Work and Play

Jack Welch was one of the most famous and successful CEOs of the 20th century. He led General Electric from a $14 billion company to over $400 billion. He famously once said, “There’s no such thing as work/life balance.” I’m sure his three divorced wives might not agree!

At WMH, we are all about dissecting the components of a man’s life and encouraging men to lean into finding balance in all areas: Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.

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Start With the Soul

If we had to choose one area to start with, it would be SOUL. If you don’t know who you are at your core—if you don’t have a compass for what is True North and a solid worldview—you will drift in every other area of life. Our executive coaches help unpack this pillar (among others) and aim to encourage men to find meaning, purpose, and balance across their whole lives.

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The Mind: Where Work Dominates

The area that tends to be most consuming is MIND, and a large portion of that is our work. Stephen Covey famously said, “Either you manage your calendar, or your calendar manages you.” We must put the things that matter on our calendars. That includes:

• Time with your spouse, kids, and friends
• Exercise and movement
• Sleep and recovery
• Activities that bring joy and health
• Boundaries around work

This is difficult—especially because many successful people genuinely enjoy their work.

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Heart: Prioritizing Relationships

HEART is where emotional health lives—through relationships. Intentionality is the key word here. One of my former coaches used to say, “No plan is a plan to fail.” At WMH, we encourage finding “touchpoints” with the people who matter most to you—things you enjoy doing together, such as:

• Exercising
• Cooking
• Traveling
• Hunting or fishing

Once you identify them, put them on your calendar.

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Strength: The Physical Foundation

The STRENGTH pillar of WMH is a big lift (pardon the pun). It’s about:

• VO₂ max
• Zone 2 training
• Resistance and strength training

While it’s time-consuming, it brings both mental and physical health and plays a huge role in achieving balance.

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A New Year Commitment

As we start a new year, perhaps one simple commitment we can all make is this: Add things that matter to your calendar—not just work commitments. For me, that looks like:

• Time with God to start the day
• A monthly date night with my wife
• Calling each of my adult children weekly
• And yes—all my WMH workouts

The reality is simple:
If it’s not on your calendar, it may or may not happen.

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Closing Thought

I’ll end with one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite preachers, Tom Nelson: “When your output exceeds your intake, your upkeep becomes your downfall.”

Blessings for a Happy New Year!

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