Don't forget to see the forest through the trees - When work and life need to align

We all know the saying "Can't see the forest, through the trees".  

What does that mean in the world of security and close protection?   Well, to me it means putting 100 percent effort  into the task's as hand, but NOT seeing the obvious or other important things.  Not seeing the total picture. 

Now these are the types of things that those who are less experienced in the industry will boast, 'I'd never do that' or 'that would never happen to me'.  But if you've been in this business a while, you know different. Inevitebly, despite scrambling to cover every possible detail, there will be the things that escape your attention and bite you in the butt.

For example,  a protection detail supporting their Principal's movements and getting so focused on tactical movements that they (the team) forget the Principal's luggage in the hotel room, or the Principal's dress shoes and belt in the hotel closet.   Who swept that room?

Or, how about this one... focusing on all the fine details of customer service down to ensuring the cold water in the car, Kleenex and shiny polished car, but a POI  (Person of Interest) walks right up to your Principal in a crowed luncheon.  Who let him do that, out of the 5-man team?

Some of you are nodding your heads with chagrin, as you've been there.

It's a sickening feeling when despite your best efforts, you miss something critical.

Now in the context of managing our careers and our lives, we do the same thing. Particularly, focusing on one job or company so much that we are oblivious to all other things around us.  I for one am "guilty as charged".  Many of us have done this,and continue do this all the time.  We get that dream job or gig from that sought after company, and we give "it our all".  And when I say ALL, I mean everything we've got in the terms of time and attention. 

Drinking our hot coffee and protein shake in the car headed to work to save time.  Skipping lunch and gym time because its just to busy during the day.  Eating dinner with your family (if you are home and not traveling) with your lap-top and cell on the dinner table instead of talking to your kids.   Oh, and not answering or returning ANY phone calls from friends, family, acquaintances or non-work related.  Just because "I'm too busy for that", because work NEEEEEDS me.  Pouring your SOUL into it!

Well I am here to tell you the hard truth.  You and I could can fall-over DEAD tomorrow, and that company and the work will continue onward. 

Think about it!  If Uber can lose their Founder and CEO on one day and keep trucking onward the following day, then the companies we work for will be just fine without us.  

Again, I would never advocate intentionally doing mediocre work on purpose.  And we all have worked with those people that spend their entire day (secretly) looking for another job or the next big thing.  EVERYONE can sniff out those types of people. 

That is definitely NOT  what I'm talking about.  

What I am actually advocating is to continue to invest in yourself, by not cutting yourself off from the rest of the world.  Because when you make your current job, your main lifeline, your primary focus, you are neglecting the things that will sustain you when that work is done. Your sole focus does indeed benefit the company you work for,  but not necessarily YOU.

Work/Life balance can be all but impossible in our industry. But you have to figure out some semblance of Work/Life Alignment. You've got to find ways to carve out time for your relationships, your health, and frankly for your 'real life', because those are the people and things that support you and balance you out over the long haul.

Let your immediate job and company have the "TREES"; but you and I keep the "FOREST" in sight.  That forest is your family, friends, former co-workers and acquaintances.   They will all be there for you, when your current company has left you in the dust or you have decide to do the same. 

Do the best you can in your work. But don't let that the work make you blind to the obvious things you are leaving behind in your life. Like those forgotten dress shoes in the hotel room, or failing to notice the POI approaching your principal, becoming too myopic on our focus on work creates blind spots for us in our real lives. Continue to invest in yourself and save a little bit of your "Soul" for the people and activities that really mean something.