What is balance? Depending on its context, balance can take on a couple interesting faces:
a weighing scale
the presentation of multiple viewpoints (See Also Neutrality).
a desirable point between two or more opposite forces.
a device to measure the mass of an object.

When you look at balance as a measure in life, it is easy to get swept away in a stream of thoughts.  Is balance life’s measuring scale?  Is it the midpoint between “success” and “failure?”  And the most mysterious, how do I achieve this magical neutrality?

I often struggle with this sense of balance and generally come to the same conclusion.  My scale tends to tip heavily to the business side with significantly smaller portions of my time dedicated to “personal” time.  Whether wrong or right, this just tends to be how I net out.  Several factors contribute to my choice of allocating my time this way…yes we choose our balance and the way we allocate our time, after all, everyone has the same 24 hours in a day.  

#1 – Drive of an Entrepreneur – It is very hard for me to “turn it off” – Knowing what my lifelong goals consist of, I constantly see opportunities in from of me and choose to capitalize on as many of them as possible as they are presented.  This leads to times when I am forced to segment a portion of my “personal” free time to the mongrel of entrepreneurship!  I’m ok with that!.....at least for now

#2 – Pay now or Pay Later – relates to #1 and perhaps where my true “balance” issues enter – My justification for ridiculously working my ass off now is to reap its rewards sooner and “retire” early.  By retire I do in fact mean taking a less active role in terms of travel and workload.  I am one of those people who would go crazy sitting around all day or driving an RV across the country.  That being said, I do sometimes dream of playing golf everyday ☺ My struggle is to know this limit.  It is easy for me to see the downfall of not capitalizing on business opportunity at a young age, but I do have to remind myself of the pitfalls that result from not enjoying the personal side of life at a young age as well.

#3 – Nature of the Beast – As long as I can remember I have always been a “busy” person.  In HS, I was involved heavily in music and sports, and in college I had work, school and playing music.  Along with those things, I have always had close relationships with my friends and family.  When I moved to PA for my career and to essentially help build a company, all of a sudden my focus that was once spread over many verticals became focused.  I think this made it very easy to become extremely intense with work and focusing my time and effort into those aspects of my life.

#4 – Long-term Provisions – My life goals have always included being able to provide for my family in a comfortable fashion.  Though financial stability leads to a conversation of its own, my thoughts tend to fall to the side of  - not having to wonder where the net bill is coming from, takes a lot of stress out of a relationship!  I do realize money does not solve all problems and creates many of its own, it is important for me to know I can be a provider and offer a comfortable lifestyle to my future wife and children.

All in all, I guess I realize that my struggle to find life’s balance is not much different than anyone else.  In fact, in many ways, I feel finding that “balance” is the “key to life”.  

Life’s dichotomous journey takes us down paths both trodden and those unpaved, but feel content it always leaves an option to traverse down another direction or seek out a new adventure.  There is no answer or magical solution, just opportunities for you to personally dismantle its web of discovery and find your own way.

 - Ben

By now, I think people are beginning to realize that this whole social media craze is not really that much different than traditional networking, dating, or just meeting new friends.  All SM does is give us a platform to expand on the traditional approaches and increase our individual reach.

I am sooo excited to meet with everyone in SF on Thursday for the Tweetup.
Finally meeting Jenny Blake, Jamie Varon and Jun Loayza in person is going to be so much fun!! Plus I am meeting up with one of my best friends for the weekend and we plan on going to tour Napa.  How much better can it get?

Seriously, as I have become more active in my groups/organizations such as QRCA, AMA, and SM communities, I have realized even more that my passion in life is meeting, connecting and sharing with new people.  The ability to introduce someone to another person who will have an impact on their life is absolutely amazing!!

This has been a definitely stressful past few days, but I am quickly reminded of the reasons why I love what I do for a living.  My career is based on meeting new and interesting people and having great coffee shop style conversations with them.  Having them share their insights and opinions and creating a rapport.  To me, this truly is "livin the dream"

Tonight I am in KC for a group and working with a soon to become great friend Abby.  Talking with her tonight I again realized how valuable professional organizations can be.  We are both very active in the QRCA organization and we both seem to get so much from being a part of the group.  I think everyone should have some sort of group/organization that they can feel part of.  The experience is amazing and the way you can mentor and be mentored is extremely comforting.  I'm quickly reminded of a friend of mine, Sydney Owen, who has mastered the art of the mentor and fully taken on the task of changing the way PR operates.  Check out her blog and enjoy the absolutely amazing insights!

All in all:
1) I love people - new people, old people, young people, tweeple - it simply does not matter.  I see the value in making relationships one by one .

2) Loving what you do truly does make life a whole lot easier!  Advice I followed after graduation was given to me at a young age "do something you love and the rest will fall into place"  I have never forgotten those words of wisdom and truly appreciate what success has come from doing something I love completely.

3)  In stressful times, seek first to understand, then be understood. 

4)  Sometimes when you feel completely overwhelmed, take a step back and look at life.  You need to take a breath and soak it all in, so the memories and experiences truly set in.

Alright, off to bed and then early to rise and fly to SF tomorrow!!  Hopefully the weather there is better than the rain we got in Dallas and KC.

This month has been crazy!  Work has gone from extremely slow to full capacity in the matter of a couple weeks and it seems like my persistent efforts are beginning to pay off!!  I'm looking forward to being back in TX again in May for quite some time.  Each time I go back I seem to find something else I miss about living in the DFW area. 

On a random note, I have been on this persistent drive to find ways of helping others.  Whether it is helping friends in school with resumes and job search, or finding a way to help distribute projects to colleagues and collaborative partners who may be slow, I feel this burning need to help!  It shows up in my posts as well.  I feel like the last few updates have had underlying tones of the importance of helping others.  After all, isn't that what life truly is about?  Finding a way to make the world a better place and leave a legacy through the positive impact you have on others.

This past weekend I volunteered with Tiffany's organization at the Special Olympics.  I can honestly say, it was one of the coolest things I have ever been a part of.  It was encouraging that there was actually an over-abundance of volunteers who showed up as well.  I could go on forever about how humbling the experience was, or all of the amazing people I met, but the coolest experience was definitely meeting Ricky.  Ricky was in a wheel chair and after he competed, i had the honor of pushing him to the awards podium.  Seeing the excitement on his face and hearing it in his voice was enough to make anyone forget about their troubles and worries and sit back and enjoy life's delicate details. 

If you ever have the opportunity to volunteer and experience this amazing gathering, please do not pass it up!  I guarantee it will help to mold your perspective on life and encourage you to take the plunge into the addiction that is truly helping others.

I had a really great conversation with a friend, Jenny Blake, who is a manager at Google, a life coach and active in the social media world.  We talked about life coaching and helping others in what I like to think of as "self-empowerment."  Essentially causing others to get passed whatever mental or emotional block keeping them from really doing something they love and dream of doing.  One of the things in my life I have always loved is helping others and feeling like I made a difference in their life.  I have become increasingly interested in being a life coach more formally and hopefully have the opportunity to help others on a larger scheme.

The second side of the coin is charity, which in my mind has two sides as well.  Charity in the sense of giving to an organization that helps others has always had a place in my heart.  I dream some day of either starting an organization or being able to contribute heavily to one that serves a good cause.  The other side is charity in the absence of empowerment.  I went to a great event for the Susan G. Komen foundation the other night and one of the speakers was a writer for Philly Magazine.  He spoke about the difference between Allen Iverson and Lebron James.  AI has always given financial support to friends and followers who "needed" it.  However, those same people are the ones who continually tap into the bank of AI and most likely will forever do so.  After interviewing people from AI's life, the speaker said he only found one person that had never asked AI for anything.  It begins to get blurry when you try and determine who "friends" really are.

Lebron on the other hand is just as charitable but gives to his friends and family in the form of educational support and really helps to lead his followers to that self-empowerment model.  Another good example is the Victim Services Center of Montgomery County.  We recently did a pro bono project for them and it was amazing to see what high regard the donors, volunteers, clients, counselors and community had for this organization.  They too are based on the model for empowerment.  They help empower victims of violent crime to overcome the dreadful tragedies they have faced.  They help give each client tools, outreach and support to truly cope with and process the tragedies which they have faced.

I continue to hope I will have opportunities to help others and make a difference in other people's lives.  To me, that is truly what life is about and what we as humans can offer to the world and to each other!

 - Ben

I realized today that I think my biggest complaint with companies and especially the market research industry, is the lack of effort to "push the envelope" and be on the leading edge of innovation.  Caveat: This does not apply to everyone, as I know there are many firms and individuals who are, but I feel they are the exception.

Example 1 - Up until a year or a year and a half ago, I truly believe the MR facilities were the sole supporters and buyers for the audio cassette and VHS tape companies.  Really!  I could not count how many e-mails I have received over the past year from places touting their advancement to digital audio and video in the forms of mp3s and DVDs... Something is wrong here!  In all fairness, the facilities would not have continued for so long if the MR firms and moderators would have pushed them to upgrade long ago, so the fault is  with both parties.

Example 2 - The buzz at a recent MR conference revolved around online methodologies e.g. online video conferencing, online chat and online bulletin boards...again this is a platform I feel we should have been comfortable with as an industry many moons ago. 

Maybe it is the Gen Y in me, or maybe it is because I tend to be an early adopter, and most likely it is both, but I feel like these technologies are well-into the mass markets and as market researcher we should have become comfortable with them many moons ago.  People tend to use the phrase "no need to reinvent the wheel," which is true only to a certain extent.  definitely no way to "reinvent" the wheel, but if the wheel did not adapt with changes and evolve with technology and we as a people did not accept those enhancements, we would have one heck of a bumpy ride to work every morning!

I had a really great lunch with my colleagues and a moderator friend of mine today, and our discussion was the impetus behind this blog.  She has been in the market research industry for around 27 years and as much as she values the "time-tested" approaches, she is very open to applying new innovative and technology driven solutions to her business.  We started talking about "web 2.0" and social media and it was evident the companies who are utilizing the capabilities of these tools will be successful and most will see them as the market leaders.  I will say I am happy our firm's culture is one that is constantly innovating and incorporating the latest and greatest.

My view is economic shifts similar to the one we are going through currently tend to weed-out the ones who cannot keep up with the changing climates.  Look at the past economic churns such as the great depression and the dot.com bust.  So, I think it will be interesting to see how this economic climate shapes those who make it through to the other side.  Who knows, maybe the social media bubble will bust before we think??

Just to clarify, this is not a put down to the MR industry but more of a call to action.  I love that I see more and more companies starting to adopt change quicker, and in turn they will require the firms they hire for MR to do the same.  I do believe on the MR side, we can be more active in changing the culture and industry, rather than reactive to the mass migration.  As researchers it should be natural for us to seek the new and improved and share those findings with our clients.  To me, that is a true value and that is the reason companies hire MR consultants.

One of my favorite things is looking at the media lists of the "most innovative" companies.  It is always neat to see who is pushing the limits and sometimes it is not the companies you would expect.  Perhaps the coolest part is that it is not always your biggest and most heavily invested in companies, though they tend to turn out that way after a period of time, and rightfully so.

In summary, My challenge to you as a reader is this, no matter what industry you are in, discover and learn about something new and innovative and try to implement it into whatever it is you do.  It doesn't have to be on a large scale or company wide.  Realistically it wont be, and it is hard to change a large company's culture if you are not in a position to do so.  But, it CAN be something seemingly small that can catch on and grow on a large long term basis.  Obviously, the common sense rule applies here...for instance I am definitely NOT suggesting you write a new program and start installing it on your company's computers around the office without approval! 

Good Luck!

Maybe it’s the stack of new business cards in my briefcase or the new list of followers on Twitter.  Maybe it’s the complimentary upgrade, thanks US Airways, or the fact I feel I must have accomplished something due to the sheer state of exhaustion I am in.  I know it’s not because of the soggy sandwich I just consumed, work on that one US Airways, or because I’m already missing Texas.   When I start to break it down, I think it’s from spending 6 days surrounded by people who are equally inspired and motivated to push the envelope as I am.   A special group of people who are more interested in ideas, collaboration and networking rather than shameless plugs.  A group of people who’s “celebrities” are “famous” for their thoughts and ability to create something new and useful opposed to being famous for who they are dating, their latest heavily processed album or the clothes they wear.  Maybe, that is why I feel compelled to push harder than ever and continue to follow my dreams creating my own way.  Maybe that is why even though I can barely keep my eyes open, I feel the need to express my thoughts and feelings as I stare out the window of my plane and see the amazing scenery.

This past week at SXSWi was an amazing experience, and one I hope to relive next year.  It all started a few months back when I sat down for lunch with Hugh Forrest to discuss my company’s interest in helping the Interactive team plan and promote next year’s festival.  We had several e-mail exchanges over the next few weeks and landed upon the decision we would capture videos of our team interviewing attendees and speakers throughout this year’s festival obtaining insights on their experience, likes and dislikes.  This would give the SXSWi team some rich in-depth feedback to use as a foundation for 2010.  What wasn’t discussed was the amazing experience I would have while I was there.  

We recorded interviews with well over 100 people from first time attendees to famous Twitterati like Chris Brogan (@chrisbrogan), who by the way is a great human being and put up with our persistence very well.  We spoke with Penelope Trunk (@penelopetrunk) and Ryan Paugh (@paughginney) who started the Brazen Careerist community, and Shama Hyder (@shama) who has a popular video blog and works in online marketing in Dallas.  We were fortunate enough to spend quite a bit of time with some of the Brazen group particularly: Ryan, Elysa (@elysa), David (@davidgiesberg), Sydney (@sydneyowen),  Nisha (@nishachittal) and Marina (@marinacolina).  They are an absolutely great group of people who are doing wonderful things for Gen Y/Millenial community.  I am truly excited to see the extraordinary accomplishments they each achieve over this next year.

Though each interview was different and had it’s own twist, one thing remained consistent.  Every respondent had a passion for connecting with others.  Whether they loved or hated the panels or were frustrated with connectivity problems, everyone valued the ability to meet the people who they communicate with on a daily basis and make the Internet “come to life.”

Now, I am tasked with sorting through the massive amounts of information and feedback we obtained this past week and providing the SXSWi team the valuable feedback they are looking for.  While I am on the topic, I must give credit to our videographer who did an amazing job, John Snowden (@johnfilm), if you are ever in need of someone who is talented and extremely hard-working and dependable for your video needs, call John!  I look forward to working with John on future projects and as we wrap this one up.

Along with that, I have several new things on the pharma side of our business that we are working on and I have presentations with the AMA Beyond Borders Summit in April and the UPA Big (D)esign Conference in May with Elysa Rice.  My experience at SXSWi will definitely provide some great information and I look forward to sharing with everyone as we process the videos.

Another challenge will be tactfully sharing and applying my experiences and knowledge gained from this past week to my own company’s culture as well as our clients, without scaring them off or creating an uproar.  After all, some of the people who follow me have already had to deal with an overload of tweets about SXSW that may not be relevant to them at all.  Thanks for hanging in there!

At the end of some of the interviews I would ask people to tell me what they liked most about their experience at SXSW and what SXSW “is” to them.  Here is what I would say:

South by is place where age, race, religion and sex can be disregarded because what people care about most is the sharing of ideas and opinions.  Whether you are a well-known social media figure or a first times attendee, you have a voice and are free to express it.  It is a place where people can meet and hangout with the people they communicate with everyday around the world making the Internet “come to life.”  Simply put, it is a place where business partnerships are made and new friendships are formed.  

Throughout my life I have had several blogs and journals that have come and go, and I currently run my company’s blog but needed a place to share my own personal thoughts and experiences with others who may be interested or in similar situations.  It is a way for me to share my journey through life as a member of Gen Y and the group of people who want to make their own way, rather than struggle to play someone else’s game.  I have imported posts from my other blogs as well as some of my own journal entries compiling them into a single format, this blog.

I guess you can say that I have always been obsessed with success.  The type of success that comes from doing something you are passionate about and being driven by that passion.  Just to clarify, I think success and money are not correlated and one is not representative of the other.  I have known many successful jazz musicians full of passion who make less than 50k a year.  Also, how can you put a financial worth on having a successful relationship with your family or friends?  That being said, I always remember what someone once told me when I was going through confirmation at church and I asked for advice about money – “Do what you love and the money will come. “ You will out-perform others who perform their job solely for the paycheck and be able to sustain and increase your productivity for much longer because of that passion.

I have always been interested in what makes people successful and finding the so-called “balance” in life.  Maybe it is the Gen Y in me or maybe not, but I have always felt I can have both success in my professional life and success in my personal life.  As I have gotten older and started to live the “startup” life, I have begun to realize how difficult it is to find this “balance.”  When I moved to PA from TX leaving my family, girlfriend and life-long friends it really hit home.  Though there are many days when I am filled with guilt knowing what my parents are going through with my dad’s illness or knowing how abandoned my girlfriend must feel at times, I truly believe it is possible to make it work.  As long as it is temporary!

I know that many other Gen Y’ers are going through the same thing, as they graduate and re-locate for the best opportunities.  Adding to the stress of being away, when you work for a small company or startup you are often traveling or working long hours throughout the week and many weekends.  Work begins to blend with life and life begins to blend with work…not exactly a stress reliever for the personal side of things.  Several times I have met “single serving friends” on airplanes or train/subway rides and the question of “how do you do it” always seems to surface.  The question usually is in regard to being in a long-distance relationship and my answers generally revolve around the same key elements:

 - Trust  - Not just knowing that you are both committed to the relationship, but also the trust that whatever you are doing in your career life benefits your personal life and relationship.  This is important and is one of the keys to making it work.

 - Understanding – Anyone who has been in a serious relationship or a long distance relationship knows that having a significant other that is “understanding” makes all of the difference.  If my girlfriend was not so ridiculously “understanding,” I am not sure how it would work.  Unfortunately, most often, and unfairly so, the person who did not move away or is not living the startup life has to be the most “understanding.”

 - Commitment – To me, Commitment is different than trust.  In a way, they are symbiotic.  Being committed to making it work is a must-have for someone in the startup life or long-distance relationship.  Times get hard, really hard, and sometimes it may seem like the only thing you have is love and commitment, but if your are strong in your commitment to each other and the love is genuine, then you will make it through the tough times.  After all it does go in cycles regarding the easy and hard times.

 - Support – Whether you are making a career change, re-location, starting a business or really any major change, it requires a tremendous amount of support.  Your friends will tell you that you are crazy.  Your family may or may not agree or understand what you are doing, and at times you will feel completely alone.  The support from your significant other can often be the most powerful “pick me up” out there.  Remember this goes both ways!  As you are traveling around and trying to make your business successful, your boyfriend or girlfriend, wife or husband have a void in their life that used to be filled with spending time with you.  It is easy to forget that when you begin to gain traction with your career and it starts to take over more and more of your life.

I tell people those things and one time a businessman on a train from DC said, “well aren’t those the keys to any relationship?”  My reply was “yes, but now take away seeing each other every day, going out with friends, sitting down together to watch a movie, or just holding hands and you can see how increasingly important those things become.”  All in all, I feel blessed and lucky.  Blessed that I have family and friends who support what I am doing and lucky enough to have a girlfriend who can tolerate my absolutely crazy life and still supports me trying to do things that make it even crazier.  Life truly is about the relationships you make, and when you look at it, they are not very different from a strong business – find someone who you geuinely want to work with, ride out the lows to get to the highs, communicate effectively, share in the joys and sorrows, don’t ever lose sight of the end goal and sometimes just take a minute and smile as you look back at how far you have come.