EP5: Respect How Humans Work

“There are universal laws that control how humans work. Humans have a very limited capacity. We need just as much rest and leisure time as we do work and stress.”


In this week’s episode of The Part-Time CEO we are discussing the balance of work and rest. The truth is, you have a finite amount of energy. All humans do. Many people value “grit” and glorify the those who are martyrs in their job, especially when working a job that serves others. However, in order to have sustainable success in business and life, we have to change the way we talk about work, and the way we structure work for ourselves.


“Willpower is a muscle, and it needs rest. We can push it. We can use it up. Eventually it will collapse. It needs rest to recuperate.”


The first concept important to remember when learning about the laws of how humans work is that willpower is expendable energy, it is a muscle. If it becomes exhausted, it won’t be able to power you through stressful moments. It is important for us to learn how to be good stewards of our willpower. This is dependent on our ability to create healthy boundaries around our relationships, work, and our time.



”Many people are choosing to leave the workforce to go into business for themselves to choose how and when they work. The problem is, because dysfunctional work culture is ingrained in our psyche, we often end up establishing similar or worse work schedules for ourselves.”


The second concept to remember is that people needed to be treated well. We need to have a sense of control. So many people feel guilty if they make a lot of money, working fewer hours than is “expected.” It is time to set aside the expectations that we place on ourselves, because of what is considered normal. Listen in to learn more about how to take charge of your time, and find the balance between work and rest.

Some Topics we talk about in this episode:

  • Introduction - 0:43

  • Peak Performance - 5:52

  • The Willpower Myth - 9:02

  • Cookies and Control - 13:52

  • “Interval Training” in Your Business -17:02

  • Wrap-up and Takeaways - 30:00

How to get involved

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    1. For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at The Part-Time CEO® Group, my website, or email me at janelle@janellelara.com

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Janelle Lara