“Balance in work is not better time management, but better boundary management.” Betsy Jacobson
They Will Never Tell You Really, is that what they told you? That if you worked hard, came in early, had lunch at your desk, stayed back, you would be rewarded, if you worked sick you'd be respected, if you answered your phone out of hours you'd be feted, and if you put your family last you'd make manager, partner, senior, sometime. That if you did all this and more and never complained, you would be part of the vast, ecstatic experience of making the anonymous shareholders so very happy and at the very least keep your job. They never said a word because they knew you had no boundaries, you were the workaholic they were looking for to keep the place afloat, and to be exactly like them, they will never tell you, but they will keep working you until you don't. Copyright 2022 ©Paul Vincent Cannon All Rights Reserved ®️ Note: Trying to find a quote as epigram to fit the poem was more challenging than usual. So few quotes were critical of workaholism and overwork. Most contemporary quotes about work were about how workaholism is not necessarily bad, or that there is this thing - the work-life balance, a kind of denial culture. Older quotes were either gendered, racist, or colonial. I think it shows how we are incapable of setting work aside for health, leisure, play, pleasure etc.
parallax 
Oooohwee!!! This is amazing!! So true, unfortunately. Lack of boundaries truly attracts people with a lack of integrity , unfortunately.
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Yes, just look at the state of things in the world, we are reaping that harvest well and truly.
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Yes, indeed! 💔
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Soooooo true!
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And so much of it around.
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I came perilously close to destroying my health and my marriage by being a workaholic.
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Yikes, it is so easy though, I veered down that line until I realised I was being used.
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That realization is such a hard truth to face.
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Yes, much self reproach for a time.
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Bravo Paul – liked all of this – and your quest for a suitable epigram is telling isn’t it ?
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Thank you so much Peter, yes indeed, very telling, and so much evidence of the results in our society, soul destroying.
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Perfect quote and poem … I’ve always said boundaries were vital to my sanity! I’d work to 9pm if a crisis was on hand but come in at noon the next day. Everyone needs a balance, and nobody remembers the sacrifices you made, only you 😦
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Yes, vital indeed, I don’t know how anyone can be without them, but I’ve seen so many just surrender their lives to work. Balance is the critical issue for sure, thank you Kate 🙂
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Wow!! Really loved the post, Paul!! You really nailed the Corporate Culture – You be loyal to them – but find out too late they aren’t loyal or caring about you!!! 😁✨👍
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No, they shaft the employees, having sucked the life out of them.
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Yes, so true and now you have given me another (probably unwanted) image – like a spider with a fly caught in the web!! LOL 😁✨👍
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Sadly its true, most people are so subservient it worries me. Sorry about the image, can’t erase that now, lol. 🙂
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Sadly so so true – great poem
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Thank you so much.
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