"When I'm Home, I'm Home"

Joe Staples of Utah, USA, sometimes found it challenging to keep an appropriate balance between his profession and his home life.

"Like many people, I had a natural tendency to want to excel, to do well, to get the next promotion—all worthy goals," he says. "However, too often that ambition can come at the expense of family time."

So, Joe set a rule that has helped him keep things in perspective and give his family the attention they need.

"Early in my career I set a personal rule that has helped me tremendously. In a nutshell, it has been, 'When I'm home, I'm home.' For me that meant not coming home from work simply to do more work. Not checking e-mail on the weekend. Not taking business calls at my home. I try to make a clear distinction between my work life and my time with family. This approach didn't detract from my ambitions at work, and there were occasional exceptions, but in general this simple rule created an environment where I could be an engaged and involved father during my all-important time at home."