Peer in episode #62 of the De Gebakken Peren Podcast.
Taking a step back
The point is not to be busy.
Family life - especially with young kids - doesn’t lend itself for planning. Sometimes you need to step back in unexpectedly and be there for your family.
That requires flexibility.
I asked Ragna whether there was a difference in that for independent freelancers or entrepreneurs with employees.
When you have employees, there’s a pressure to become beholden to them. The beast grows out of control.
It’s a big challenge. But, as Ragna said, as an entrepreneur, the real point is to create a team that becomes independent of you.
When you do that you create the space to be able to take a step back and live your life.
Language gives you a pass
It can be hard to have a conversation about your wants and needs.
Especially when the one you’re having the conversation with is part of the situation and the natural reflex is that the other should add things to their plate to help you.
Doubt quickly creeps in. Is my desire valid? Shouldn’t I simply stay quiet?
Finding out that there are words for what you’re experiencing helps.
First, it helps you to express what you mean with more clarity.
But secondly, the mere fact that a word exist must mean that more people have talked about it!
That can be the support you need to speak your mind.
Imagine what would happen when we wouldn’t bottle up our feelings and frustrations!
How much lighter we could all walk this world and engage in conversations with each other.
The system can’t handle 100% fulltime work
One of many the reasons that economic growth is such an imperfect measure of progress is that it drives us to create “business” out of work that is categorically different.
Water bottles, healthcare, children’s day-care.
A reason in favor could be that when you also put a monetary number on care work it gets equal footing.
But, what you get is efficiency and productivity in sectors where the most important traits are care and attention.
Plus, ever more economic growth requires more and more people working. Higher population, and more of the population that works.
Should we want a society where both parents work full time?
One thing that is clear is that the care system that would be necessary for that step isn’t ready for it.
