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Off Balance: Getting Beyond the Work-Life Balance Myth to Personal and Professional Satisfaction
The research upon which this book is based shows overwhelmingly that people want satisfaction much more than they want balance. And yet, one of the dominant topics in the area of personal and professional development for the past twenty years has been work-life balance.Off Balance is more than just a book. It presents a system that Matthew Kelly uses with his Fortune 500 clients, his team, and himself to drive increasing levels of satisfaction both personally and professionally. He introduces us to the three philosophies of our age that are dragging us down. He teaches us how to cultivate energy so that we have plenty left for our passions when we are finished fulfilling our responsibilities. And finally, in five clear steps, he shows us how to use his Personal and Professional Satisfaction System to establish our priorities and honor them even when we feel pulled in a hundred different directions.The beautiful thing about satisfaction is that you know when you have it, and you know when you don't. Do you have it? Short, insightful, and life-changing, Off Balance gives us all the tools we need to go to sleep every night knowing who we are, what matters most, and that our lives make sense.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
141 people are currently reading
1508 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Kelly
188 books1,405 followersMatthew Kelly is a best-selling author, speaker, thought leader, entrepreneur, consultant, spiritual leader, and innovator.
He has dedicated his life to helping people and organizations become the-best-version-of-themselves. Born in Sydney, Australia, he began speaking and writing in his late teens while he was attending business school. Since that time, 5 million people have attended his seminars and presentations in more than 50 countries.
Today, Kelly is an internationally acclaimed speaker, author, and business consultant. His books have been published in more than 30 languages, have appeared on The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller lists, and have sold more than 50 million copies.
In his early-twenties he developed "the-best-version-of-yourself" concept and has been sharing it in every arena of life for more than twenty-five years. It is quoted by presidents and celebrities, athletes and their coaches, business leaders and innovators, though perhaps it is never more powerfully quoted than when a mother or father asks a child, "Will that help you become the-best-version-of-yourself?"
Kelly's personal interests include golf, music, art, literature, investing, spirituality, and spending time with his wife, Meggie, and their children Walter, Isabel, Harry, Ralph, and Simon.
He has dedicated his life to helping people and organizations become the-best-version-of-themselves. Born in Sydney, Australia, he began speaking and writing in his late teens while he was attending business school. Since that time, 5 million people have attended his seminars and presentations in more than 50 countries.
Today, Kelly is an internationally acclaimed speaker, author, and business consultant. His books have been published in more than 30 languages, have appeared on The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller lists, and have sold more than 50 million copies.
In his early-twenties he developed "the-best-version-of-yourself" concept and has been sharing it in every arena of life for more than twenty-five years. It is quoted by presidents and celebrities, athletes and their coaches, business leaders and innovators, though perhaps it is never more powerfully quoted than when a mother or father asks a child, "Will that help you become the-best-version-of-yourself?"
Kelly's personal interests include golf, music, art, literature, investing, spirituality, and spending time with his wife, Meggie, and their children Walter, Isabel, Harry, Ralph, and Simon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
December 7, 2015
I am interested in learning more about "Flow" or "Work/Life Balance" or "Personal and Professional Satisfaction" - this book's promise to a happier life. This issue I had with this book was that it had a similar feeling to one of those "seminars". Y'know the ones, where the charismatic guy leads you through some inspiring exercises, the whole time promising to help you and teasing that we are getting so close, and then leaves you in the end with a to-do list of nicely vague check-marks to accomplish on your way to greater happiness... Maybe two or three things to consider but overall a bit too much cheerleader and not enough coach.
February 9, 2012
This was a surprisingly helpful book which was great to read through, but it could be even more useful as an aid to a group workshop, perhaps for young professionals starting out, or a professional development session for colleagues.
Its premise is to help us to learn how to become the best version of ourselves that we can be. Instead of focusing on a balance between everything, it focuses on helping you find satisfaction at the deepest level through identifying and accomplishing what is most important to you.
It identifies key areas to focus on, then takes you through practical steps to work through:
- the importance of planning, and how to work through a 'strategy' session
- then how to strategise each day to allow you to accomplish the important things as well as the every-day.
- how to develop core habits, with a great list of suggested habits
- how to prioritise between priorities (a step-by-step process that's easy to follow)
- how energy can effect what you can accomplish - which is common sense, but he actually shows how you can do something about it
Most helpful is that a solution is offered for every issue identified.
It's well explained and practical, but most importantly, what it suggests will help you become a better person, because he brings every issue around to what is most important in life, for example, one's relationship with spouse and kids, time and energy to do the things you are passionate about, how to help yourself to work well, and to have meaningful, rewarding relationships with your friends. Make time for it. www.GoodReadingGuide.com
Its premise is to help us to learn how to become the best version of ourselves that we can be. Instead of focusing on a balance between everything, it focuses on helping you find satisfaction at the deepest level through identifying and accomplishing what is most important to you.
It identifies key areas to focus on, then takes you through practical steps to work through:
- the importance of planning, and how to work through a 'strategy' session
- then how to strategise each day to allow you to accomplish the important things as well as the every-day.
- how to develop core habits, with a great list of suggested habits
- how to prioritise between priorities (a step-by-step process that's easy to follow)
- how energy can effect what you can accomplish - which is common sense, but he actually shows how you can do something about it
Most helpful is that a solution is offered for every issue identified.
It's well explained and practical, but most importantly, what it suggests will help you become a better person, because he brings every issue around to what is most important in life, for example, one's relationship with spouse and kids, time and energy to do the things you are passionate about, how to help yourself to work well, and to have meaningful, rewarding relationships with your friends. Make time for it. www.GoodReadingGuide.com
September 5, 2022
This has to be one of the worst books I’ve ever read. Not only is the writing bad, but it seems like it’s written for the high-paid senior executive who wants to feel better about the fact that they work too much. Some of the ideas are totally unrealistic - Matthew shares that if we want to be “in the room”, we have to be willing to work more than 40 or 50 hours a week. However, he preaches that we should aim to completely unplug when we go on vacation. In what world are the people who are “in the room” ever able to completely unplug? He also offensively argues that people who want to work simply to pay the bills will never be truly satisfied, either personally or professionally. There is NOTHING wrong with clicking in and clocking out, being content with never reaching the next level. In fact, every company needs people like this in their organization. However, in Matthew’s world, seeing work as just “work” basically counts as one of the seven deadly sins.
I was given this book by my company as part of a work-life balance group and now I understand why - it’s corporate propaganda.
I was given this book by my company as part of a work-life balance group and now I understand why - it’s corporate propaganda.
October 17, 2015
I really enjoyed this book, though the assessment questions aren't great in audio format. The author's perspective of the role of work and personal life, how we use them to address our values and develop ourselves, and the (mental) approach to having life satisfaction were described well. The challenge is always that once you identify what's important to you, that making those changes can be difficult. While he spoke about this, I thought there could have been more detail on both identifying values, condensing them, and dealing with life and internal challenges to following them.
May 10, 2016
I loved this book! Kelly outlines a common-sense alternative to the concept of "balance" between our personal and professional lives. Instead, he stresses that we should strive for satisfaction through strategically planning for the life we want. I especially liked the emphasis that the purpose of life is to "become the-best-version-of-yourself."
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to improve their satisfaction with their life! While Kelly cites corporate America quite often, I found all of the advice and practical and helpful for my work in Education, and I'd guess it applies in other fields as well!
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to improve their satisfaction with their life! While Kelly cites corporate America quite often, I found all of the advice and practical and helpful for my work in Education, and I'd guess it applies in other fields as well!
December 26, 2012
If you have struggled with applying work-life balance to your life, I'd highly recommend this book. Has several helpful tips and exercises as well as a good central thesis of switching focus from managing time to managing your energy; seeking a satisfying life instead of a balanced one; and not feeling guilty of unsuccessfully being "balanced" between life and work due to an unrealistic expectation established by a faulty interpreted concept. Really worth it and I'll revisit it again for pointers.
October 31, 2016
I could not tell you what I took away from this, because it didn't have a clear theme.
Basically this is a condescending book about a man whose wife almost left him but he saw some anonymous person speak on work life balance so now he knows everything there is to work life balance. Weirdly irrelevant personal anecdotes thrown in. Oh! And did you know he knows the meaning of life?!
It feels less a personal development book and more "hey I got my life together somehow and now I know everything in the world! Listen how great I am!"
Basically this is a condescending book about a man whose wife almost left him but he saw some anonymous person speak on work life balance so now he knows everything there is to work life balance. Weirdly irrelevant personal anecdotes thrown in. Oh! And did you know he knows the meaning of life?!
It feels less a personal development book and more "hey I got my life together somehow and now I know everything in the world! Listen how great I am!"
September 20, 2018
This book has good advice but I didn't appreciate that all the examples of working people gave were men. It was basically implied that all women are stay-at-home moms and that if you are a working mom, you just can't be a good mom. Someone should tell Matthew Kelly that women can work and be good moms. And to start using career women as examples of satisfied and successful people.
April 8, 2014
you feel bigger and more powerful after reading this
March 1, 2021
Interesting rebuttal of “work-life balance” mindset that has been discussed for the last several decades.
July 14, 2025
The work-Life Balance is a total myth; there's always going to be some in-balance. What Matthew Kelly proposes is another, better method: do you get satisfaction from life, job, etc.
October 13, 2021
Not done yet, but already great.
August 15, 2021
I was really disappointed by the book. It was on my to-read list for almost 5 years! It has a very simple idea that can be written in one page. I can save you the effort and summarize it as follows:
“One of the major issues plaguing human potential in the corporate world today is work-life balance” as your work is part of your life. The problem is most people work most of the day and unsurprisingly they respond unfavorably to work-life balance survey. “In this way, we set work and life against each other, and the thought that follows is that you are either working too much and living too little or vice versa. The term itself diminishes our ability to make the case that work can be a richly rewarding part of a person’s life and should in many ways be personal.”
According to the author, people do not need or want balance; they need and want a “satisfying experience of life, personal and professional satisfaction (PPS).” When chosen between balance and satisfaction, all people choose the latter.
1 THE BEST WAY TO LIVE
You need a systemic plan to have the life that makes you satisfied. However, everything comes at a cost. Get in touch with your dissatisfaction, personally and professionally.
Throughout history, people wanted to answer the question: how is the best way to live? However, “the present culture has virtually no interest in pursuing this question. We seem more interested in how we want to live than we are in discovering the best way to live.” This is tied more to a pleasure principle than it is to lasting satisfaction. Pleasure is temporary while satisfaction is lasting and they do not go hand in hand.
“Our present culture idolizes three practical philosophies that are eating away at the very fabric of our workforce and culture, our relationships, and our lives:”
1 Individualism
2 Hedonism; it emphasizes pleasure as the ultimate goal of life. It is “the guise of a supposedly newfound freedom.”
3 Minimalism; what is the least I can do? “A minimalist is always seeking to exert the minimum effort and receive the maximum reward.”
Most people’s daily decisions originate from these self-destroyed philosophies and reduce satisfaction. “[They] are little more than lazy attempts to answer the question ‘How is the best way to live?’” But the best way to live is not the same to all people? Yes and no! Before considering what is different between people, they all have three principles in common – principles in which all people you can find the best way to live.
1 Become the-best-version-of-yourself
2 Virtue
3 Self-control – and delaying gratification
“Most people’s knowledge of and dedication to these three principles is minimal. At the same time, their dedication to the philosophies of individualism, hedonism, and minimalism dwarfs their commitment to these three principles.”
The best way to live may change over time so we need to ask the question and answer it frequently. It is your personal responsibility to live the best way.
If the question is overwhelming, remind yourself that “finding the best way to live begins with finding a better way to live.”
2 HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU?
Satisfaction may come from living both extremes at different times; throwing yourself completely into a project and completely detaching from world or work.
So what is satisfaction?
The fulfillment or gratification of a desire, need or appetite.
Pleasure or contentment derived from such gratification.
A source or means of gratification.
The contentment and fulfillment that arise from the gratification of needs and desires.
“Satisfaction that emerges in response to the fulfillment of a need tends to be a lasting satisfaction [primary satisfaction], while satisfaction that is the result of a gratification of a desire tends to have a much shorter shelf life [secondary satisfaction].”
There is a spectrum of satisfaction and it is different for everyone.
Satisfaction differs from balance:
1 It is possible and reproducible.
2 It is easier to sustain.
“The greatest experience of satisfaction often comes after times of great stress and even intense suffering.” It follows delayed gratification as well.
It is impossible to separate personal satisfaction from professional satisfaction.
What is the point of having balance if you are not satisfied. Satisfied without balance? It turns out you do not need it after all.
3 CAN YOU HAVE IT ALL?
You cannot because:
1 There are an infinite number of possibilities for any day, year, or life – and every day, year, or life is finite.
2 Excellence in any field requires that we miss out on other things.
Satisfaction is not about getting what you want. It is a “value structure, or a set of priorities, around which to live your life.” And “the first law of your value structure: do not mortgage your higher priorities for your lower priorities.” It is a value structure, not time allocation structure (you do not have to spend most of your time doing your highest priorities). “Value structure certainly influences the way [you] spend [your] time and what [you] do, but much more important than that it informs why [you] do what [you] do each day.”
4 BATTERIES INCLUDED
The discipline of time management is important and so is energy management as “nothing affects personal and professional satisfaction like your energy level.” Energy management requires us to understand:
1 Place, places, things and activities that energize us or drain us of energy
2 Four levels of energy and different emotions that are related to each
a Low energy
b High-level negative energy
c Restorative or reflective energy
d High-level positive energy
5 SYSTEMS DRIVE BEHAVIORS
You need a good system that connects between good behaviors and good outcomes. “Great systems are made up of a plan, a system and accountability.” It has five facets:
1 Assessment
2 Priorities
3 Core habits
4 Weekly strategy session
5 Quarterly review
“One of the major issues plaguing human potential in the corporate world today is work-life balance” as your work is part of your life. The problem is most people work most of the day and unsurprisingly they respond unfavorably to work-life balance survey. “In this way, we set work and life against each other, and the thought that follows is that you are either working too much and living too little or vice versa. The term itself diminishes our ability to make the case that work can be a richly rewarding part of a person’s life and should in many ways be personal.”
According to the author, people do not need or want balance; they need and want a “satisfying experience of life, personal and professional satisfaction (PPS).” When chosen between balance and satisfaction, all people choose the latter.
1 THE BEST WAY TO LIVE
You need a systemic plan to have the life that makes you satisfied. However, everything comes at a cost. Get in touch with your dissatisfaction, personally and professionally.
Throughout history, people wanted to answer the question: how is the best way to live? However, “the present culture has virtually no interest in pursuing this question. We seem more interested in how we want to live than we are in discovering the best way to live.” This is tied more to a pleasure principle than it is to lasting satisfaction. Pleasure is temporary while satisfaction is lasting and they do not go hand in hand.
“Our present culture idolizes three practical philosophies that are eating away at the very fabric of our workforce and culture, our relationships, and our lives:”
1 Individualism
2 Hedonism; it emphasizes pleasure as the ultimate goal of life. It is “the guise of a supposedly newfound freedom.”
3 Minimalism; what is the least I can do? “A minimalist is always seeking to exert the minimum effort and receive the maximum reward.”
Most people’s daily decisions originate from these self-destroyed philosophies and reduce satisfaction. “[They] are little more than lazy attempts to answer the question ‘How is the best way to live?’” But the best way to live is not the same to all people? Yes and no! Before considering what is different between people, they all have three principles in common – principles in which all people you can find the best way to live.
1 Become the-best-version-of-yourself
2 Virtue
3 Self-control – and delaying gratification
“Most people’s knowledge of and dedication to these three principles is minimal. At the same time, their dedication to the philosophies of individualism, hedonism, and minimalism dwarfs their commitment to these three principles.”
The best way to live may change over time so we need to ask the question and answer it frequently. It is your personal responsibility to live the best way.
If the question is overwhelming, remind yourself that “finding the best way to live begins with finding a better way to live.”
2 HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU?
Satisfaction may come from living both extremes at different times; throwing yourself completely into a project and completely detaching from world or work.
So what is satisfaction?
The fulfillment or gratification of a desire, need or appetite.
Pleasure or contentment derived from such gratification.
A source or means of gratification.
The contentment and fulfillment that arise from the gratification of needs and desires.
“Satisfaction that emerges in response to the fulfillment of a need tends to be a lasting satisfaction [primary satisfaction], while satisfaction that is the result of a gratification of a desire tends to have a much shorter shelf life [secondary satisfaction].”
There is a spectrum of satisfaction and it is different for everyone.
Satisfaction differs from balance:
1 It is possible and reproducible.
2 It is easier to sustain.
“The greatest experience of satisfaction often comes after times of great stress and even intense suffering.” It follows delayed gratification as well.
It is impossible to separate personal satisfaction from professional satisfaction.
What is the point of having balance if you are not satisfied. Satisfied without balance? It turns out you do not need it after all.
3 CAN YOU HAVE IT ALL?
You cannot because:
1 There are an infinite number of possibilities for any day, year, or life – and every day, year, or life is finite.
2 Excellence in any field requires that we miss out on other things.
Satisfaction is not about getting what you want. It is a “value structure, or a set of priorities, around which to live your life.” And “the first law of your value structure: do not mortgage your higher priorities for your lower priorities.” It is a value structure, not time allocation structure (you do not have to spend most of your time doing your highest priorities). “Value structure certainly influences the way [you] spend [your] time and what [you] do, but much more important than that it informs why [you] do what [you] do each day.”
4 BATTERIES INCLUDED
The discipline of time management is important and so is energy management as “nothing affects personal and professional satisfaction like your energy level.” Energy management requires us to understand:
1 Place, places, things and activities that energize us or drain us of energy
2 Four levels of energy and different emotions that are related to each
a Low energy
b High-level negative energy
c Restorative or reflective energy
d High-level positive energy
5 SYSTEMS DRIVE BEHAVIORS
You need a good system that connects between good behaviors and good outcomes. “Great systems are made up of a plan, a system and accountability.” It has five facets:
1 Assessment
2 Priorities
3 Core habits
4 Weekly strategy session
5 Quarterly review
July 18, 2014
What will drive even higher levels of human performance in the 21st century? The answer is: energy management.
November 23, 2024
Rethinking Work-Life Balance
I listened to Off Balance by Matthew Kelly shortly after its release in 2011, during a particularly challenging period in my career. The 2007 financial crash had left my team with fewer resources and more responsibilities, and “doing more with less” had become the new normal. I found myself working long hours, constantly adjusting to new demands, and searching for strategies to create balance amidst the chaos.
What stood out to me in Off Balance was Kelly’s refreshing approach to work-life satisfaction. Instead of chasing the unattainable “balance” we hear so much about, he reframes the conversation around personal and professional satisfaction. His emphasis on managing energy rather than just time felt especially relevant in a world where to-do lists never seem to end.
One of the book’s most useful concepts is the Personal and Professional Satisfaction System. By focusing on what truly matters, Kelly provides a framework to identify priorities and make meaningful progress, even during overwhelming periods. For me, it was a helpful reminder to align my daily efforts with what I value most.
That said, the book isn’t without its limitations. Some concepts may feel repetitive to seasoned readers of self-help or productivity books, and its focus on corporate environments might make the advice less applicable for those outside that context. Additionally, while Kelly introduces a system for satisfaction, some readers may find the guidance too high-level, wishing for more detailed, actionable steps.
Even with these critiques, the broader message of shifting from balance to satisfaction is one that sticks, particularly for those dealing with heavy workloads and shifting priorities. Kelly’s ideas are practical enough to try while offering a mindset shift for how we approach work-life dynamics.
Recommended for: Professionals navigating demanding roles or anyone looking to redefine their relationship with work and life. If you’ve struggled with the elusive goal of balance, this book offers an empowering reminder: satisfaction, not perfection, is the real goal.
January 8, 2023
The author takes a holier-than-thou stance against his readers. He fabricates a definition of the good life, which is based on what he thinks a good life is, and then projects it onto everyone else. He holds himself in high regard because he satisfies his own definition, and belittles anyone who doesn't. In his view, there is only one way to a better life: put your entire body and soul in your work, but try not to upset your wife and kids in the process. Working 40-50 hours a week is not enough. Idling and eating ice cream are moral sins in the wisdom of Aristotelean virtue ethics.
Yes, there is a special class of people who love every minute of their work. They cannot imagine doing anything else. When at home, they think about the tasks that are to be done the next day. Their work and their home life blend together. They can't wait to get to the office again. I praise and appreciate such people. But most people are not like that. I reckon that most folks despise their jobs, want to spend the least amount of time as possible, and continue collecting their paycheck so that they can do something else in their free time. Matt Kelly has done the research, and many respondents say that they want more balance in their lives (doublespeak for "I don't like my job very much"). Let me tell you a secret: you're paid to go to work precisely because you wouldn't do it otherwise. Work is not a virtue. Working more doesn't make you more virtuous.
Yes, there is a special class of people who love every minute of their work. They cannot imagine doing anything else. When at home, they think about the tasks that are to be done the next day. Their work and their home life blend together. They can't wait to get to the office again. I praise and appreciate such people. But most people are not like that. I reckon that most folks despise their jobs, want to spend the least amount of time as possible, and continue collecting their paycheck so that they can do something else in their free time. Matt Kelly has done the research, and many respondents say that they want more balance in their lives (doublespeak for "I don't like my job very much"). Let me tell you a secret: you're paid to go to work precisely because you wouldn't do it otherwise. Work is not a virtue. Working more doesn't make you more virtuous.
November 28, 2017
After being a strong work-life balance advocate for much of the past 15 years, "Off Balance" has been on my 'must read' list for awhile. Oh, how I wish I hadn't waited so long! Within the first 30 pages, Matthew Kelly succinctly lays waste to the work-life balance myth explaining very clearly why he refers to it as the biggest management failure of the last 30 years.
I've read scores of business-think, self-help, professional development books over the years. I have been fortunate to have been introduced to the thinking of some of the most brilliant and innovative minds, of our time, or any era. The struggle I nearly always faced was how to take a great concept and turn it into reality - how to implement an approach that would make a true difference in not only how I did things but how I felt and thought. "Off Balance" not only answers why work-life balance isn't the answer but provides the steps - a guideline for any change you may want to make - simple, straightforward - as long as you can be honest with yourself. This book began to change my life the moment I finished.
Clearly written. Organized. Methodological. "Off Balance" will benefit anyone but 'systems thinkers' will recognize a kindred spirit and find themselves nodding fervently and frequently. "Off Balance" by Matthew Kelly is clearly a 5 of 5.
I've read scores of business-think, self-help, professional development books over the years. I have been fortunate to have been introduced to the thinking of some of the most brilliant and innovative minds, of our time, or any era. The struggle I nearly always faced was how to take a great concept and turn it into reality - how to implement an approach that would make a true difference in not only how I did things but how I felt and thought. "Off Balance" not only answers why work-life balance isn't the answer but provides the steps - a guideline for any change you may want to make - simple, straightforward - as long as you can be honest with yourself. This book began to change my life the moment I finished.
Clearly written. Organized. Methodological. "Off Balance" will benefit anyone but 'systems thinkers' will recognize a kindred spirit and find themselves nodding fervently and frequently. "Off Balance" by Matthew Kelly is clearly a 5 of 5.
October 25, 2021
Two new ideas to add to the toolkit. For someone who loves planning their lives, I find the other ideas are not as ground breaking, and I've heard them elsewhere. The two helpful frameworks are:
1. Create a clear list of priorities based on importance, but it isn't a list of effort. For example if work is lower on the list, it does not mean we only put time into work once things higher on the list are completed. It simply means that the items higher on the list require your attention first, and the items with higher priority help you to actually work better.
2. Mixing energy deprecating activities with energy boosting activities helps you to stay motivated and have the necessary energy to meet the various requirements of life. I really liked the example in the book about the weight of a glass. People can only hold it up for 20 mins before having a really sore arm, but if you rest a few minutes, for each 30 mins interval, you can hold it up for an infinite amount of time. This is a waking call for energy too.
Overall I think this book is worth a quick read, just to gain some more tools into the strategic planning toolkit.
1. Create a clear list of priorities based on importance, but it isn't a list of effort. For example if work is lower on the list, it does not mean we only put time into work once things higher on the list are completed. It simply means that the items higher on the list require your attention first, and the items with higher priority help you to actually work better.
2. Mixing energy deprecating activities with energy boosting activities helps you to stay motivated and have the necessary energy to meet the various requirements of life. I really liked the example in the book about the weight of a glass. People can only hold it up for 20 mins before having a really sore arm, but if you rest a few minutes, for each 30 mins interval, you can hold it up for an infinite amount of time. This is a waking call for energy too.
Overall I think this book is worth a quick read, just to gain some more tools into the strategic planning toolkit.
December 11, 2021
It is a helpful book that emphasizes personal responsibility when it comes to achieving satisfaction in personal and professional life. According to the author, Work life balance and Work life effectiveness are not ideal goals that corporates should seek or talk about. What everyone wants is satisfaction not balance in life. I think that makes sense. We cannot separate work and life for work is also part of life and we look for satisfaction in our work as well.
He critiques the three philosophies of modern age that everyone accepts blindly and I agree with him.
Individualism, Hedonism and Minimalism (what can I do least to keep my job? That Kind of minimalism, not the stoic one)
Kelly asks us to ask the right questions to get our lives in order. The aim of our lives should be to become the best version of ourselves.
The book has multiple action items that need to be completed as one goes through each chapter. Those checklists and action items are good to analyze our goals and acquire more clarity of thought. The hard part is following the advice and insights presented here in the struggles of day to day life.
He critiques the three philosophies of modern age that everyone accepts blindly and I agree with him.
Individualism, Hedonism and Minimalism (what can I do least to keep my job? That Kind of minimalism, not the stoic one)
Kelly asks us to ask the right questions to get our lives in order. The aim of our lives should be to become the best version of ourselves.
The book has multiple action items that need to be completed as one goes through each chapter. Those checklists and action items are good to analyze our goals and acquire more clarity of thought. The hard part is following the advice and insights presented here in the struggles of day to day life.
July 29, 2021
I remember when this book was first recommended to me six years ago, since then it sat on my wish list in audible, not being listened to or applied. I’ve read a lot of really good productivity, life satisfaction, life coaching, and motivational books. I’ve also read a lot of Matthew Kelly books, I’ve heard his message before and really enjoy the “best version of yourself“ message of Matthew Kelly, I didn’t know what else this book would be able to offer from all the other books I’ve read, and was happy to just let this book sit on my wish list for the last six years. If I could go back in time and read this book sooner what I have? I don’t know, I think this book hits me in a really good spot today and I appreciate his message and the reminder from his works and works like this and I feel that it came at a great time with a message I’m ready to hear. But if you have not yet read this book, and you’re looking to improve the way you live your life I think now is a great time to get this book in your library and start listening to it today.
February 23, 2018
A short read with a several excellent concepts, which may form the basis for further personal exploration.
The big ideas for me were:
1. Personal and professional satisfaction trumps the idea of finding work-life balance.
2. The purpose of life is to create the best version of ourselves and to pursue only those things and experiences which will produce that result.
3. Our levels of energy drive and are directly correlated to our levels of satisfaction.
4. Creating systems based on priorities/a value system and developing and maintaining core habits is crucial to protecting our energy and creating a life that makes sense to us.
The ideas could have been fleshed out and developed more thoroughly as there is a lot of repetition and the sense that the book was rushed to finish. It is also disappointing to note that we are referred to a website on three or four ocassions for further tools and resources, none of which appear to be any longer available.
The big ideas for me were:
1. Personal and professional satisfaction trumps the idea of finding work-life balance.
2. The purpose of life is to create the best version of ourselves and to pursue only those things and experiences which will produce that result.
3. Our levels of energy drive and are directly correlated to our levels of satisfaction.
4. Creating systems based on priorities/a value system and developing and maintaining core habits is crucial to protecting our energy and creating a life that makes sense to us.
The ideas could have been fleshed out and developed more thoroughly as there is a lot of repetition and the sense that the book was rushed to finish. It is also disappointing to note that we are referred to a website on three or four ocassions for further tools and resources, none of which appear to be any longer available.
August 10, 2023
I found this to be an insightful guide to achieving a more balanced life. The author's emphasis on nurturing the mind, body, spirit, and emotions resonated with me, and I appreciated the practical tips for incorporating these elements into daily routines. The book's encouragement to declutter and simplify was refreshing, reminding me of the importance of focusing on what truly matters.
However, while the book provides a solid framework for achieving balance, I felt that certain sections could have delved deeper into specific strategies or actionable steps. Some concepts were reiterated a bit too often, which led to a sense of repetition.
Despite these drawbacks, "Off Balance" is still worth reading for its valuable insights and thought-provoking ideas on finding harmony in a fast-paced world.
However, while the book provides a solid framework for achieving balance, I felt that certain sections could have delved deeper into specific strategies or actionable steps. Some concepts were reiterated a bit too often, which led to a sense of repetition.
Despite these drawbacks, "Off Balance" is still worth reading for its valuable insights and thought-provoking ideas on finding harmony in a fast-paced world.
May 5, 2017
People looking for more work-life balance may empathize with Lewis Carroll, “the hurrier I go, the behinder I get.” Kelly’s premise is simple: You can’t separate the personal and professional aspects in your life. You can consider them separately to gain insight, but practical separation is impossible. The key is not balance, it is satisfaction. Off Balance often ventures into familiar territory – decide what’s important, have a plan and execute it through discipline and personal accountability. Kelly seems to be challenging the reader to find satisfaction in work so that when those long hours start piling up and hopefully some modicum of professional success, you will feel good about it.
December 10, 2018
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone. Great book to inspire one to look at what really matters in life and the book will make you reflect on the way you are living your life. Some of my favorite quotes come from "Off Balance"
“Time is your most valuable resource. Guard your time. Plan your time. Protect your time. Defend your time. Don’t waste time. Time is life, and life is time. If you waste your time, you are wasting your life.” - Matthew Kelly
“Life is about saying yes to the things that help you become the best version of yourself and no to the things that don’t.” - Matthew Kelly
“Your life and mine come at a cost. Every choice we make eliminates other options, and those other options are part of the cost involved in the life we choose to live.” - Matthew Kelly
“Time is your most valuable resource. Guard your time. Plan your time. Protect your time. Defend your time. Don’t waste time. Time is life, and life is time. If you waste your time, you are wasting your life.” - Matthew Kelly
“Life is about saying yes to the things that help you become the best version of yourself and no to the things that don’t.” - Matthew Kelly
“Your life and mine come at a cost. Every choice we make eliminates other options, and those other options are part of the cost involved in the life we choose to live.” - Matthew Kelly
June 7, 2024
This is a short book. Here are the main takeaways:
1. People want life satisfaction more than they want work-life balance. There is a simple personal and professional satisfaction assessment in the book and on your website.
2. Critical to satisfaction levels is monitoring one's energy levels.
3. One can build one satisfaction levels by making sure you accomplish something each day. At the beginning of each week list what you need to accomplish that week to feel satisfaction and then plan to accomplish one project each day.
4. The book teaches a simple way of determining one's life priorities by listing all the things that one would consider priorities and then in pairs comparing or evaluating each one against all the other alternatives.
1. People want life satisfaction more than they want work-life balance. There is a simple personal and professional satisfaction assessment in the book and on your website.
2. Critical to satisfaction levels is monitoring one's energy levels.
3. One can build one satisfaction levels by making sure you accomplish something each day. At the beginning of each week list what you need to accomplish that week to feel satisfaction and then plan to accomplish one project each day.
4. The book teaches a simple way of determining one's life priorities by listing all the things that one would consider priorities and then in pairs comparing or evaluating each one against all the other alternatives.
February 25, 2018
This guy doesn't seem to know his audience (burnt out and jaded managers with crap employees maybe?) when he describes his 3 drivers of poor performance which aren't generally the symptoms of people exhausted from overwork and yearning for work/life balance. He would have been far better off in saying this is the next evolution of achieving "work/life balance". Making it less about quantity of hours and more about healthy focus on both areas supporting achievement in each.
The wisest part of the whole book was when he plagiarized "Tom" on his own work life balance speech.
The wisest part of the whole book was when he plagiarized "Tom" on his own work life balance speech.
December 12, 2020
This book provides interesting insight toward the myth of work-life balance. The sole onus is placed on the individual rather than providing and insight on how, I as a leader, can help someone manage that balance. I think that is very lacking. The book provides great perspective and assessment on how you as the individual feel about your work environment, but again fails to address the environment as a whole.
For those who need perspective on how they can change their perspective, this is a great read. For those looking to help others, I’d pass this one by.
For those who need perspective on how they can change their perspective, this is a great read. For those looking to help others, I’d pass this one by.
October 23, 2017
The premise is good; what people need is not “work-life balance” so much as “satisfaction.” I don’t think it really gets enough into how to achieve that, though. That said, it did introduce some thought-provoking ideas, for example, “anything in your life that doesn’t make you a better version of yourself is making you a lesser version of yourself” (the stuff you own, job, hobbies, people, what you eat, etc). I think it’s worth a read, but don’t expect it to be life-changing.
February 25, 2018
This book was fantastic. It asked a number of a deep and insightful questions that really did a good job of challenging my perspective and forcing me to address the things that would really make me happy or unhappy. The most interesting aspect of the book was probably where he described the different levels of energy, and how they affected you; I could really relate to that, and I thought it was a great way to spell it out.
May 7, 2019
Surprise! This book is not as much about finding work life balance as finding satisfaction in all the areas of life. How much energy does each of our activities give us? How can we change what we do so we are energized by what we do? Are we living our best life, and if not, how can we improve? I enjoyed this and will look up some of the online resources. The beginning dragged a bit, but it got better after that.
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