I have a strong belief that your life should inform your work, and likewise- your work should equally inform how you live your life. One of my mentors tells a story of needing to bow out of a dinner party with her husband since an urgent evening meeting had arisen. She apologized profusely to him, only to get a baffled look in response, “But this is our life. No need to apologize.”

And that’s how it should work.

I’m a big fan of Paul Jarvis, his essays about work continue to procure fervent head nods and squeaks of approval when I read them. More than anything, his writings validate my belief that if you genuinely love what you do, everything you do should be connected, creating a flow of a sort.

I see watching films as part of my work because it provides my brain with nourishment and juice to be creative. Opening myself to art museums and concerts is a power up for other outlets. Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Veep, all of these carry so much more enjoyment because I am having a rest, giving my head some space to feel. Writer Neil Gaiman has often spoken of going to sleep with a thorny problem in a half written story, only to wake up with the exact solution.

Resting is equally important to doing.

Doing is equally important to interacting with others.

I am endlessly curious about others, and as I get older I find myself gravitating towards people who are openly clever and wholly engaged in their work. My older friends are people just as obsessed and consumed with their art work, writings, PhDs, and projects. More than anything, when you work with and befriend those who are ace at what they do, you find a way to work together and combine forces on outside gigs. This is how life changing events start, networking groups begin, and side hobbies become legitimate businesses. This is how you do what you love with people you admire and respect, gaining the support system and skill sets your team needs to succeed.

The people who are the “A Players” are never afraid to work with other “A Players,” they thrive and grow and learn from these work environments. More so, after leaving these teams people with a genuine connection seek to continue their working relationships and friendships.

When I left a job with a terrific team I organized ‘school’ nights where we would get together for a beer and teach each other different aspects of each other’s jobs. We had an analytics specialist, SEM whiz, and me- a content/online marketing director. We all knew we were good at what we did, but we also knew that in order to move forwards we needed a strong grasp on what the other people in the group did. I stayed in contact with the others on that team, keeping up with what they were doing and providing help or connections whenever I could. The ‘team’ atmosphere never left, we will always be on the same side.

Give all of this some thought. Are you taking care of your brain to make sure you avoid burn out? Are you befriending others who share the same level of passion you do about your work? Seeking side projects to shift gears and pursue an outside interests?

Don’t just work, work towards something huge.