Making Life Decisions
News For a Change e-mailed. We called. We
really hoped that Bob Chrysler would call us back. After
all, it wasn't just the rapidly approaching deadline that
was urging us on. After dealing with our own frenetic
schedules, we had to know: How does Bob Chrysler,
Chairman and CEO of Hi-Lex Controls Inc. and Hi-Lex
Corporation, two multi-million dollar subsidiaries,
balance his demanding career and his family life?
Finally, we heard from Bob and we were pleased to
learn that he was not avoiding us, but had been called to
Mexico on extremely short notice to assist their Mexican
sister company (Hi-Lex Mexicana) with a difficult
situation concerning mutual customers. According to Bob,
this is not an unusual occurrence. Rather, it's a part of
his job that he, like many others, has identified as a
prime example of the seemingly endless struggle between
balancing his work and family life.
While the struggle to achieve balance is an
ongoing one, Bob believes he is a lot closer to the goal
than he was 20 years ago. "When I was younger, I felt
like I had to do everything," admits Bob. "Because of
that, I missed a good part of my older two children's
growing stages." By the time his next two children were
born, some tougher questions began to surface. "I came to
the realization," recalls Bob, "that I had to identify
what I would personally become involved with, and start
to push back on those demanding my time and let them know
that certain things are their responsibility- not
mine."
But delegating responsibility can only take one so
far. On any given day, Bob can be found managing the
sales of both companies (as well as Hi-Lex Mexicana),
interacting with their financial department to gather
critical information on the financial performance of each
company, touching base with the quality departments or
even working with each U.S. company's human resource
center, among other things. These busy days and the
demands of running a company would leave many people
wondering if there wasn't something more.
Today, Bob makes a conscious effort to keep his
weekends and vacations work-free. He is a
turn-off-the-pager, avoid-checking-the-e-mail-at-midnight
type of guy. "I know too many workaholics," explains Bob.
"A long time ago, a friend told me that people don't make
career decisions, they make life decisions. I have never
forgotten that." This is advice that many people facing
today's seemingly endless demands of work should take to
heart.
At Hi-Lex, managers do all they can to help
employees find steady ground. One firmly balanced between
keeping Hi-Lex successful and their personal lives
enriched and meaningful. "We are trying to be proactive
with employee use of personal days, emergency use of
vacation time, no-fault attendance and salary flex time,"
says Bob.
Interview
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August 2000 NFC Homepage
Issue Highlight -
Homeward Bound
