Juggling your schedule

A well accomplished and extremely busy professor had once told me that she always makes sure to be there on her kids' important events like school performances, assemblies, important sports games, occasional school field trips etc. I asked her how she managed her time right; coordinating all those committees she takes part in, scientific meetings she speaks at, business meetings, teaching courses, mentoring her postdocs and most importantly being there for her family, and she answered simply with one word: "appointments" she said. And to the sight of my confused look she said: "of course I make sure to be efficient and make the most out of my time, but there is no reason why a scientific conference should be more important than my son's soccer game or my daughter's spelling contest, as long as I know my schedule in advance. A person inviting me to give a talk at a conference or asking to make a business appointment doesn't have to know why a certain time or date does not work for me, I say I have a schedule conflict, and that's the true. I have been doing it for over 20 years now and haven't heard a single complaint. Also, I don't make work related appointments on weekends, only family 'appointments'. These are my rules and by following them I live at peace with myself; no regrets, no guilt feelings" she explained, and with that inspiration I realized that being successful, career wise, can indeed go hand in hand with making enough time for your family as long as you are efficient, plan your time right and enough time in advance, and make sure to make and keep those family 'appointments'.