Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Arianna Huffington's Thrive


I must admit that I am a huge fan of Arianna Huffington.  I like a smart woman and she certainly fits in that category and I like a trailblazer, and she certainly fits into that category as well.

A few weeks ago I caught an interview with her about how out of whack her life had gotten a few years ago.


Arianna Huffington, Thrive: The third metric to redefining success and creating a happier life


It had gotten so bad that she actually fainted (and cut her head on the way down) from sheer exhaustion, prompting her to step back and make some major changes in her life.

The result is her new book Thrive, which is a nice bookend to the book I discussed a couple of weeks ago, Greg Marcus' Busting Your Corporate Idol.

Both books point to the need to create and celebrate a third metric for defining success in one's life, one that is different, though complementary, to the current societal definitions of success: power and money.  In fact, she likens success to a three-legged stool.  If we only have power or money, the stool will eventually topple over, because we will be missing our health, our spirituality and our sense of community.

Huffington divides the third metric into four pillars and discusses each in depth in the book:


  • well-being
  • wisdom
  • wonder
  • giving back

For those working long hours and who will continue to work long hours, this book is a must, as like Marcus' book, it offers practical advice to help add balance into one's life.  

The book is well written and thoughtful, and cites a myriad of research to back up her arguments.

Huffington spends a tremendous amount of the book discussing the need for sleep and critiquing the current cultural obsession within the workplace of bragging about how little sleep one gets or needs. 

The impact that lack of sleep has on one's health and one's decision-making ability is discussed at length and it should give anyone pause.

What the book really is, however, is a call to action, especially for women.  Huffington argues that the current work world simply isn't working and that it is up to us all collectively to define a new way of working that is more humane.  In a recent interview with Time magazine, Huffington discusses this:

There are lots of new books with advice for young women. How do you think young women should navigate that push and pull between starting a family and ramping up their careers?

I think a lot of young women look at my generation and say we don’t want to do it this way. They say, ‘we don’t want to burn out in the process of climbing the career ladder. We don’t want to make those sacrifices in our health and happiness. They’re prioritizing giving.’ But I have a bigger dream and wish for all women where we lead a third women’s revolution. We don’t just want to be at the top of the world, we want to change the world because it’s not working. I think it’s a stunning statistic, that women in stressful jobs have 40% increased risk of heart disease.


I think you will see the leadership for implementing this third metric begin in smaller companies and in the private sector in general, who often better understand the connection between healthy happy employees and profits and who are more likely to buy in when they see the success of other companies adopting these practices.

I also think you will see it in younger people who, as Huffington notes above, having seen their parents tied to the workplace 24-7, are choosing more and more to eschew promotions in favour of a life that allows them to go home at the end of the day without responding to email all evening or reading and writing reports.

My experience in the public sector was that there is lip-service paid to wellness programs, but the combination of workplace attrition and the pressure to produce results in short periods of time makes balance nearly impossible.  

For myself personally, the section that really spoke to me was wisdom.  During my career, I would see experienced workers retire or be replaced by younger employees, who were under tremendous pressure to produce results and advice.  Bosses would expect information to be pulled together rapidly - wasn't it all available online anyway? - and synthesized into quality results within hours.

But reading data, and having the experience to understand that the data might not tell the whole story are two different things.  I saw more and more bad decision-making, typically the result of rushed or flawed logic.  We have become instantaneous workplaces and just because we have information does not make us masters of it.  I think as more individuals retire we will see an increase in these bad decisions for awhile, not because the younger people are not as smart as their retiring counterparts, but because they will face increasing pressures from their CEOs to provide instant advice.

She also talks about digital detoxes and i think I may increase my time away from the computer, as my friend Naomi has recently decided.

I really recommend this book, and I also recommend checking out the third metric section on Huffington Post

As I said when I reviewed Greg's book, had I read this or Huffington's book, I might have implemented some changes that would have averted burn out and one of those things I would have implemented was saying no.

Have a great Tuesday and stay safe out there!

xoxo wendy

25 comments:

  1. Terrific review. I saw an interview with her about the book and was interested...I'm in a group at work that has all these habits--never say no, brag about lack of sleep and being overloaded, etc. The other thing my job forces em to do it analyze and make recommendations on data I should be taking days to consider, when typically I only get hours. This all bothers me to no end, but it seems not to bother anyone else, which adds to my stress. It isn't easy to be the lone person in a group who thinks everyone else is a little bit crazy.

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    1. eveningreader - I hear you! I often think that people have forgotten that making good decisions need a) good data b) experienced people looking at the data c) a comparison against other information we might have, including past experience, etc. Right now, so much seems to be formed purely from one or two anecdotes, which hardly makes for a full picture! I can barely function with less than 6 hours of sleep and those who say they can (or have gotten used to it) are not reading the research, which is clear. Hang in there!

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  2. I agree with everything that you include here. Have noticed the same tendencies even in us "retired" folks. Can't seem to get over the habit if I may be so bold as to say. I do notice that Ms. Huffington decided she would slow life down by writing a book!! Not exactly what I would call getting off the train but we tend to listen better to someone's advice who has experienced what we have. At least they understand what it's like.

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    1. Mary you made me laugh! I assume, she outlined the book, had someone else do all of the research and then she put it all together. She is a very smart cookie! I understand she has instituted naps rooms, meditation and yoga spots, and ensures staff who are not working are not emailed when they are off at HuffPost. She is interesting to me, because she is trying to balance it all, and one of the ways she is doing it is by turning off the technology.

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  3. I became a fan of Arianna after reading her bio of Picasso and Maria Callas. I admire her rise as one of the powerful media players which did not come without a price to her personal life. While I agree with the book's message, all these came with the benefit of hindsight. These life lessons are taught best by experience and it is hard to caution twentysomethings of what lies ahead. As a parent all I could do is to support whatever my children's passion takes them even if it goes against the typical life path. I know it will be easier said than done. I am now on my 4th week of limiting my internet time to 30 mins day and I feel more calm and thinking clearer.

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    1. Good for you Marie! I am trying to limit my time as well, although I am doing some research online right now for a book I am drafting (so I consider that different)

      I think that these are really important discussions to have with your young adult children and I am having them all the time with mine. They have seen the result of an unbalanced life, both in me and in lots of my friends and colleagues, and they are not interesting in that at all. I think that bosses, who are still predominately in their 50s and 60s, had better start paying attention to this issue, as I think it will be a huge recruitment issue going forward.

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  4. It looks really interesting. When I think about the way individuals balance their careers I have to say some of the really successful ones work for themselves. They are not hostage to a culture with all of these ridiculous bragging habits about no-sleep and long hours etc.
    Of course they are hostage to their own motivation and ambition which, if they are successful, is usually large.
    As far as giving back, once again this points to those false idols power and money, I know a few people who are dissatisfied with their lives but what are they doing to support their communities in a charitable way? Are they helping the disadvantaged, the elderly, the sick? I think giving back lends to wisdom and also a sense of peace, never minding putting power and money into perspective.
    What about mentorship... I'm thinking about this as you discussed the retiring workers and the new recruits with information but no experience. I think mentorship was once valued more than it is now? Some professions lead naturally to mentorship, for example MrBP's junior lawyer will spend a good 10 years being guided in his career, there is so much to learn and nothing replaces experience.
    I won't be spending much time online this week either, too much family stuff going on. Maybe we should all do a digital detox at the same time, it will be like going to a spa together!

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    1. I hear you Dani. I still serve as a mentor to several former younger colleagues and I value that.

      I mentored while I worked, but even that became difficult with back to back meetings that I could not control, agendas I couldn't control, so that actual work could only be done at night. It was really hard!

      Something definitely has to give and I think that means more people have to stand up and say no, I want a life. When I left my job, I cannot tell you the many private emails I got from people who said they were so amazed at how brave I was to just walk away. What seemed like bravery to them often seemed like being broken and foolhardy to me at the time, but that is all where you are standing, isn't it!

      Only now am I able to really give back, as I was working 80 hours a week and my service was really service to the people of NB, plus managing my dad's affairs for many years. I think people who work for themselves have the advantage of setting their own schedule in many ways. In the end, it is so easy to get sucked into saying yes, yes, yes, all the time or taking on work or projects just because.

      Have a fun week! I am working on books, so not blogging much this week either!

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    2. Dani, you could have run a company if you wanted, what a great post (wendy) and comment (dani) I have to be honest and say that everything professional and business wise just goes over my head.

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  5. I also feel like the current system in the work world does not work. It's not possible to juggle work and family without having to outsource at least one part of it. School hours are set up such that at least one parent must be around to drop off and pick up the kids - either that, or one has to hire a nanny or find a friend/relative to do it. When I was working in the law firm, I'd get stuff dumped on my desk on Friday afternoon, with an order to have it done by Monday. And I was expected to be reachable via my Blackberry at all times. I am not as optimistic as you. So long as there's this view that working 24/7 will bring gains, I can't see any change happening.

    I read a Vogue feature on prominent neuroscientist, Cori Bargmann. In the interview, she said there are three components to our lives work, family (i.e. having children) and personal life, and a woman could only choose to do two of those three things well. Dr. Bargmann had chosen not to have children so that she could focus on her work as a scientist, and her personal life (by which she means, downtime for herself, reading, personal hobbies, etc.). It is depressing but I think she's right - there are only so many hours in the day, and unless you have an army of helpers to outsource work to, it's not possible to do all three things successfully.

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    1. It is interesting and yet there are examples of companies that have done to a 4 day work week - without reducing current employee salaries - so they could have a happier, more engaged work force. Many of those companies actually have increased profit because of productivity and have hired more people. My experience is that overworked, stressed workplaces breed unhappy people who are not very productive, who often stand around and bitch about their unhappiness and who feel no connection to their place of work, no loyalty. I could do work and family but almost lost #3 completely, which didn't make me very good at #1 and #2. Huffington would argue that that is man's logic pervading us and we need to change that kind of logic about what our workplaces look like. it is interesting!

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  6. So interested in this topic but don't seem to have time to collect my thoughts on it (oh the irony!!!). I will be v. interested to see your readers' responses.

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    1. Miss M - you made me giggle! But I think you love your job, so the secret for you will be figuring out enough "me" time!

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  7. Having been out of the work force and self employed for the last twenty years...talk about long hours and hunch a bunch of stress...I just don't get it. I am sure every industry is different but if I pay you to work eight hours I expect at least seven hours of work. I know you have to pee, smoke a cigarette, shoot the shit but do you really have to shop on line, play solitaire, bitch about me by the water cooler, etc. I just have a different take being the boss. I do believe family first but when you are working you work. Then maybe a three hour job wouldn't take you into overtime. Sorry to rant a bit, just a different perspective. But my philosophy has always been you can't bitch about something unless you have tried to change it.

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    1. Hi T! I think the issue is less of not wanting to work your paid time, but being expected to work at least a half day longer every day without pay, which in turn exhausts people and makes them less productive. I can relate to your issues: I have had some occasions when staff we were what I could best describe as "lazy" and I would have to work very hard to help them re-commit to their work or help them "move on",,, I think it is very different when you are the boss, but you might find this book interesting as Arianna is the boss. My experience is that when people are unproductive it is a sign they either don't like their job or they don't understand it. The latter you can help them with, the former means they need to move on for sure!

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  8. I saw a brief interview with Arainna and I liked what she was saying. I think the problem with balancing work, self & family has a great deal to do with overwork. As a few people are saying many careers want a lions share of your time-not just the standard 40 hrs. I think we could all enjoy a lot more satisfaction from our lives if we were only held to a regular workweek. As for having it all, well, our careers would have to be run like a successful marriage -with give and take. But careers dont usually work that way.

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    1. Bebe - I think the 24-7 nature of a lot of jobs now is really impacting everyone's well-being. It is also a sign of a) companies or businesses putting profit above all and not hiring enough people; b) an economic downturn where businesses can't afford to hire more workers as they get themselves back on their feet c) a habitual thing that according to my MBA friends, is ingrained in people in school. Is an interesting topic!

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  9. Oh! Thank you for posting this Wendy! I think I first heard of Arianna Huffington in the early or mid 90s, and she was a pretty staunch conservative, so I have never read anything with her name on it since! But, after reading your post, I looked her up and see that she has had swings, from liberal to conservative, and back again. I'm actually not that closed minded, but I don't bother with extreme views, esp. the conservative ones (sorry Rush Limbaugh devotees!). I see the Huffington Post referenced a lot but just skim on over those words (as per your most recent post, we are good at that these days!) -- good to know that I can read them now!

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    1. Audrey I had the same feeling about Arianna, so was surprised to suddenly see her espousing a lot of the things I am espousing. I am like you - I don't tend to extreme views, though I am finding myself becoming a bit of a social agitator as I age!

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    2. Okay I've read your post more carefully and hope you are correct that a shift back is possible. I agree it will have to start in smaller companies, who make working for them enticing enough for people to choose to work for them even at the cost of lower compensation. I am a little pessimistic that larger firms, private or public, will change in a notable way until they begin having trouble keeping valuable employees from leaving to join more progressive smaller firms, and losing potential recruits to them as well.

      One problem is that there are always going to be those that love their work enough to be on a 24/7 schedule and will deservedly rise to higher positions. I wonder, won't that always lead to others in the workplace putting in more and more hours to keep up?

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    3. Audrey - I think that is an interesting question. I think your highest fliers are high fliers for reasons other than long hours - I certainly was - I continued to get promoted when I had young children, etc. What I noted was that email was creating expectations that were getting more and more out of whack. There was no boundary any more between the professional and personal. I think that inability to disconnect from the office is creating this chaos. I never minded the times when I needed to work extra for special projects or special meetings. It was the expectation that when I left the office I had never left the office. ever. And I agree with Arianna that even your high fliers (of which I would describe myself as one) cannot cope with that in the long run - I saw many of my high flier friends break down with health problems and marital problems over and over again.

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  10. The work world could certainly use some re-crafting, both for men and women. I see a lot of this after hours, largely busy work, intruding into lives in a most unnecessary manner. People feel powerless to change this as they also feel replaceable. I like to see Arianna and others in power model sanity; I think if you have some power and can plan your own schedule, you are less stressed. I always had the ability to dictate my basic hours, and then, of course, emergencies and night calls were just part of the deal I don't see how you can not have help if you want a family and a "big" job.

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    1. excellent points Lane! What I am finding now is that many "not-so-big" jobs are also requiring the same of folks, without the accompanying salaries to pay for the help!

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  11. I'm often quite meh on Arianna but this sounds like a good read so I might check it out. Love your perspective on it all!

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