Canadian Lawyer

FEATURES 54 www.canadianlawyermag.com WORK-LIFE BALANCE arrive at college. When passion no longer fuels your drive, chances are you won't achieve excel- lence – and you won't be fulfilled. Redefining success The history and pitfalls of pursuing excel- lence are convincing, but how do we redefine the meaning of success? I believe we should think less about excellence and more about personal fulfillment – a sense of achieve- ment that's balanced by wellness. The World Health Organization defines wellness as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Increasingly, we're seeing more thriving, high-profile leaders who are openly prioritiz- ing their wellness. Whether it's meditating, exercising or clocking at least eight hours of sleep, wellness is slowly replacing the old masochistic work habits. For example, many CEOs have regular meditation prac- tices, including Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Wellness also means checking in with yourself and being self-aware. Sleeping, meditating and exercising are great prac- tices, but it's equally important to step back and re-evaluate from time to time. Examine your short and long-term goals and whether your work still feels inspiring. Sure, you might not be whistling while you work every day, but on the whole, your job should bring a sense of satisfaction and pride. So now you're focusing on fulfillment, medi- tating daily and feeling good about your work- life balance. But will you ever make a name for yourself if you don't chase excellence? Will you Will you ever make a name for yourself if you don't chase excellence? By pursuing fulfilling work and living a balanced, healthy life, you might – because chances are you're working from a place of inspiration instead of just going through the motions Aytekin Tank is the founder and CEO of JotForm, an online form creation software with four million users worldwide and more than 100 employees. A developer by trade but writer by heart, Tank shares stories about how he exponentially grew his company without receiving any outside funding. For more information, visit jotform.com. leave your mark on the world? There's no guarantee. But by pursu- ing fulfilling work and living a balanced, healthy life, you might – because chances are you're working from a place of inspi- ration instead of just going through the motions. And even if you never launch your own company or ascend to the C suite, you can still make a strong contribution to your team, earn a good living and enjoy fulfilling hobbies outside of work. Reaching for the top can have many negative consequences – on our health, our relationships, our passion and our happi- ness. By striving for fulfillment, we might end up happier and more successful than ever before.

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