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Looking for the Perfect
Balance
Recently, I participated
as a speaker at “The
Women’s Leadership
Summit” in Mexico City.
I had the honor of
sharing the stage with
prominent female
personalities like
Mexico’s former First
Lady, Marta Sahagún, the
former United States
Secretary of State,
Madeleine Albright and
the well known author,
Gail Evans, among others.
Most of them concluded
their presentation with
a question and answer
session. The majority of
attendants wanted to
know how they were able
to develop themselves
professionally without
neglecting their homes.
The two most asked
questions out of all
were: “Do you have to
give up marriage in
order to be a successful
businesswoman?” “Is it
possible to find a
balance between family
and career?”
Like the participants, I
waited anxiously for an
answer that would make
us say, “Wow, this is
the secret to being a
superwoman…you can have
it all.”
Unfortunately, there was
no concrete answer that
would indicate how to
find a balance between
having a successful
career and at the same
time being a dedicated
wife and mother. |
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Maria Marín is an author,
national columnist and
motivational speaker.
She hosts a syndicated
radio show with ABC
radio networks. For
information visit:
www.MariaMarin.com
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 It
is not the first time
that I find myself
meeting with a group of
women where the subject
of conversation is
finding a harmonious
balance between work and
family. I have a very
busy career that gives
me a lot of satisfaction.
However, there is not
one day that goes by
that I don’t feel guilty
about not being able to
dedicate more time to my
family.
A lot of women who
devote themselves to
their children believe
that those who hold jobs
outside the home neglect
their family. On the
other hand, professional
women criticize the
homemakers for not using
all of their talents.
It is ironic that both
long for what the other
one has. Women who stay
home feel incomplete
because they are not
developing their
potentials to its
fullest and women who
hold jobs feel guilty
for being absent from
home. We should respect
the decisions of others
and not judge. Whether
it’s the housewife or a
female executive, they
are both winners in
their respective careers.
For the professional
woman, finding a balance
is next to impossible.
You need to live your
life the best way
possible and recognize
your efforts. Accept
your decision and leave
your guilty feelings
aside. To wish for a
perfect balance is like
walking towards the
horizon, no matter how
long you walk you will
never reach it.
After the conference I
approached the young
lady who asked if it was
possible to be married
and successful in
business at the same
time, and I told her:
“Of course it is! I have
managed to do it. It all
depends on the person
you choose for your
partner. You need to
marry a man that will
support you in achieving
your dreams.”
By Maria Marín |
