Comments on: The Four Burners Theory — Your Thoughts?

By: Trackback from Caitlin McCabe

Trackback from Caitlin McCabe — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:43:48 +0000

[...] I read an article this week that I’ve been thinking about ever since. It’s the 4 Burners Theory by Chris Guillebeau and it’s all about work / life balance which everyone should read. It adds some dimension [...]

By: Lea Woodward

Lea Woodward — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:24:03 +0000

I’m with you, Chris – I don’t like the idea of choosing or cutting off one of the burners either and I’m not sure you have to either.

An interesting experiment we’ve been conducting recently is something along the lines of a 1 week on/ 1 week off approach (a version of the one described by Steve Pavlina).

The premise is simple:
1) You focus on work with no distractions for 7 days;
2) Then for the following 7 days you put as much focus & effort on your personal life.

For us so far, it’s worked brilliantly because:

- Health, family & friends become are the primary focus during an “off” week; work & business are the focus during an “on” week. Neither suffers from neglect for more than a week.

- You go into each week knowing that you’ve closed everything off from the previous week (work tasks, personal admin tasks, etc.) and can throw yourself 100% into whatever is on the agenda for that week.

I’d highly recommend trying this approach if you can swing it.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:56:30 +0000

I have to say I disagree with this burner theory. Turning one or two off is the equivalent of neglecting an important aspect of your life, and could also be a detriment to one’s quest for success. When you turn off the family and friends burners, you inevitably end up alienating the people close to you, and for what…success? Turning off the health burner is just plain irresponsible . For me, being successful is being mindful of how you treat people, doing what you love for a living – even if it doesn’t make you wealthy, and taking care of yourself – mind, body and soul. I think leaving those burners turned on is what fuels us to push toward success.

By: Teri

Teri — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:45:55 +0000

I wholeheartedly agree with Kieran and Christine. We are like our thumbprint, and whatever defines success or happiness to us isn’t always going to be what our loved ones, friends or work related folks feel is important. Four burners aren’t enough to define my life or what means the world to me. I must commend this wonderful group of thinking people. Love this blog people . Thanks for all perspectives. This is the best time to be alive on this planet.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:30:52 +0000

Not quite burners, but I heard this quote a screenwriting panel, of all places: “Life is choice, choice is loss.” (Isaiah Berlin) I like this because it acknowledges why we don’t like having to choose — we genuinely lose something when we discard one option or path.

But, as the speaker suggested, we must always choose a direction or we’ll never get anywhere.

So yes, you absolutely have to cut off a burner, or two, or three, depending on how driven you are and what you want from life. It seems to me that people today are absolutely phobic about making choices — they really do think that they can keep all their options open in life. This is simply not true.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:29:14 +0000

I think the four burners theory is very true but that we shouldn’t get too bogged down by it. If you are doing things that you love and don’t mind stoking the fire under all 4 or 5 or 6 of your burners, it becomes easier to do so. When you think of life as a chance to experience the world and live the richest experience possible, you can stop beating yourself up for having a hobby outside your family or for turning down the burner on one once in a while. If it’s not making you happy, it needs to be fixed or turned off.

By: Janice Tennant

Janice Tennant — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:14:01 +0000

I can’t say I understand why you need to ‘cut off’ a burner or 2. A good range has all 4 burners, not all the same size or power, in good working order. And I agree with others who said they just don’t all have to be turned on at the same time or all at once. Some need to do the simmering for a while while the others cook or rest, to take the analogy a little farther. Sometimes all the burners are off and the oven is in use, maybe a little romantic music. You know what you need.

By: Jen M.

Jen M. — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:47:16 +0000

I’ll tell you what: I’m all for cutting off the “job” burner and going it on my own. I would do that in a hot minute, EXCEPT that I have financial obligations that cannot be eliminated and cannot be met by my own projects alone. That’s just the concrete reality with which I’m living FOR NOW.

Instead, I do a lot of “Star Trek” type juggling (Re-route energy from one system to another.)

My family (chosen and blood) come before all else, and then my health. When push comes to shove, work just has to understand.

If I had made different choices in life, I’d have a VERY different point of view, but I have to live in the house I’ve built.

That said, I don’t find it offensive when people talk about pitching it all to strike out on one’s own. I would definitely do that if I could.

Cheers!

By: Trackback from Cris Buckley

Trackback from Cris Buckley — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:18:09 +0000

[...] week it’s especially been churning just below the surface. It was stirred on Monday by Chris Guillebeau’s post about the Four Burners Theory—do one or two burners need to be cut off to be [...]

By: Hersh Kalles

Hersh Kalles — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:48:25 +0000

It’s never been about the burners… we all have the same 24 hours in a day and yet some people seem to be able to do more with it then others.

To me it comes down to what you fuel the burners with in order to keep them burning. Of course in its most simplest form this can mean eating and sleeping and exercise but more importantly are the power fuels like passion and gratitude which can provide a huge amount of emotional fuel to keep your burners hot and can often provide fuel enough to upgrade to the professional 6-8 burner stove top!!!