Juggling Glass Balls: Why “Work-Life Balance” is a Myth and Intentionality is the Key 🤹

October 10, 2025

“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. ”

Happy Friday, Brew Nation!

There’s a term that gets tossed around boardrooms and coffee shops everywhere: “work-life balance.” I’m not a fan. The word balance implies a perfect 50/50 split, an equal distribution of time and energy that, frankly, is an illusion. Life comes in seasons; sometimes work needs 70%, and sometimes your family needs 90%.

I do believe, however, that the uncommon leader can be successful at both work and life. The secret isn’t finding balance; it’s practicing intentionality.

The Wake-Up Call: It Was Never About the Business Plan

When I first committed to working with an executive coach, I was eager to get straight to the spreadsheets. “Help me get better at running the business,” was my singular plea. I thought my problem was a tactical one.

My coach, however, knew better. He used truth with grace to hold up a mirror. My career was humming, but the rest of my life was operating on autopilot. While I may have been a “special case,” the first six months of my coaching journey were invested not in business planning, but in developing a clear, actionable vision for my whole life.

As I’ve grown and refined this approach, I’ve narrowed it down to six critical areas that every leader must intentionally manage. I lovingly refer to these as the 6 F’s.

The Six F’s: Your Whole-Person Development

This framework is about whole-person development, a concept similar to what leaders like former Liberty University Coach Danny Rocco challenged his players to pursue (growing intellectually, physically, spiritually, and relationally). It’s about being a well-rounded Champion, not just a highly paid specialist.

Here are the six areas you are juggling every single day:

Faith: Your spiritual foundation and ultimate purpose.
Family & Friendships: Your core relational support structure.
Fitness: Your physical health, mental energy, and stamina.
Finances: Your disciplined stewardship of resources and wealth.
Fun: Your intentional rest, hobbies, and necessary rejuvenation.
Fruit-ure: Your career, vocation, and legacy. (I had to make this word up to get to a 6th F, but it connects directly to John 15:8: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Our vocation is where we bear our professional fruit, setting up our future.)

The Glass Ball Problem: Why We Drop What Matters

It’s easy for us to neglect one or more of these F’s, especially during intense seasons of professional pressure. The problem is that not all of these F’s are created equal, and mistaking one for the other can be devastating.

Think of each area as a ball you are constantly juggling. Some are resilient, rubber balls that can handle a drop, bounce back, and take minimal damage. Your Finances and even your Fruit-ure (career) can often be the rubber balls; a setback can be repaired, a failure retrieved, or a career restarted.

But some of these F’s are made of glass.

Which ones are glass? Family comes to mind immediately—trust, relationships, and presence. Fitness, or health, is a close second—your very physical and mental foundation. Drop those when you’re juggling, and the damage is devastating, often irreparable. You simply can’t put shattered health or lost trust back together easily.

The reason we drop the glass balls is often because we fall victim to the tyranny of the urgent. We chase financial metrics that drive us toward stuff, neglecting the glass balls that matter most. This is a failure not of time management, but of intention.

The 7 Steps to Intentionality

The blueprint for intentionality and whole-person success is found in the life of Jesus himself: “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (Luke 2:52). This is whole-person growth!

You can begin your own journey toward intentionality today by following these seven steps for each of your 6 F’s:

Mission (The “So That”): Write a concise, inspiring statement about your desired outcome in this area. Think of it as your So That. Example: I will treat my body well SO THAT I can attend and dance at my grandchildren’s weddings!
Vision: This is your visual reminder! Insert a picture, photo, or even create a drawing that embodies your ideal, future state in this pillar.
Inspiration: Fuel your journey with wisdom! Find a quote, Bible verse, song lyric, or any piece of inspiration that resonates with your mission and keeps you motivated, especially when life is tough.
Disciplines: Time to commit! List concrete, actionable steps you’ll take to move towards your mission. These should be specific, measurable, achievable, and time-bound. Schedule them into your calendar for accountability!
Reflection: Take some honest time for self-reflection. What’s already going well in this area? What could use some improvement? Be as specific as possible to diagnose the root cause of any struggles.
Check-in: Schedule a formal review with yourself of every pillar every 90 days. This provides an opportunity to celebrate wins, course-correct, and keep the glass balls safely in the air.
Accountability Partner: Find a trusted peer, mentor, or coach who is willing to review your 6 F’s plan and hold you accountable to your written commitments. You don’t have to do this alone.

Quote of the Week

“Good intention without discipline leads to excuses. Good discipline with good intention leads to excellence,” — Coach John Gallagher

Being effective as a leader means consistently choosing discipline over distraction. It’s about deeply reflecting on what’s working, humbly learning from what hasn’t, and courageously course-correcting in relentless pursuit of uncommon growth. Leaders don’t just drift into success—they evaluate, decide, and act.

What’s a leadership lesson you’ve learned in an unexpected place?

Email me at coachjohngallagher@gmail.com with the subject line “PURPOSE” and share your story. And will send you a FREE CALL schedule form. I’m excited to read all your messages!

What you need to do:

Your Call to Action: Start Juggling with Purpose

You don’t need “balance,” you need a plan for intentionality.

This week, pick just one of the glass balls—Family, Friendships, or Fitness—and walk through the 7 Steps to Intentionality. Don’t let the tyranny of the urgent distract you from what matters most.

You’ve got the time. You’ve got the tools. Now it’s time to move past the myth of balance and start living as an uncommon leader who is successful in both work and life.

It’s an honor to be your trusted Friday Coffee Guy. Each week, I bring what I’m learning and living in the trenches of leadership. If this edition challenged or encouraged you, share it with someone who leads, stays faithful, or learns alongside you, then click subscribe. Let’s grow Brew Nation together!