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The Juggling Act: Bringing Balance to Your Faith, Family, and Work
Lunch is reserved for meetings, technology makes us available anytime, anywhere-and somewhere along the way 9-to-5 morphed into 24/7, and technology makes us available anytime, anywhere. Our demanding schedules crowd out what matters family, friends, even our faith. Although it may feel like you're living under the Big Top, take heart. You don't have to be a circus professional to keep all the plates spinning.
Pat Gelsinger understands this challenge. As a prominent executive in the Silicon Valley, Pat struggled to juggle* a thriving career with his family. Pat's pursuit of balance led him to dynamic truths that revolutionized his approach to life.
The Juggling Act shares Pat's time-tested wisdom for keeping your life in perspective. This updated and expanded revision (formerly Balancing Your Family, Faith & Work) details the guidelines for balanced living, with insights
• Prioritizing your work, family, and God
• Developing a personal mission statement
• Becoming an effective employee
• Creating a support system
• Sharing your faith in the workplace
Take a meeting with The Juggling Act. And get your professional-and personal-life on the fast track to success.
Pat Gelsinger understands this challenge. As a prominent executive in the Silicon Valley, Pat struggled to juggle* a thriving career with his family. Pat's pursuit of balance led him to dynamic truths that revolutionized his approach to life.
The Juggling Act shares Pat's time-tested wisdom for keeping your life in perspective. This updated and expanded revision (formerly Balancing Your Family, Faith & Work) details the guidelines for balanced living, with insights
• Prioritizing your work, family, and God
• Developing a personal mission statement
• Becoming an effective employee
• Creating a support system
• Sharing your faith in the workplace
Take a meeting with The Juggling Act. And get your professional-and personal-life on the fast track to success.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2003
146 people are currently reading
708 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 26, 2016
I enjoyed the book, and in large part because it is written from a Type A person perspective. I do think that if you are a type A person your enjoyment of this book will be higher because you will understand the reason why behind more. Good book though regardless of your type.
February 10, 2021
Superhuman focus plus an ability to function on a consistent diet of five hours of sleep per night make for a tough act to follow. Impressive to see that he’s achieving a life goal of his to serve as CEO of Intel.
March 20, 2022
Loved reading this book. So much I could say about it but will simply say I highly doubt you will be disappointed in reading it yourself.
September 6, 2013
A great book from a secular author who is in a work situation that few of us will ever reach, VP of Intel, and that makes his Christian conviction all the more special. The systems that he has put in place over the years, like mentoring relationships, Quiet times, a measure of how consistently he is able to come home from work on time and many others, make him a dthoughtful writer and his book is well worth reading for the excellent advice that he gives.
There were a few things that did not sit well with me. The first was the busyness of his life from the first page to the last chapter which his wife wrote. The impression I was left with is that his wife and children had spent an inordinate amount of time without a husband and father, throughout their lives and from a Christian perspective I am not sure if that is healthy. Another point was the uniqueness of his position, it appeared as if everything just fell into his lap and from a position of security in all areas it is simple to exhort the readers to make sure that we have covered all the bases as he had, however, this reader, and I am sure there are others, is happy to have enough money in the bank just to cover the monthly expenses.
Aside from these points however there is much good advice in the book for living a structured and planned Christian life.
There were a few things that did not sit well with me. The first was the busyness of his life from the first page to the last chapter which his wife wrote. The impression I was left with is that his wife and children had spent an inordinate amount of time without a husband and father, throughout their lives and from a Christian perspective I am not sure if that is healthy. Another point was the uniqueness of his position, it appeared as if everything just fell into his lap and from a position of security in all areas it is simple to exhort the readers to make sure that we have covered all the bases as he had, however, this reader, and I am sure there are others, is happy to have enough money in the bank just to cover the monthly expenses.
Aside from these points however there is much good advice in the book for living a structured and planned Christian life.
August 4, 2013
I appreciate the fact that Gelsinger is writing this from his personal perspective and life experiences. He has some food advise that I think anyone can apply to their life. like find a mentor. Listen to and learn from people around you. Be confident in who you are, but be humble enough to realize you don't everything. If you are a person of faith, make your faith a priority.
That said, he's a TYPE A in a huge way and an engineer to boot so all of his organizational advise is from this perspective. There is no way I'm making a spread sheet of my time and giving myself points for making it home on time. Advise like this left me skimming pages.
On top of that his writing and vocabulary left much to be desired. He used Christianease and the word "thus" to the point of distraction. So while there are some good take aways I'm thinking his hour long talk didn't really didn't need to be a book.
That said, he's a TYPE A in a huge way and an engineer to boot so all of his organizational advise is from this perspective. There is no way I'm making a spread sheet of my time and giving myself points for making it home on time. Advise like this left me skimming pages.
On top of that his writing and vocabulary left much to be desired. He used Christianease and the word "thus" to the point of distraction. So while there are some good take aways I'm thinking his hour long talk didn't really didn't need to be a book.
March 26, 2021
I have very mixed feelings on this book.
While there was alot of good content, the genderization of a message that should be completely gender-neutral tainted the book for me.
For example, this quote "we probably feel our role as head of the household gives us authority without accountability or submission to our wives." What?? Head of household. Nah. And while he writes about mutual submission, the bible verse he quotes famously and literally only specifies women submit. Another stereotyping instance covers female clothing shopping sprees.
He does offer practical takeaways, some of which I've applied, but then he mentions only needing ~5hrs of sleep/night. That's kind of a big deal, and something I will never come close to implementing. Between his story, that of Ruth Badger Ginsburg, Dwayne Johnson, Elon Musk, etc. maybe I can save time reading and just accept the secret to success is a biological predisposition to the minimum of sleep.
While there was alot of good content, the genderization of a message that should be completely gender-neutral tainted the book for me.
For example, this quote "we probably feel our role as head of the household gives us authority without accountability or submission to our wives." What?? Head of household. Nah. And while he writes about mutual submission, the bible verse he quotes famously and literally only specifies women submit. Another stereotyping instance covers female clothing shopping sprees.
He does offer practical takeaways, some of which I've applied, but then he mentions only needing ~5hrs of sleep/night. That's kind of a big deal, and something I will never come close to implementing. Between his story, that of Ruth Badger Ginsburg, Dwayne Johnson, Elon Musk, etc. maybe I can save time reading and just accept the secret to success is a biological predisposition to the minimum of sleep.
June 1, 2017
Enjoyed It
I was looking for practical advice on juggling my life, being someone who is very career motivated. This really helped, and while it didn't give me a silver bullet, it helped me to take a step back to think about where and how I spend my time. I also bought this book seeking the spiritual advice being a Christian, but I can say that even if you aren't, there are good tips to apply and use if you're struggling with balancing all the many priorities of life.
I was looking for practical advice on juggling my life, being someone who is very career motivated. This really helped, and while it didn't give me a silver bullet, it helped me to take a step back to think about where and how I spend my time. I also bought this book seeking the spiritual advice being a Christian, but I can say that even if you aren't, there are good tips to apply and use if you're struggling with balancing all the many priorities of life.
January 17, 2021
Reading this book in the most turbulance days of 2020, I keep wondering about my wheel of life, rough, unbalancing. How I use my time that God has given me? This book reveals the way: prioritize God first in every aspects of lives.
September 4, 2021
A great view into Pat’s worldview and personality. Some great tips for living an integrated life. He’s a bit of a Superman who only needs 4 hours of sleep per night so some of the suggestions seemed less than practical.
October 29, 2021
A few good points and a few ideas I want to compliment but I feel this lacked depth. I feel like this could have been summarizes much more quickly, gotten the same point across, and nothing would have been lost.
November 26, 2019
This book is a great tool learning how to be a Christian and juggle several areas. Pat gives great advice from a business leaders mind set on spirituality.
Read
March 27, 2020Very practical and useful book, with valuable lessons in it.
February 23, 2021
Great Read
A very practical book that guides in leading a balanced life in all aspects of life God has made us stewards of.
A very practical book that guides in leading a balanced life in all aspects of life God has made us stewards of.
January 6, 2022
Awesome!
November 14, 2022
No decepciona.
Da una perspectiva bíblicamente correcta de nuestra relación con el trabajo, la familia y nuestra fe cristiana. Disfruté mucho leerlo.
Da una perspectiva bíblicamente correcta de nuestra relación con el trabajo, la familia y nuestra fe cristiana. Disfruté mucho leerlo.
January 22, 2023
Unique perspective of someone who is deeply religious being able to make it to the top
Want to read
December 18, 2023December 2023, cloud computing seminar
March 25, 2025
"To waste time is a great evil; to use it wisely is the greatest blessing of a master juggler."
June 18, 2014
(Opinión publicada también en Amazon.es)
Es un libro estupendo.
Los logros de Gelsinger son increíbles: de hijo de granjero a CTO/Vicepresidente de Intel, y ahora CEO de VMWare, a base de trabajo duro, organización, y genio. Este hecho hace que uno tenga un profundo respeto hacia él, y más aún el saber que ha defendido la fe durante su larga y exitosa carrera, lo que a su vez desencadena que uno escuche muy atentamente todos los consejos que da.
Lo cual me lleva a decir que es un libro muy útil si lo que buscas es mejorar en los distintos áreas que toca el libro: la fe, la familia y el trabajo. Aunque a mí me falta el segundo, los otros dos sí son parte de mi vida, y en los que tengo mucho que mejorar e imponer disciplina.
Uno de los mejores consejos que Gelsinger da (al menos para mi situación) es el hacerse un plan de vida, unos objetivos que conseguir, unos valores que crecer en uno mismo; el "Mission Statement". Considero que es algo vital para poder tener una vida útil mientras Dios nos tenga aquí. Ahora, a ponerlo en práctica.
También me ha gustado el aspecto de que el autor es bastante sólido en su visión sobre el cristianismo: sobre Dios, sobre la Iglesia, sobre la doctrina, sobre la vida cristiana.
Totalmente recomendado. Me lo volvería a leer. De hecho ya me he vuelto a leer algunas partes.
Es un libro estupendo.
Los logros de Gelsinger son increíbles: de hijo de granjero a CTO/Vicepresidente de Intel, y ahora CEO de VMWare, a base de trabajo duro, organización, y genio. Este hecho hace que uno tenga un profundo respeto hacia él, y más aún el saber que ha defendido la fe durante su larga y exitosa carrera, lo que a su vez desencadena que uno escuche muy atentamente todos los consejos que da.
Lo cual me lleva a decir que es un libro muy útil si lo que buscas es mejorar en los distintos áreas que toca el libro: la fe, la familia y el trabajo. Aunque a mí me falta el segundo, los otros dos sí son parte de mi vida, y en los que tengo mucho que mejorar e imponer disciplina.
Uno de los mejores consejos que Gelsinger da (al menos para mi situación) es el hacerse un plan de vida, unos objetivos que conseguir, unos valores que crecer en uno mismo; el "Mission Statement". Considero que es algo vital para poder tener una vida útil mientras Dios nos tenga aquí. Ahora, a ponerlo en práctica.
También me ha gustado el aspecto de que el autor es bastante sólido en su visión sobre el cristianismo: sobre Dios, sobre la Iglesia, sobre la doctrina, sobre la vida cristiana.
Totalmente recomendado. Me lo volvería a leer. De hecho ya me he vuelto a leer algunas partes.
July 20, 2012
Book #45 for 2012: This book was in the reading list / syllabus of our Ethics class. While the reason why I picked up this book was just for compliance with class requirements, I feel so blessed that I came across it and read it.
At first, I thought that the author, the Chief Technology Officer of Intel nonetheless, was just showing off. He seems to have everything: a great relationship with God, an amazing family life, a flourishing career. An overachiever in our midst. At first, I thought that these things cannot be achieved by common persons like us. However, as I was going through the pages, I came to see the point of living the life the way the author was living.
Basically, it's just all about time management. You make time for things that matter. Life is too short to invest on some things that will not yield returns. Let us not be risky about it and let us maximize it fully. And yes, I now believe that a person can have it all. I believe I mentioned it in Facebook once that "I can do all things, be all that, and be fabulous while at it." That phrase was greatly inspired by this book. :)
At first, I thought that the author, the Chief Technology Officer of Intel nonetheless, was just showing off. He seems to have everything: a great relationship with God, an amazing family life, a flourishing career. An overachiever in our midst. At first, I thought that these things cannot be achieved by common persons like us. However, as I was going through the pages, I came to see the point of living the life the way the author was living.
Basically, it's just all about time management. You make time for things that matter. Life is too short to invest on some things that will not yield returns. Let us not be risky about it and let us maximize it fully. And yes, I now believe that a person can have it all. I believe I mentioned it in Facebook once that "I can do all things, be all that, and be fabulous while at it." That phrase was greatly inspired by this book. :)
March 31, 2016
I would offer very different reviews of this book depending on who was asking. For driven and successful businessmen, I might even suggest that Gelsinger's book is a must read. An incredibly intelligent and successful businessman, Gelsinger is likely to have a strong connection with and credibility with Christian businessmen. In addition, he covers a lot of territory in a short amount of time, and for someone wanting some basics on everything from developing a personal mission statement (perhaps the best chapter in the book) to business ethics, to generosity, to protecting time for family, Gelsinger is going to hit the target.
For those wanting something more substantial, Gelsinger's book is likely to be a bit disappointing. He covers a lot of ground, but there are many other resources that cover it with more depth. Perhaps most disappointing on this score is the almost complete absence of footnotes or even quotes from other offers which would help add depth, credibility, and resources for further study.
For those wanting something more substantial, Gelsinger's book is likely to be a bit disappointing. He covers a lot of ground, but there are many other resources that cover it with more depth. Perhaps most disappointing on this score is the almost complete absence of footnotes or even quotes from other offers which would help add depth, credibility, and resources for further study.
May 8, 2023
"The Juggling ACT" is a practical and personal guide to achieving balance in life by juggling family, faith, and work. Author Pat Gelsinger, a successful business leader, husband, and father of four, draws from his own experiences and shares valuable insights and strategies for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the demands of daily life.
The book is well-structured, easy to read, and provides a range of useful tips and ideas. Gelsinger emphasizes the importance of setting priorities, establishing healthy boundaries, and maintaining a strong support network. He also highlights the role of faith in helping individuals find purpose and meaning in their lives.
Overall, "The Juggling ACT" is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to achieve a more balanced and fulfilling life. It's a great read for busy parents, working professionals, and anyone who wants to learn how to prioritize their time and energy effectively. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their work-life balance and achieve greater success and happiness in their personal and professional lives.
The book is well-structured, easy to read, and provides a range of useful tips and ideas. Gelsinger emphasizes the importance of setting priorities, establishing healthy boundaries, and maintaining a strong support network. He also highlights the role of faith in helping individuals find purpose and meaning in their lives.
Overall, "The Juggling ACT" is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to achieve a more balanced and fulfilling life. It's a great read for busy parents, working professionals, and anyone who wants to learn how to prioritize their time and energy effectively. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their work-life balance and achieve greater success and happiness in their personal and professional lives.
September 7, 2013
This book was written by Pat Gelsinger, the CTO of Intel. I really enjoyed reading about how this task-oriented man was able balance his priorities and bring his life under control.
Gelsinger does an excellent job in relating his personal journey from technician to CTO. He is able to provide some very good practical advice about maintaining good family relationships, working hard, and expressing one's faith in the marketplace.
This is a critical book to put on your self-education list.
Gelsinger does an excellent job in relating his personal journey from technician to CTO. He is able to provide some very good practical advice about maintaining good family relationships, working hard, and expressing one's faith in the marketplace.
This is a critical book to put on your self-education list.
April 11, 2014
With a title like this, I'm looking for straightforward advice and other tips for achieving balance in my life, not to hear about the author's life. However, that's where most of the focus is, with a few general suggestions scattered here and there. You could argue that the author is trying to demonstrate important points through his life experiences, but it feels more like someone you know wanting to talk about their life.
February 7, 2016
The biographical parts of Mr. Gelsinger's life in this book were captivating. I loved seeing how a life is lived when God is at the center, especially when that life is among those in the silicon valley. How wonderful to see one so vocal about his faith. But the juggling act that he juggles as a major leader in a huge company did not nearly touch my reality, but that is okay. I know he speaks to many others. I admire how his family unabashedly loves God, the church and missions.
February 11, 2015
I'm glad I took this book slow; this allowed me to really process and find specific applications to my work and family life. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is struggling, or just wants to improve, his balance of career and family. Some good practical suggestions and exercises are provided. I will definitely be referring back to this book in the future.
December 31, 2013
Great insights from the VP of Intel. He has some very thought provoking concepts as to how to better balance your life in general, and be the same person no matter where you are or what you are doing. I definitely recommend it.
June 20, 2014
So-so book on balancing your life. Couldn't really identify with the author as he is Type A and apparently a genius.
Just wondering what balance looks like for those of us who aren't CEOs.
I DID appreciate his commentary on the Christian life, though.
Just wondering what balance looks like for those of us who aren't CEOs.
I DID appreciate his commentary on the Christian life, though.
March 9, 2016
I enjoyed the book. I liked hearing his story. I'm not sure how much it helped me personally with juggling as my life is very different than his. all in all I liked his humor and would recommend the book.
Read
September 14, 2010This is one I want to read some time in next couple months.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews