ year engineering career behind them. It is absolutely necessary to make yourself unavailable at times. Shut off the phone, close the Twitter and email windows, tell the world it can wait. Because damn it, it *can* wait. If people tell you your career or company will suffer if you're not always available, tell 'em "thanks, I'm prepared to live with that." Because the more you respond to interruptions, the more you will be asked to respond. Most of those interruptions are because the person interrupting you was interrupted himself, and so on.
Slowly, our work and lives have developed into a sort of biological multi-processing OS. It all runs on interrupts. Well, every computer as the equivalent of on IOF instruction, for Interrupt Off, and so do you. Good on you, Chris, for realizing that.
Yianni Garcia
· 2 years ago
You're kids are beautiful. You're a lucky man. This might sound crazy since I'm 22 years old, but my daddy clock has been ticking out of control lately. Every time I see pictures like these, I get envious of the parents and start day dreaming about the days when I'll have my own mini-social media guys running around the house. I very much admire your ability to kick-ass in business and while maintaining a family. ..I'll be there one day-sooner than later it seems.
Will
· 2 years ago
You couldn't have said it any better.
Shama Hyder
· 2 years ago
You have the cutest kids!!! I agree with Dan-let's get them blogging too. : )
All Comments
Respect!
Have fun. Do good. As always. :)
To the doubters out there: You can be highly productive, involved in many projects and _still_ have time for your spouse/children/family.
It's all how you manage your time.
I'm glad you have such balance. I know my husband and I have always made choices based on how they would affect our relationship and our parenting, and some of those choices are hard. So don't feel like people are accusing when they ask the questions about family. Maybe they're hoping you'll answer as you did, and provide an example of a family that is making it work!
First, no person from this online community has the right to judge your situation, so please don't let them have any gray matter real estate. That being said, when you do make your occasional references to your family here and there online, it is obvious that you are totally enamored with them. That is a great thing. The forest Tweets were great!
There is also one other aspect. Look at what you are building for their future. Not only social networking and media, but also the solid base you are building for their life. You are also setting a great example to the power of hard work and the success that it brings.
In other words, you are doing fine. Keep it up!
Cheers,
Eban
Had you not started working with Pulver Media - would you have burned out your family life trying to move into this space. I only ask because it applies to me - not because I am judging.
I still have a day job and I feel that the extra hours per week puts a strain on family life. Right now I am making an investment in social media & content creation but not really making a living at it.
Sometimes it seems so hard with little provable or measurable reward. Some close to me even view it as a hobby that seems to over-run my life.
I'd be curious to hear anyone's thoughts on striking a better balance in this realm... ??
Thanks for devoting time to social media. It's refreshing to see that people with families can blog and podcast.
It's great you set time apart just for those closest to you.
It's not really fair. People don't know how a person organizes their life to NOT neglect their family AND commit to their passions.
For example, I am able to do high mileage training because I go to work very early so that I can leave early and run home. It works and my family doesn't even notice.
it *did* put strain on us
sometimes i wanted to throw that mike/camera/computer through the ^%&^%* window
we had to hammer out what we needed
repeat daily/weekly etc
I was very supportive
but I wouldn't have lasted long at that pace.
@Eban
Chris talks about us a lot because he adores us
but
there's an alterer motive
talking about the kids is ressuring
it's a little visual signal for "Hey, You matter."
He will talk about us with friends at an event and remember to tell me
"Even though I am far away, You're still part of this."
these all help his/our lives go smoothly
I think (hope) that it also establishes respect for us
for those of you who call after 6?
I hiss at you.
--------
one example of why it works :
I was getting resentful of his cell phone's voice mail
everybody's chris telling me he was once again not able to talk to me
now?
my own direct separate msg
He's sorry he can't talk to me, he loves me etc.
Small action = HUGE change
tweak it,
fill it in with silly stuff ,
little things make or break it
it's very odd to be part of a world i am not part of. : /
I've written about "balancing" family and work life (starting a new company) and I think more Dads should talk about it. The difficult times and the good times.
Kudos for posting this. Oh, and the smooshing game doesn't sound all that odd to me. *chuckle*
So - was it an end goal you both agreed on (i.e. getting a job as a social media pro) that kept you from killing him while he was investing time away from your family?
Joel Mark Witt
It's easy to get twitchy when people question your commitment to your family (since that's how we busy bodies take the comment). But as long as you're good with the wife and kids, what others think doesn't matter.
Congrats to you for being able to list the special things you do with your son and daughter. Some folks would be hard pressed to figure that out.
I'm always wary of those who claim they are giving adequate (or more than enough) time to their spouse and kids. Truth: they are NOT.
The most powerful statement I've heard is this... "To a child, love is spelled T-I-M-E."
Each time I ask my little girl (she's eight) if she thinks I'm spending enough time with her, the answer is prompt and clear... "No". And she's right - even if she has my undivided attention for 2 or more hours daily!
You're lucky to have such a lovely family - and they are lucky to have someone like you who cares!
All success
Dr.Mani
@ Kat - you should talk to my wife... she's completely endorse your views re the window thing!
@ Ben Yoskowitz - took me a few seconds, but I figured it out before reading your second comment ;)
Good seeing you last night.
Great point. I guess it is a good thing that we are concerned about not spending enough time. At least I am aware.
I think when people ask Chris if he ever sees his family they are really looking inward at their own family life.
Joel Mark Witt
Slowly, our work and lives have developed into a sort of biological multi-processing OS. It all runs on interrupts. Well, every computer as the equivalent of on IOF instruction, for Interrupt Off, and so do you. Good on you, Chris, for realizing that.