While interviews with these dads typically focus on their success with their blogs and businesses, these interviews took us to new places with many of these dads. We discussed their thoughts on work life balance, their experiences as a dad, and what they do to unplug.

Take a look at this selection of interviews to learn more:

• Alan Johnson from The Rating Blog
• Bill Pennington from Grumpy Security Guy
• Damien Riley from Postcards From the Funny Farm
• Darren Rowse from Problogger
• Jeremy Schoemaker from Shoemoney
• Leo Babauta from Zen Habits

Who would you like to see interviewed next?

Think about the dads (don’t necessarily have to be bloggers) that you would like to learn more about, including how they approach work life balance and what they do to unplug and relax.

Share your suggestions in the comments below and I will do my best to line up the interviews.

Don’t be shy, shoot for the moon.

Not only that but Alan is quickly becoming a household name in the blogging industry as well.

As the man behind The Rating Blog, Alan has rocketed up the ranks in just a few short months and has been guest posting on some of the most well known blogs around.

Alan generously agreed to add Dad Balance to his resume and set aside some time to share his thoughts and experiences on work life balance and what that has meant to him and his family.

Can you please tell me a little about your family? How many kids do you have? How old are they?

I have two wonderful children, my daughter is in college and my son is finishing high-school this year.

Can you provide a little bit of background on your career and professional interests?

I am, at this point, still running my brick & mortar business (after my children are ready to take over, the vast majority of my income-generating activities will be the online ones). I have worked with people my entire life and I am always grateful for having the opportunity to do something I am passionate about, not a lot of people can say that about themselves.

How would you define work-life balance?

In today’s society, a lot of people have their priorities all wrong. As far as I’m concerned, a person who thinks that career is more important than family still has a lot to learn and, down the road, that person will, without a doubt, realize just how wrong he or she was.

Do you feel that dads have a harder time achieving work-life balance than moms? If so, how?

It’s a common misconception that dads should only represent a walking paycheck, and a lot of them use the fact that they are too busy at work in order to justify their lack of time as far as family is concerned. That is simply a foolish excuse and ones family always deserves more than that.

What do you personally find is your biggest struggle to achieving a healthy work-life balance?

Managing responsibilities can always be tricky and that brings us right back to having the right priorities.

What do you remember from your own childhood with regard to your dad’s work-life balance? Was he around or always busy working? How has that influenced your own views on the subject?

My father was always around when I needed him, family has always been his number one priority. Throughout my life, he has taught me the importance of family and I am and always will be grateful for that. He has indeed played and extremely important role in helping me become the person I am today.

How have you learned to identify when your work-life balance is too far out of balance in one direction?

Life has taught me that seeing things in perspective is always a must because sure, you can learn to increase your personal productivity but, in the end, if you are not careful, everything can backfire and the only thing time management will end up doing for you will be helping you go down the wrong path faster.

What is one of the biggest mistakes that you have made with regard to work-life balance?

When starting out as an entrepreneur, I believed that being busy with my brick & mortar business was an excuse for not spending enough time with my better half. Luckily, the birth of my daughter made it clear just how wrong such priorities are.

Have you faced any stigmas or criticism for focusing on your own work-life balance? Do you think focusing on your family has impacted your career? If so, how?

Always having time for my family is something I congratulate myself for every day. I can’t stress this enough: you can take away
everything I’ve ever worked for and I will always find the strength to start over. But take my family away from me and I am a nobody.

What is one thing that you wish you knew at an earlier age with regard to work-life balance? That is to say, what is one piece of advice that you would give to a new dad as he struggles to find his work-life balance?

I would definitely advise against seeing career as the most important priority. With such a way of thinking, I have managed to always have time for my family as well as secure the lifestyle they deserve.

Neglect your family and it is only a matter of time until problems will occur, problems which will make you understand what is more important in the grand scheme of things.

How has your work life balance changed since you had kids and do you think it has changed for the better or worse?

It has definitely changed for the better and, as I have previously explained, having kids has kept me from turning into a notorious narrow-minded workaholic.

Do you think your work life balance has changed as your kids have gotten older? How?

Each age has something special associated with it. As your kids grow, they start having other needs and keeping up is indeed a must. But, all in all, my attitude towards family has never changed and it has always represented a solid foundation upon which I have built.

How important do you think it is to find time for just you and your spouse without the kids?

That, my friend, is also extremely important because otherwise, you and your better half will end up growing apart. It’s not something which happens within a few days or within a few weeks, but a lot of couples have had to suffer as a result of not spending enough time that way. Why cure when you can prevent? And, by spending time with your better half as a couple, you are doing just that.

What tips do you have to “unplug” from work? Can you completely unplug?

Yes, there are times when you can completely unplug and I notice that first-hand whenever my daughter comes home to visit. Seeing her go off to college was not exactly easy and I’ll tell you this much: whenever the entire family is together, I completely forget about everything else.

What activities and/or interests do you pursue as a means of relaxation?

Even as a “dinosaur”, I always like to stay in shape and my better half feels the same way. Basketball has always been a hobby, my son and I have always spent quality time together and I have even coached his basketball team quite a while back as a result.

A lot of people seem to think that watching TV is the best way to relax. While I respect their right to an opinion, I have to say that I absolutely hate TV. There are countless better ways to spend your time that just stand there and stare at a screen.

Aside from staying in shape, I am also an avid reader but, unfortunately, given my current schedule, having time for this activity represents quite a luxury.

Alan, I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences regarding how you have learned to balance work and family.

Leo has had quite a year, as he has built Zen Habits into the Best Overall Blog of 2007 and launched a new blog named Write to Done.

If that were not enough to keep him busy, Leo also recently announced that he will soon be a published author as he has signed his first book deal.

Leo recently set aside some time to share a few of his thoughts and experiences on work life balance and what that has meant to him and his family.

Can you please tell me a little about your family? How many kids do you have? How old are they?

I’m married with six kids (three boys and three girls) — the oldest is 14 (she’s in high school) and the youngest is almost 2 years old (she’s in daycare). If I can be doing anything in the world, I’d choose to spend time with these fine people.

Can you provide a little bit of background on your career and professional interests?

I’ve been a journalist and freelance writer for the last 17 years or so, and I’m now a blogger at Zen Habits and Write To Done. And soon to be a published author. Basically, I’m a writer, and I love what I do.

How would you define work-life balance?

It’s really a matter of deciding how you want to spend your time. I don’t divide my life so much in terms of work and life, as it’s all the same thing … but I don’t allow my work to overrun my time with my family or personal goals such as running and staying fit. So it’s looking at your life as a whole, and deciding what your priorities are… and then making sure your life reflects that.

Do you feel that dads have a harder time achieving work-life balance than moms? If so, how?

Not really. Moms who work often juggle a lot more than dads do, as they often assume more of the home responsibilities (not necessarily, but more often than not). My wife and I try to split things up evenly. Moms who stay at home have an even bigger problem: their work IS their home life, so there’s no division at all. Their days and evenings run together as a long list of things to do and people to take care of, until they find the sweet release of sleep.

I think every parent, mom or dad, faces the same problems of figuring out what their priorities are and structuring their lives to reflect them. We often ignore our personal goals to work or take care of the kids, or ignore the kids to focus on work goals, and as a result, we look back with regret because we haven’t done what we really want.

What do you personally find is your biggest struggle to achieving a healthy work-life balance?

I think no matter what your intentions are, things have a tendency toward chaos. So creating a structure in your life that reflects your priorities isn’t just a matter of setting up that structure — it’s a matter of being vigilant and constantly revisiting those priorities so that the structure doesn’t crumble into chaos.

What do you remember from your own childhood with regard to your dad’s work-life balance? Was he around or always busy working? How has that influenced your own views on the subject?

I think my dad did a great job in being there for us, playing with us. He wasn’t perfect, but it was obvious that he enjoyed being with the family. I think that definitely affects me as a father — I have a desire to be with my family.

How have you learned to identify when your work-life balance is too far out of balance in one direction?

Not always right away, but again, it’s a matter of revisiting the issue on a regular basis.

What is one of the biggest mistakes that you have made with regard to work-life balance?

I don’t feel I’ve made any big mistakes — at every turn in my life, I’ve chosen my family over my work. In fact, over the last year I’ve worked so that I can quit my day job to work from home, to focus on my blogging, my book, and my family.

Have you faced any stigmas or criticism for focusing on your own work-life balance? Do you think focusing on your family has impacted your career? If so, how?

I think I could have made it big in the corporate ladder if I had not focused on my family and poured my entire being into work. However, I wouldn’t be very happy with that kind of life. So I’ve made career choices that have resulted in time for my family and in me doing what I love to do. It’s the best thing I could have done.

What is one thing that you wish you knew at an earlier age with regard to work-life balance? That is to say, what is one piece of advice that you would give to a new dad as he struggles to find his work-life balance?

Do what you love to do. That includes being with your family, if that’s what you love to do. That includes making career choices that focus on what you are passionate about.

How has your work life balance changed since you had kids and do you think it has changed for the better or worse?

There’s no doubt that I was much more into my work before I had kids. Work was my life, and I did wonderfully at it. However, I am much happier now that I have a family in my life.

Do you think your work life balance has changed as your kids have gotten older? How?

Well, when you have infants in the house, they demand all your attention. Now that my youngest is almost two (she’s still very
demanding!), I’m able to have more of a life outside of her sphere of influence, but other than that, I don’t think the balance has changed much.

How important do you think it is to find time for just you and your spouse without the kids?

Very very important. Spending time with my wife is one of my top priorities, one of the things I love to do most. We try to have a date every week or every other week at least. We get a babysitter and go out alone. Also, we try to take at least 10 minutes alone, watching the sunset from our back yard, ever day if possible. It’s that alone time that keeps us close as a couple and functioning as human beings. Without it, I don’t think we’d be very good parents and our marriage wouldn’t work as well.

What tips do you have to “unplug” from work? Can you completely unplug?

It’s difficult. I think it takes practice, to let your work go when you’re with your family. Just focus on being present, doing what
you’re doing, instead of having your mind be elsewhere. This isn’t easy, but you get better with practice. Just remind yourself: “Be
present”. Be aware of where your attention is, and when you find it straying from the present, acknowledge this and bring yourself back gently.

What activities and/or interests do you pursue as a means of relaxation?

I love to read and I love to run. These are my two passions besides writing, my wife, and my kids. They are releases into other worlds, and I couldn’t be sane without them.

Leo, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences regarding work, family, and how you have learned to find your own work life balance.

Damien shares his gift of writing at his personal blog, Postcards from the Funny Farm, as well as his weekly blog named Cheese Enchiladas. His passion for blogging is contagious, as his wife discovered and subsequently started Party of Five.

In addition to spending time with the family, he enjoys playing the guitar and cherishes the opportunity to indulge in strip mall pizza every now and then.

Damien recently took a break from his schedule to share a few of his thoughts and experiences on finding his own balance between work and personal time.

Can you please tell me a little about your family? How many kids do you have? How old are they?

We have five total in our family. I have three great kids: a boy, 10 and two girls: The oldest is three and the youngest is eight months. The gap between the boy and his sisters is really helpful for us, he’s able to really help us care for them with little things and they idolize their big brother.

Can you provide a little bit of background on your career and professional interests?

I’m a public elementary school teacher. I’ve been interested in education since about 1995 when I finished my BA at Cal State Fullerton, CA. I started subbing then, I was 25, and in a couple years I thought teaching was a fit. I guess that year I started was coincidentally the year I started making websites as well. I made a school website on Geocities. Man it seems like such a long time ago. Blogs were starting about that time but mostly they were technical diaries. I mention blogs because I currently keep 2 blogs: Postcards from the Funny Farm and Cheese Enchiladas. These have evolved into professional interests for me through the years. To sum it up, I’ve been a teacher for 9 years, I have an MA in rhetoric and I feel very satisfied in my work.

How would you define work-life balance?

What an amazing question, that’s why I like this site so much. Balance is key to family. For me its mostly a mental thing. As a teacher there is often drama going on at work that I try to avoid. Parents, bosses, unions, bad behavior, gossip … it’s all there exponentially. When I get home and my kids run up and hug my neck, I have to forget all that and be present for them. I think when we as dads can find the strength to shut work out completely when we are home we actually make ourselves stronger.

Furthermore, our work ironically benefits when we disconnect and come back “filled up” with the stuff from our family. A lot of guys I know miss this point it seems and they strain and strain about work while at home and I don’t think they are fooling anybody. To sum it up, I always say to leave work at work, it’s not going anywhere right? Wait … maybe I read that on Dad Balance Make it right at home and work will follow.

Do you feel that dads have a harder time achieving work-life balance than moms? If so, how?

I think women with kids have it harder because most seem to consider more than their husbands. Women are caretakers and they carry an element of responsibility for the kids and the family that I see less of in myself. I try and I am sure I do a good job of considering their needs, but in my family, the wife is the one making sure all the right stuff is packed in the bags etc. and so I would say based on the fact that they see more to do, women have a harder time.

What do you personally find is your biggest struggle to achieving a healthy work-life balance?

Well, I spend a lot of time on my laptop. It is great but it takes a lot of time some days. Last year I taught myself php, css, and the inner workings of WordPress. I recently started creating my own themes and sandbox skins. But none of that is really important to my kids. I see them get bigger every day and I get pensive about my computer time. I recently started setting aside days and times for my son where he and I play his GameCube and play catch. I actually even recently helped him start a blog: “Ripstik Rider.” He loves it and he’s learning typing and writing skills.

I think the best way to keep work-life balance regarding the computer is just to be aware of it as a potential time-stealer and then get off it when you sense that’s happening. I’m pretty good at leaving my teaching at work, but my relatively new blogging work has been more of a challenge. I excuse it by saying I can make money to give my kids more stuff, but I think time spent with them is so much more valuable. The other day my three year old jumped on my lap as I was tweaking my site and said, “Hey dad, are you on your blog?” I immediately set it aside and gave her horsie rides for a half an hour or so.

What do you remember from your own childhood with regard to your dad’s work-life balance? Was he around or always busy working? How has that influenced your own views on the subject?

My dad was a probation officer for the county and a real estate agent. He always made time for me and my 3 siblings. He taught me to play guitar and he used to really help me with my math homework. He’s very analytical whereas I am more of an artistic dreamer. I can honestly say that I had the best role model in a dad. I still do. He just turned 62 and he’s a sales manager for a local builder.

How have you learned to identify when your work-life balance is too far out of balance in one direction?

I’d like to think that I can see that for myself but sometimes I get shaken up by my wife. She’ll let me know when I am doing too much at work or on the blogs. If I think she’s wrong I will tell her but the truth is, she’s usually right. I take her opinion very seriously and she is kind of like a barometer for my life-work balance. She has a blog too but she doesn’t spend nearly as much time as I do.

Lately, to keep my own sanity and balance I’ve started using a treadmill. It’s so amazing in that 30 minutes. I get ideas about work and family and then put them into practice when I get off. I have a lot of passionate hobbies and I think they keep me centered as well. I think my kids respect me because I do a lot of stuff that I can show them like computers and guitar.

What is one of the biggest mistakes that you have made with regard to work-life balance?

Not doing what I said I would do. If I tell my son we will play together an hour after I get home then everything needs to stop to make that happen.

Have you faced any stigmas or criticism for focusing on your own work-life balance? Do you think focusing on your family has impacted your career? If so, how?

In a way, kids ensure success. You have them as motivation. Having a wife and kids has enhanced my professional “persona” and everyone at my work adores my kids. In a way, they are the best thing about me at work.

What is one thing that you wish you knew at an earlier age with regard to work-life balance? That is to say, what is one piece of advice that you would give to a new dad as he struggles to find his work-life balance?

I wish I knew to not share personal things with co-workers as much. There’s something so special between a husband and wife and when I used to share every little detail with my co-workers (sometimes female) I think I inadvertently made my wife feel as if I didn’t care as much about her. I’m much more subdued at work now and when I have a truly exciting experience I make sure I try and call my wife to share it with her first. She’s the most important person in my life. I think relationships at work are great but to an extent people really are just putting on a nice face. Family is real and that needs to be remembered. Make it good at home and work will follow.

How has your work life balance changed since you had kids and do you think it has changed for the better or worse?

I think I already covered this but I’ll say one more thing on having a wife and kids: They make life harder but to the very degree that it gets harder, it gets better that it ever could have been when you were single.

Do you think your work life balance has changed as your kids have gotten older? How?

Well, I’ve only been doing this for 6 years but I will say it’s gotten more complicated. My mom always says “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” I think that is a great way to encapsulate fatherhood: Yes, it’s tougher through the years, but you gain strength, wit, candor, and patience that makes you happier and more interesting. I’m looking forward to all the years to come with my three lovelies (my nickname for them).

How important do you think it is to find time for just you and your spouse without the kids?

LOL. I think its highly important but we don’t do it enough. As a husband your wife needs to be topic A priority. All other family greatness comes after that or it doesn’t come at all. We are making plans right now to go see a movie and have dinner for Valentines day. I need to do that more all year.

What tips do you have to “unplug” from work? Can you completely unplug?

Pocket pads are amazing for capturing creative ideas throughout the day. We have an island in our kitchen where I always keep a good pen and a pad. If I am wrestling with my son or playing with my daughters and I get some “epiphany” on how to teach something, I just go write one or two words which will serve as triggers later when I can get back to work 100%. I never check work email when I am at home. If I do, it only creates more stress to solve problems that usually will be solved on their own before I ever go back. It took me a while to learn the value of this rule. I don’t waver anymore.

What activities and/or interests do you pursue as a means of relaxation?

The treadmill, hot showers, photography walks, blogging/writing, guitar, piano, DVD’s, TiVo.

Thanks for the opportunity. I have a long way to go toward Dad Balance but at least I know the general direction and I want to get there. I know having Dad Balance on my Google Reader is a good thing for my family.

Damien, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences regarding work, family, and how you have learned to find your own work life balance.

He has been in tech ever since he got his first computer, a Vic-20, 23 years ago. He has co-authored three books on information security and runs the Grumpy Security Guy blog.

In his one hour of free time a month he enjoys kayak fishing, photography and skateboarding.

The other day I shared my thoughts about work life balance and blogging with Bill over at HiTech Dad. Now it is Bill’s turn to be on the hot-seat as he shares a few of his thoughts and experiences.

Can you please tell me a little about your family? How many kids do you have? How old are they?

I have a daughter Lily who will be 2 at the end of December and I have a son that will be born January 28th (got to love that c-section scheduling!)

Can you provide a little bit of background on your career and professional interests?

I have been in I.T. and I.T. security for and insanely long time. I started working when I was 16, got into tech when I was 18 and really just performed various positions in and around the tech space since then. That is about 18 years now.

I am currently VP of Services at a company specializing in web site security where I run operations, development, I.T. and product management. Yes I have a hat rack in my cube.

How would you define work-life balance?

For me it is all about control. Being able to be where you need to be when you need to be there. If I need to be in the office or on a conference call early in the morning I need support from my wife to get Lily up and off to day care. If I need to be home for a day to watch Lily when she is sick or I need to attend some day care function then I want my work to support me then as well. I am extremely lucky to have support from both those areas.

Do you feel that dads have a harder time achieving work-life balance than moms? If so, how?

I think today it is easier than it used to be. Many families are dual incomes so dads do not have to take on the full burden of providing financially for the family. If I was the sole person bring home a paycheck I would be stressed out. I also think more and more employers are understanding that dads need family time as well and are much more understanding.

What do you personally find is your biggest struggle to achieving a healthy work-life balance?

Being able to switch from work mode to home mode. Since I am in tech I am always connected. I recently “downgraded” from a BlackBerry to a plain old cell phone some I was not always checking my email. I also have a no laptop rule while my daughter is awake (unless we are watching videos on it). Also the cell phone stays in my bag when I am at home, I don’t lug it around with me.

What do you remember from your own childhood with regard to your dad’s work-life balance? Was he around or always busy working? How has that influenced your own views on the subject?

My dad worked a lot when I was young. He was managing a local sporting goods store so he had to work some not fun hours. We did however get to take annual ski trips (which is a bit of a haul since we were in Texas). As I got older my dad started working for himself and he was around a lot more. This really drives home the point of being your own boss and living (and working) on your own terms.

How have you learned to identify when your work-life balance is too far out of balance in one direction?

My wife gives me dirty looks and Lily forgets who I am. Seriously I usually get very grumpy when I don’t have enough family time or me time. That led me to start my “professional” blog Grumpy Security Guy.

What is one of the biggest mistakes that you have made with regard to work-life balance?

Thinking that money is more important than family.

Have you faced any stigmas or criticism for focusing on your own work-life balance? Do you think focusing on your family has impacted your career? If so, how?

I am lucky that my boss has kids so she totally understands. Since I am 2nd in charge we support each other when needs arise. I think I would have a problem if I went someplace else though. I am pretty strict with my separation of work and life and there are still a lot of places that do not support that. That is why my next boss will be me.

What is one thing that you wish you knew at an earlier age with regard to work-life balance? That is to say, what is one piece of advice that you would give to a new dad as he struggles to find his work-life balance?

When you are taking your last breath, do you think you will look back and be happy you spent all that time at work?

How has your work life balance changed since you had kids and do you think it has changed for the better or worse?

Before kids, I am sorry I don’t remember that time Before kids we had a lot more time to do things. I could travel for a few weeks on business and I knew my wife was not going to be too crazy. Now if I am gone overnight I miss them and I know my wife is going to need a break when I get back home.

Do you think your work life balance has changed as your kids have gotten older? How?

Right now it is a lot harder than when Lily was first born. She is now running around, getting into things and requires a lot more energy to keep up with. She is not to the point where you can just set her loose in the house and know she won’t do something crazy like jump off the table. So that impacts my ability to relax to a great deal. I can’t come home and relax like when she was younger and largely immobile.

How important do you think it is to find time for just you and your spouse without the kids?

We are terrible at this. We have gotten out alone maybe 3-4 times since Lily was born. We are having a lot of fun with her around though so I don’t think it is that big of a deal.

What tips do you have to “unplug” from work? Can you completely unplug?

I am fully addicted to the internet but not work. I have a pretty strict work/personal barrier. I try not to hang out with people I work with outside of work cause then we just talk about work, which extends my work day. When I leave work I leave it all behind, trust me it will be there when you get back.

What activities and/or interests do you pursue as a means of relaxation?

I do a lot of kayak fishing and I am about to start skateboarding again after a 5 year hiatus. I will also be getting a new Canon Rebel XTi to go back to my first love, photography.

Bill, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences regarding work, family, and how you have learned to find your own work life balance.

You can read the interview here.

Darren Rowse is the pro blogger and I mean that literally, as he is the man behind ProBlogger.

Darren made his start with blogging back in 2002 when he created Living Room : A Space for Life after reading an article about blogging.

Since that time, Darren has created a reputation as someone that is a go-to resource for information on blogging as well as digital photography.

If that were not enough to keep one person busy, he also co-founded the global blog network b5media and is the VP of Blogger Training.

Darren recently shared some of his time with me as I interviewed him about how he has learned to balance the needs of his family with the demands of building a successful blogging career out of his home office.

Can you please tell me a little about your family? How many kids do you have? How old are they?

My family is fairly small at the moment – (both in number and height).

I have been married for five and a half years to ‘V’ and have a 17 month old son Xavier.

Can you provide a little bit of background on your career and professional interests?

My career these days revolves around blogging. I’ve been blogging for exactly five years (almost to the day) but started out with it purely as a hobby/interest in my spare time – but in that time it’s gradually become an income and full time (and more) business. Previously I had been working a number of jobs (quite often a number of part time ones at once) mainly in churches as a minister and youth worker.

How would you define work-life balance?

It’s an interesting term and one that I’ve become a little uncomfortable with because it seems to almost separate ‘work’ and ‘life’ from one another as though they mutually exclusive. I hear a lot of people talking about their work life and their family life and their spiritual life and their sex life…. as if they have lots of separate lives. I’m not sure they really mean it – but I guess I’ve been working hard lately to see a bit more integration between them.

I’ve come to discover in the last few years that work is a wonderful part of life – I actually enjoy it a lot and celebrate it as something central in my life.

Having said that – I think that many elements of life can become out of balance when we obsess over them. For some the temptation is to make work the dominant thing in your life, for others it’s another person, for others it’s an obsession with exercise, for some it’s a hobby, for others it’s…. ((insert vice here)).

So for me it’s probably not just about work-life balance but a whole life balance (hmm – that came out more muddled than it was in my head!)

Do you feel that dads have a harder time achieving work-life balance than moms? If so, how?

I can’t speak for all cultures – but I know here in Australia there is an expectation that many males feel that success and self worth comes from the work you do and the success that you have in it. It’s very easy to get sucked into the myth that ‘you are what you earn’ or ‘you are what your job title says you are’. I suspect women feel these pressures too – but I talk to a lot of guys who feel it.

What do you personally find is your biggest struggle to achieving a healthy work-life balance?

For me there are a number of temptations when it comes to my work.

For starters there’s never enough time to do even a small percentage of the opportunities that I see around me. If there were 10 cloned Darren Rowse’s I’m sure I’d still have more things that I could do with their 240 hours a day! So the temptation is to fill up any ’spare’ time that I might have with work rather than other things that I value (like family, friends, rest).

Secondly there’s the temptation that my workspace provides me – because it’s just in the next room. Working from home has it’s advantages but it’s disadvantages also. Add to that that I have wifi through the house and can bring my work into the family room – and that I have mobile broadband and can bring my work into outings, vacations etc and if I wasn’t careful work could become too dominant in my life quite easily.

Lastly – one of the increasingly common opportunities that comes my was is speaking opportunities. This is wonderful as I love to communicate and enjoy public speaking – however most of them are on the other side of the world. I live in Australia and a trip to the US or the UK even just to speak for a day actually takes a week out of my life with preparation, travel and recovery and this places pressure on family to cope without me.

What do you remember from your own childhood with regard to your dad’s work-life balance? Was he around or always busy working? How has that influenced your own views on the subject?

My father is a minister and has worked in churches all my life. This has impacted me profoundly on numerous fronts. For starters it has shaped some of my own career/vocational aspirations over the last 15 years.

Secondly he structured some of his work around a home office. This meant that we often saw him when we got home from school and that he was very involved in our lives (many afternoons of backyard cricket, playing tennis etc with him). This is something that I’m happy to be able to do for my family too and I love the fact that I see my son throughout each day. I hope to do this for the rest of my life.

Lastly, the pressures of his work did at times take him away from home in the evenings or brought his work to our house (meetings etc). This is something that he did quite well to balance – however at times his work did intrude a little into family life. This wasn’t anywhere near the extent that it could have – but I guess it’s something that I’m aware of.

How have you learned to identify when your work-life balance is too far out of balance in one direction?

I have three great signals:

1. my Wife is great at telling me when I’m out of balance
2. my Son has inherited his Mother’s ability
3. my body tends to crash when I work too hard

What is one of the biggest mistakes that you have made with regard to work-life balance?

Before I started blogging as a living I was working in a church where I was putting in enormous hours. I was also studying part time and had just gotten married. My body couldn’t cope and I suffered for a number of months with Bells Palsy (a facial paralysis). The virus that was behind it (something that attacked my optical nerve) was caused by stress and lack of rest. The night before it hit me I’d been at a meeting until 2am after a long week of stressful work.

The experience was a frightening one – I initially thought I’d had a stroke and it impacted me to the point that I lost all balance and was bed ridden for weeks and unable to work for months. I learned a lot at that time about listening to my body and being more balance.

Have you faced any stigmas or criticism for focusing on your own work-life balance? Do you think focusing on your family has impacted your career? If so, how?

Not really. That’s not to say that the balancing act is easy or that I always get it right – but I’m not sure others have really made too much comment about it.

What is one thing that you wish you knew at an earlier age with regard to work-life balance? That is to say, what is one piece of advice that you would give to a new dad as he struggles to find his work-life balance?

One of the things I learned around the time that my Son began to work was the power of the ‘door’.

My office has a door (radical isn’t it) and I use it as a signal to my family. When it’s open anyone can walk in and I give them my full attention. But when it’s closed it’s a signal that Dad’s at work. I can still be ‘disturbed’ when the door is shut – but I guess as a family we realized that if I was disrupted all day every day that business would suffer and as a result so would our income and ability to pay the bills.

I think it’s about establishing healthy boundaries and then finding ways to enforce them.

How has your work life balance changed since you had kids and do you think it has changed for the better or worse?

It has forced me to take a good hard look at my work, my priorities and who I am as a person. I work less these days – but enjoy it as much as I used to (if not more).

Do you think your work life balance has changed as your kids have gotten older? How?

I’m probably a little too early into being a Dad to make too many observations about this. I can see that family will demand more of my focus as they grow in size and number. This worries me a little at times but I’m sure we’ll adapt to the challenges that it brings.

How important do you think it is to find time for just you and your spouse without the kids?

It’s essential. Not easy at times – but so important. We’re lucky to have three sets of parents and a lot of great friends who love to babysit which does enable V and I to have ‘dates’ – but it is something we should more.

What tips do you have to “unplug” from work? Can you completely unplug?

We just took a vacation. I resisted the temptation to take my laptop and mobile broadband and kept my phone switched off most the time. It’s about being disciplined and realizing that you’re not indispensable.

What activities and/or interests do you pursue as a means of relaxation?

I enjoy photography, reading, watching sport and traveling.

Darren, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences on how you have approached finding a balance between your family and your work.

Jeremy Schoemaker, known by many as Shoemoney, is one of the most recognizable names across the blogosphere.

Shoemoney is well known for his success within the ringtone niche and also developed, and subsequently sold, an eBay auction ad network known as AuctionAds.

But beyond all of the affiliate marketing expertise, the healthy AdSense checks and a home office that will make you drool, Jeremy is also a husband and a father.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Jeremy about his thoughts on work life balance and what that has meant for his family as well as his career.

Can you please tell me a little about your family? How many kids do you have? How old are they?

Sure. I have been married for almost 4 years. My wife works full time as a Anesthesiologist. We have 1 child (so far) , Juliet – 17 months born June 23 2006

Can you provide a little bit of background on your career and professional interests?

In 1995 I got a job with a internet service provider who was going to offer dial up internet access. I started at the ground level. I did phone support for years until I decided I wanted to go back to college…. then I decided I was finished with college and found a niche as a system admin for banks.

In 2001ish I moved to Des Moines, Iowa and took a job with Wells Fargo Financial at there help desk. Within 2 years I worked my way all the way to be the lead Unix server security administrator. Shortly after reaching this position I met my wife in Des Moines. We date for a while then she moved to Omaha, NE. Our relationship continued long distance for the next 18 months until I was fired from Wells Fargo but quickly got a job with a company called Commercial Federal out of Omaha.

About 2 years after that we got married… but then I lost my job and started working on my company full time. 2 years after that we had our child Juliet.

How would you define work-life balance?

I don’t really… I always have my treo on me which sends me alerts and email. Whenever I get a second I am always monitoring emails and messages. Sometimes I just have to turn it off.

I would say I am pretty bad about letting go about business stuff. When I get to spend time with my daughter I just leave my cell phone at home. Its not like its a scheduled thing…. I think the key is to have people in place you trust that can handle things if it hits the fan and you are not available.

Do you feel that dads have a harder time achieving work-life balance than moms? If so, how?

I can only speak for our family and I can definitely say in our family my wife has a much harder time with it. Being I run my own company I am very flexible and fill in for dr appointments and what not. My wife many times is on call and her schedule is completely inflexible.

What do you personally find is your biggest struggle to achieving a healthy work-life balance?

Mentally letting go of frustrations. I am very obsessive about my work and one little thing unfinished will take away my focus from my family… I have to just send myself a email reminder and let it go. I have gotten much better about this but its still a struggle.

What do you remember from your own childhood with regard to your dad’s work-life balance? Was he around or always busy working? How has that influenced your own views on the subject?

My father was a 9-5 labor worker. He was very big in the UAW and held a position there for a while. He always tried to make time to do stuff with his kids. Unfortunately he had to work out of state from the time I was 11 years old until I was in my mid 20’s so he was absent a lot of my childhood.

How have you learned to identify when your work-life balance is too far out of balance in one direction?

I have and also my wife will make me aware when I haven’t. Its something I am always trying to improve on.

What is one of the biggest mistakes that you have made with regard to work-life balance?

Trying to think I could do something productive (work wise) while being the primary care taker of a infant

Have you faced any stigmas or criticism for focusing on your own work-life balance? Do you think focusing on your family has impacted your career? If so, how?

Without a doubt it has impacted my company(s). The most profitable time in our companies was right up until the birth of my daughter then it took a major nosedive for about 7 months until I came up with the AuctionAds idea. That really turned the ship around.

I have never been a good manager… of myself or others. Good structure and management skills I feel can help pull you through times like these. As we prepare to make more additions to our family I feel I am much more prepared now.

What is one thing that you wish you knew at an earlier age with regard to work-life balance? That is to say, what is one piece of advice that you would give to a new dad as he struggles to find his work-life balance?

Don’t worry about things you can’t control. Get an office outside the house if you do not have one already. That was really key for me.

How has your work life balance changed since you had kids and do you think it has changed for the better or worse?

At first it was way way worse but now its much better. I also feel my overall management and leadership abilities have improved along with those.

Do you think your work life balance has changed as your kids have gotten older? How?

Its still really to early to tell.

How important do you think it is to find time for just you and your spouse without the kids?

Oh god, crucial. Once a week we go out and have date night and get dinner and a movie. Its really nice.

What tips do you have to “unplug” from work? Can you completely unplug?

Really its about having a good foundation and people in place you can trust can handle things. If you have that then you can truly let go.

What activities and/or interests do you pursue as a means of relaxation?

This probably sounds sad but I get 1-2 hours a night I love to just lay in bed with my wife and hit the TiVo.

Jeremy, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts on work life balance and what that has meant to you as a husband and dad.

Thanks for the interview!