Balance is B.S.

Women are the primary breadwinners in an increasing number of households, and ever more women hold high-powered, high-earning positions. This is a good thing. More gender equality in the workplace means more opportunities for ambitious women, and, it turns out, better economic performance for the businesses that employ them. But, there's a dark side to this leap in equality that we rarely discuss: although women are doing a greater share of the earning, their share of domestic duties--housekeeping, child-rearing, and so on--isn't undergoing a commensurate decline. This remains true despite the deafening roar of voices encouraging us to strive for "work-life balance." Balance is B.S. explodes the myth of work-life balance, showing working women that they can have it all, if they're willing to stop giving in to the pressure to do more, more, more. For women, the idea of balance sounds good on the surface, but it too often hides an expectation that we should give our all to everything, all the time. This book shows readers how to stand firm in setting their own expectations, defining the life they'd like to see, and working together with partners, children, employers, and others to achieve the successes they want, without suffering the burnout. Ambitious women need to embrace a new paradigm that recognizes work-life balance as the trap it is. Instead, Balance is B.S. encourages women to give themselves permission to blend --integrating their work and personal lives in ways that lead to growth in all areas. Woven with coaching exercises and practical tools, this book helps readers identify their values, and align their efforts with the things that matter. Instead of approaching life as a never-ending series of tasks and chores, none of which ever quite get the attention they deserve, blending is about doing things because we want to do them, and freeing ourselves from the guilt of not being all things to all people. When we pursue our values and align our goals with what's important, we allow ourselves to grow into the people we dream of being, "rising without compromising." Strong women of all ages and walks of life will appreciate the transformative process of working through this book, busting the myth of balance, and discovering that yes, we can have it all.