By: Rollin Groseclose
Today I’m working at a smaller desk than normal, with two fewer computer screens than normal. I’ve been fighting a cold for a week now, trying to minimize it’s spread among co-workers. Downstairs I can hear my three year-old son playing and laughing. It’s tough to tune that out, but I admittedly have a tendency to put work too far ahead of other things in life. The technology and flexibility to work from home when needed is a significant benefit. I feel good enough to work, and there’s a lot going on with clients this time of year. So, given my tendencies, it’s pretty easy to sit here and plug away.
Still, I recognize the need for balance, particularly since the arrival of our son. One thing I have discovered is the many benefits of being fully in the moment, fully engaged in the now. When I am “on the clock,” I give it my all—commit to being there—accepting few interruptions. But when I have left the office (or this desk at my home), hard as it may be sometimes, I aim to be fully present in the happenings around me—whether that be engaging in dialog with my wife, playing with my son, or enjoying a TV show with the both of them. Quiet time reading or in prayer is also very important for me.
Compartmentalizing like this often requires me to turn off my Smartphone or leave it unattended in another room. Don’t get me wrong—I am not that good at this balance yet, but when I have been intentional about being fully present in what I have committed to at the moment, I am amazed at how much more meaningful and effective those times are. It also helps to remember that people are so much more important than projects or accomplishments or money. It’s been said that it is better to aim for significance than success. I believe that, and it helps me keep things in right perspective.
Rollin joined Johnson Price & Sprinkle, PA, (JPS) in 1997 and became a shareholder in the firm in 2007. Rollin provides tax, assurance and consulting services with a focus on manufacturing and distribution; construction and real estate development; and private resorts and country clubs. Rollin also has extensive experience working with purchasing and marketing cooperatives, as well as clients that have multi-state and international activities. In his free time, Rollin enjoys spending time with his wife and son, as well as playing basketball, mountain biking, photography, reading and occasionally playing the guitar. Rollin is also involved in a variety of opportunities at the church he and his wife attend.