SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- In the White House and Congress,
the boardrooms of corporate America, and within the walls of homes throughout
the U.S., the most pressing question people are asking for the new year is
"How do I achieve balance between work and home?"
Stephen R. Covey, author of the New York Times bestseller "The 7 Habits of
Highly Effective Families," says, "Three-quarters of the audiences I speak to
worldwide say that family is the most important thing in their lives;
95 percent say it is in the top three. However, workers are now being forced
to do more with less, having to spend more hours in the workplace than ever
before. This is causing a great deal of inner conflict for most Americans. I
want to tell people to 'relax.' You can be on the fast-track at work and
still have a family if you learn to plan and keep your commitments."
Covey, whose company merged with Franklin Quest to form Franklin Covey Co.
(NYSE: FC), one of the leading time management and leadership development
training companies in the world, says, "According to a recent poll, 79% of
Americans say that they would give up a job promotion if it meant spending
less time with their family. Why then, does the average child watch seven
hours of television a day and spend only five minutes with Dad?"
Hyrum Smith, Chairman and CEO of Franklin Covey Co. and creator of the
Franklin Day Planner, says, "An extraordinary peace comes from knowing that we
are focusing our lives on what really matters most. The key to this focus and
balance comes from planning and follow through. The key to achieving your
goals in the workplace and in the home is not just in writing down your
to-do's and tasks in a Franklin Day Planner, 7 Habits Organizer, or on a
simple calendar. This is important, but the real power and inner peace comes
in the choices we make and the dedication and commitment we have to actually
living up to what we say and write down. It's about keeping promises to
ourselves and to others."
Covey and Smith offer the following tips for achieving balance in 1998:
1. Develop a family mission statement with the participation of all
family members.
2. Take 20 minutes prior to the start of the week to plan both your
professional and family goals. Then plan in solitude for 10 minutes at the
start of each day. Share your schedule with your entire family and be aware
of what is happening in each person's week.
3. Draw boundaries between work and home. If you are at work, BE AT
WORK, focused on what you must do that day. If you are at home, BE AT HOME.
IF you are out playing catch in the backyard with your son, don't keep your
cell phone in your pocket.
4. At least once a month, schedule one-on-one bonding time with each
family member.
5. Plan regular family dinners and keep them positive. The dinner table
is not the place to take disciplinary action or to bring up negative issues
that can be discussed at a later time.
6. Once a week, plan a fun family activity. Involve all members in the
planning and make sure that work doesn't interfere with what you promise you
will do.
7. Remember to revitalize yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and
spiritually. Each week you could choose to: exercise, read a book, mend a
relationship, connect with nature, or write in a journal.
"People who learn how to prioritize their family life become more
productive at work," says Covey. "They are creative forces in their families
and in their whole lives. That's what bosses want and companies want," says
Covey. "Look at life as a whole. Determine your multiple priorities such as
work, family and personal life and then schedule activities which you must do
to serve each of those roles. You don't have to quit your job, you just have
to know when to end it each day. Work your guts out while at work. Then when
you're home, be at home," Covey says. "No one on their deathbed ever wished
they had spent more time at the office."
Franklin Covey has 121 Franklin Covey 7 Habits Stores throughout the U.S.
which provide individuals, families, and organizations the tools for effective
living. Franklin Covey has more than five million users of the Franklin Day
Planner and the 7 Habits Organizer and has more than 15 million books in print
worldwide, including their latest best-seller, "The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective Families" by Stephen R. Covey.
SOURCE Franklin Covey Co.
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Related links:
http://www.franklincovey.com
CONTACT:
Debra Lund, 801-496-4249, or Cherell Jordin,
801-496-4247, both of Franklin Covey
CNOC: http://www.prnewswire.com or fax, 800-758-5804, ext.
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