I spoke with someone the other day in hopes to gain some business with them… They started by testing me a bit to make sure we were going to be the right fit. They started with things like: If I call you at 9pm on a Friday night, I need to know that you will answer! Or, If I am working 7 days a week, our agency better be working 7 days a week too!
I quickly decided that this was not a match made in heaven. If such great business people can understand margin in their P&L statements, why is it that they can not understand margin in their lives? Bottom line: Burnout does not create a good product. It creates angry people, messy products, and a stuffy environment.
As a creative agency, we understand deadlines, and even having to put extra effort in to make things happen. Don’t forget, we had to build this business from nothing (no debt, no banks, no investors). We spent, and are still spending long hours developing, training, leading, coaching, and learning.
The point is: In the midst of all of those things, there still has to be margin in YOUR LIFE! Without margin in your bank, there is no financial profit, so I have to believe that without margin in my life, there is no mental, spiritual or relational profit.
We are able to create cool, exciting, innovative things because we believe and understand the value of margin in our lives.
- Daniel
7:37 pm on August 25th, 2010
Pretty impressive writing from my little boy….not so little any more. Uncle Tom was as impressed as I am. Glad to see you not only grew in stature, but in wisdom and knowledge as well. I hope the client listened to you. If not, one day he will learn that you were right and were offering some sound advice.
Love,
Dad