The difference between a “Life Business” and a “Corporate Business” is that “Life Business” considers more than money. Maybe you spent a huge amount of time traveling for business and made a bundle, was it fulfilling? Perhaps your ski vacation was expensive, but you made your family much happier. Harry, married with a 15-year old daughter, was a bit of a workaholic and striving to achieve more balance in life. He wanted to watch his diet and exercise more due to a cholesterol problem. Even though Harry made good money, his family was still strapped for cash. He was living beyond his income and was not spending much time with his family. Harry asked himself when he felt most productive and vital. What would help him recreate that state?

Proper trainiing will often point out that there’s a disconnect between what you want to be committed to and what your commitments are. Skip Weisman, President of Weisman Success Resources Inc. said; “That disconnect usually comes from failing to tap into the purpose behind the commitment. The ‘want’ can easily be transitioned into a ‘must’ once a powerful purpose is developed. With that purpose it’s easy to maintain the commitment, if that purpose is lacking, their “want” remains a ’should’ instead of a ‘must,’ and the commitment wanes. Knowing ‘why’ is more important than ‘how.’ ” Organizational business leaders must be trained to ask, which of my own abilities made me happy and effective this year? Who helped me most this year? How? What other factors helped me to be energetic, and constructive? Use the review to define and focus your core commitments. Typically, you’ll have five to 10 clusters of activities, such as child care, hobbies, travel, marriage and so on. Harry found that he was wasting a lot of time watching TV and worrying about a heart attack. His health was a big commitment, so he recognized it as a business, “Harry’s Health Maintenance Organization.” He also launched “Connections Unlimited,” the business of maintaining relationships with his wife, daughter, relatives, and friends. “Personal & Professional Growth,” is the business of developing himself through personal counseling, skills training, and projects to keep him on the leading edge of his field. “Think Globally, Act Locally,” which includes all of his community work and charitable donations. “I Gotta Be Me,” which includes all the activities he does only because he likes to do them, such as skiing, hiking, reading, travel, going to museums, and watching TV.

“Have Ear, Will Travel” is his consulting business and the biggest consumer of his time and energy. Once you have identified your “Life Businesses,” invest more in those that provide you with the greatest personal fulfillment and joy. Could training yourself to think oof your life as a business, create move “real value” for you and your organization?

If you enjoyed this column you’ll love our Books (click here) and Training Programs (click here). Each is filled with hundreds of leading edge profit enhancing ideas from the best business thinkers in the world. This is one of over 300 columns published and part of the reason why The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have called The DreamSpeaker™ about Business Planning Issues.