THE INTEGRATION

Theme: Life-Work Integration

THE STORY: A Foundation of Necessity

Integration wasn't a philosophical choice for me; it was survival. Working at MCI/Verizon while caring for Debi meant I couldn't compartmentalize my life. I couldn't be "Corporate Chet" from 9-to-5 and "Caregiver Chet" at night. The lines had to blur.

I learned to "systematize everything" in my professional life to create the flexibility I needed for my personal life. This wasn't about work-life balance (a 50/50 split); it was about Integration.

THE FRAMEWORK: The Integrated Schedule

The "Tentmaker" lifestyle (using a trade to fund a mission) requires a new way of looking at the calendar.

1. The "Bleed" Concept Don't try to wall off your work from your mission. Let them bleed into each other. Your work provides the resources for the mission; your mission provides the purpose for the work.

• Example: When you travel to a poor community, bring your laptop. Work from a local cafe. Your very presence there, spending money and interacting, is part of the mission.

2. Financial Sustainability You must price your services (consulting, development, marketing) to cover not just your bills, but your "Mission Margin."

• Formula: (Living Expenses + Mission Costs + Savings) / Billable Hours = Your Rate. Do not apologize for charging what is necessary to sustain the work.

ACTION: The Integration Canvas

Draw a line down the center of a page.

• Left Side (Revenue): List your skills that generate income (e.g., Web Design, Consulting).
• Right Side (Impact): List the mission activities that require time/money (e.g., Teaching, Building, Traveling).
• The Bridge: Draw lines connecting them. How does the skill on the left directly fund or facilitate the impact on the right?