Broaden the definition of greatness

Is work-life balance the antithesis of greatness? Can you really become great if you also spend time on friendships, family, volunteer work, leisure, or education? Doesn’t it take a singular focus on one discipline to become world-class? 

It all depends on how you broad your definition of greatness is. 

We can look at people like Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, or Martha Stewart, and say they achieved greatness. We can look at the tournament wins, the championships, the trophies, the businesses, the personal brands, and say they were great. But we can only say that if we have a narrow definition of greatness. 

When we broaden the definition of greatness, we see that Woods, Jordan, and Stewart had failed marriages. We can see anger and bitterness in their lives. Sexual frivolity, large scandals, and tumultuous relationships with their work. We see strained relationships with family members, teammates, and colleagues. 

Many corners of their lives are not great. When we define greatness, the question becomes, are we willing to forget a majority of everyday life, and only focus on the work? That would be a primarily capitalistic view of greatness, rooted in economic value and fame. Or, when we think of greatness, are we willing to consider all corners of life? If we do, our heroes might change.