Life Matters : Creating a Dynamic Balance of Work, Family, Time & Money - Hardcover

A. Roger Merrill; Rebecca Merrill

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0071422137 ISBN 13: 9780071422130

Publisher: McGraw-Hill, 2003

Synopsis

Praise for Life Matters:

"A great read! This book is a great read, especially if you have a family, where balance in life is paramount!"--Larry King, Host of Larry King Live

"Roger and Rebecca Merrill have written another book that matters--Life Matters. In this crazy world we live in today, it's a goldmine of practical, achievable ideas that will really make a difference."--Ken Blanchard, coauthor, The One Minute Manager® and Whale Done!^TM

"Most people I know really want to put their family first, but with all the various tugs and pulls that can cause distractions, the most important things in our lives can be neglected. The invaluable information in this book will help you balance family, work and finances, and give you the inspiration to help you make the changes necessary to have internal peace and improved relationships."--Marie Osmond

"Profound knowledge is literally what this book is. In fact, what I would say is 'profound wisdom,' because it interweaves timeless, universal, self-evident principles into all of the knowledge that is given.... I hope you share my passion for this remarkable book."--Excerpt from the Foreword by Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

"It's the 4th "Gotta Do"...read this book, Life Matters. This book clearly articulates and demonstrates that balance in work,time,and money is not only achieveable but critical to winning in the game of life."--Pete Beaudrault, President and CEO of RLE Intl Consultants

"At last, a way to "sync" what matters most with what we actually do! And with an approach that helps people understand, simplify and incorporate the power of technology in resolving life balance issues. The Merrills present the ideal solution for knowledge workers who want to have quality family life."--Curt Allen, Former President and CEO, MyFamily.com, President and CEO, Agilix Labs

"I wish that I had had this wisdom years ago so that I could have led a greater life sooner! This information is invaluable for anyone who has choices in life about family, work, money, and time--and I think that applies to everyone. I encourage you to read it and apply these principles of greatness so that you might achieve your greatest goals."--Pat Croce, former owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, author of 110% and I Feel Great

A groundbreaking guide to achieving true life balance from the experts at the Covey Institute

As the home front and the work front become increasingly integrated in contemporary life, success--or failure--in either has an undeniable effect on the other. But it is possible to keep both areas moving forward in positive ways. In this much anticipated book, A. Roger Merrill and Rebecca Merrill show readers how to navigate the critical relationships between time and money, work and family, to create a harmonious, success-enhancing dynamic between each.

Life Matters guides readers in how to spend time and money in ways that translate the personal values and goals that matter most into daily life experience.

The crucial steps toward this kind of effective living include:

• Exploring the gap between what we deeply value and the reality of daily life
• Aligning resources with goals and values
• Using technology--one of life's greatest balancing assets--as a tool for creating more time
• Utilizing the concept of dynamic investing, which includes intangibles such as energy, relationships, and integrity
• Succeeding at work and family do not have to be mutually exclusive goals

Also included are invaluable exercises that will help readers achieve greater satisfaction in all areas of life.

About this title

About the Author

A. Roger Merrill and Rebecca Merrill are the authors of the bestselling First Things First. Roger is the vice president and co-founder of the prestigious Franklin Cove Company. He writes, consults, and teaches leadership worldwide. The Merrills live in Salt Lake City, Utah.

From the Back Cover

As home life and work life become increasingly integrated in contemporary life, success--or failure--in either has an undeniable effect on the other. And while the profound events that began the 21^st century have intensified the desire to focus on what matters most to us, there is still often a substantial gap between what we say matters most and the way we actually spend our time and money. Our credit card and checking account statements may clearly reflect this. But it is possible to keep both areas moving forward in positive ways.

In this groundbreaking book, A. Roger Merrill and Rebecca Merrill demonstrate how to navigate the critical relationships between time and money, work and family, to create a harmonious, success-enhancing dynamic between each. Life Matters shows us how our actions can translate our most deeply held personal values and goals into daily real-life experience. From confronting life's tough questions--to offering practical ways to implement your answers--the authors guide you through the crucial steps toward effective living, including:

• A helpful self-assessment quiz to evaluate how you feel about the vital elements of work, family, time, money--and wisdom--in your life
• Exploring the gap between what you deeply value and the reality of daily life
• Aligning resources with goals and values
• Using technology--one of life's greatest balancing assets--as a tool for creating more time
• Utilizing the concept of dynamic investing, which includes intangibles such as energy, relationships, and integrity
• Realizing that succeeding at work and family do not have to be mutually exclusive goals

In addition, the Merrills reveal the three powerful "Gotta Do's" that are essential to developing the capacity for a balanced life. Drawn from their decades of professional and personal experience, these three keys serve as the framework for positive change. As you apply their principles and insights to your unique situation, a newfound sense of balance will radiate from your deepest inner core to your major decisions--to the smallest details of your everyday life.

A Groundbreaking Guide to Achieving True Life Balance

From the Experts at the Covey Institute

The way we choose to spend our time and money is the measure of our ability to translate what matters most to us into our daily lives. Today, for many, that means a greater focus on devoting more of ourselves to family and loved ones. Yet, the burning question remains: How? In this much-anticipated book, efficiency experts A. Roger Merrill and Rebecca Merrill show you how to integrate attitudes and resources to expand your capacity for happiness and achieve a fulfilling life.

Reviews

The Merrills, time management experts who co-authored First Things First with Stephen Covey (The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People), expand their range here to cover creative ways to successfully balance four major aspects of life: family, money, work and time. The premise of their program rests on what the authors call three gotta do's-validate expectations, optimize effort and develop navigational intelligence. For example, if you have determined for yourself and your family that financial security is important (validate expectations), it is necessary to take steps to achieve this (optimize effort) by, say, getting out of consumer debt. Navigational intelligence is the ability to make appropriate decisions when unpredictable events arise that may interfere with your focus. The Merrills borrow a paradigm from their earlier book that divides tasks into four quadrants; urgent, not urgent, important and unimportant. Drawing on personal anecdotes, the authors show how this division can facilitate making choices that balance the requirements of a family life with earning a living. Their philosophy is based on the conviction that a strong family-centered life is one of the keys to happiness and central to a stable civilization. The Merrills recommend working with children to create a family mission statement; they advocate regular family meetings, shared family activities and scheduled "dates" between husbands and wives. This thoughtful self-help manual is not a quick read, but its advice is sound and can easily be applied to daily life.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: McGraw-Hill
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0071422137
• ISBN 13: 9780071422130
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288