“One question that comes up repeatedly: ‘Do you have to kind of give up your life to be a level 5 leader? Do you have to choose between building a great organization and building a great life?’ Well we looked at this question.
I have good news and bad news. The bad news is a number of them really didn’t have a life outside their work. They have had divorces or were estranged from their children, health problems, stress.
I wouldn’t say outside of their work they were happy; they were happy in their work because their work was their life. The good news is it was only half.
The other half had close, loving relationships with their family. The other half spent time contributing to their community. The other half were like Coleman Mockler of Gillette who, when he died at his funeral, people came from all over the community and he was surrounded by love, because he had contributed in many dimensions while being a Level 5 CEO, while fighting three corporate takeover attacks, while when Mr. Perlmann threatened to take over the company, his response was, ‘He can wait till Monday I have some things to do with my children this weekend.’
The question of balance—the ones who didn’t have it, didn’t want it.”