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I work 12-14 hour days M-Th on the road so that I can disconnect from work and spend weekend with family. It does not always work out but I am able to make it work most weeks.
I work harder during the week than when I was single. Once I got married, I picked up the pace simply so I could spend more time with my wife. I picked it up further when my kid was born.
It’s really a combination of a few things for me in addition to the pace:
1) Being very efficient during the week (engage in useful networking but avoid 2 hour conversations with no purpose) (also, think carefully about the work you need to do before diving in)
2) Let my team know that I’m monitoring but may not reply right away during the weekend. (Exercise judgment. Sometimes you need to work but often you don’t)
3) Be present when I’m with family (not constantly checking phone)
4) FaceTime, etc - I actually schedule this
5) I talk about my kid with clients that have kids themselves, that usually helps.
6) I crank on Friday’s after school drop off and before school end. If my work load is light, then I do the social stuff. Otherwise, I close the office door (or stay home) and get through the work.
7) I buy presents for my kid when I go to new locations. Something symbolic of my travels.
8) I look for opportunities to bring the kid (perhaps over a weekend)
^ this. 16-18h Mon-Thu, so I can chill on Friday and do school drop off / pick up.
I’m on the same boat or soon to be. Following and would love advice from others who did it right with work/life balance.
I see some SM and MD who’d put in 12-14 hours a day in the weekday and would spend their weekend time away from work. And most people I asked, they either ignore their family and don’t care about career.
I don’t think putting in 80 hours in 4 days to get to spend the weekend with your family is a fair trade off. It is more of a wish than personal experience but I’d hold the line and insist that the firm show enough heart and flex in evaluations to accommodate people in diverse life stages. If not exit is the only option.
I am the father of 3 and I also joined consulting late. The fact that I was the only dad of 3 was the first thing I noticed at orientation and still something I notice--that the majority of consultants I meet either don't have kids (actually single) or if they do, they are older, high school or college aged. The ones I meet that have young kids like me, they are struggling. Their wives like mine are single mothers 4 days a week. There are some others I meet with young ones, but have internal roles and did so purposely for this reason. But I am ok with it. Because I am not a career consultant, my goal isn't to simply move up like many of my colleagues, just get another title that means nothing to anyone else outside of consulting, but to establish a network and go back to the industry. I just can't stand being away for so long and seeing my kids noticeably different every time I leave. I won't stay much longer if I can help it
^ yes! Doing it very similarly.
Following. I'm in the same boat.
ATK1. OP asked for tips or pointers not your hope and a pray “hold the line and insist ..” BS. And by the way, having children is not a diverse life stage it is life.
And as for motivation? That it won't last much longer. Like earlier in my career, just do my time, and it will pay off later.
My own observation, is that this struggle the norm in this (there are exceptions of course) field of work. It’s probably why consulting is seen by many as a good place to *start* a career and also why so many consultants are always seeking just the right amount of experience to get some golden industry exit opp. That’s not to say that industry jobs are not difficult, but it is just easier to deal with the family life when travel is the exception and not the rule. I’ve got a new baby now myself (16 weeks!) and I’m terrified about what this career will mean for us now.
Very similar to above...only addition is that I use points often to bring my family along. I know everyone won’t have that option, but for me simply having them come with helps with my younger 2...just allowing a “tangible” dad to see them in the evening or even just in the am before I head out to the client site.
Find a no travel model shop. I'm 44 and hug & kiss my kindergartner and preschooler every morning and evening. Every decision is a tradeoff.
This will Be me very soon - same question
SC1 - How many years of experience do you recommend before having a conversation about opportunities at Slalom?
SC1- no travel model doesn’t always mean more time at home. I’m staffed “locally” but burn 4hrs/day commuting. Totally kills seeing the family
A2 - Ug that sucks
Work hard all week and take the weekend off and invest in your family. Tell your teams that if they need you, they must call or text because you will rarely check email.
That's all fine until you have a partner who needs a deck "first thing AM on Monday". At consultancies we are all slaves to partners. All of us, no matter the consultancy.