Propane Leaders Answer: Do You ‘Work to Live’ or ‘Live to Work’?

This question, like many others previously posed here, has no right answer. However, it is one that tends to give people pause as they reflect on their own aspirations or careers. In this column, adopted from the familiar “Heard on the Street” format, we offer our responders a chance to answer the question posed in the title. These are their replies reported verbatim. 

Can Both Be Right? 

Over my career, I feel like I lived both scenarios. Early on in my career, I probably “lived to work.” The intent was to get promoted to provide for my family and achieve the financial goals, such as my kids’ college education and retirement savings. Fortunately, things worked out well enough financially to accomplish those goals, but I did miss some of the milestones and activities in my children’s lives. Today, now that my kids are out of college and “on their own,” I have found a better work-life balance and now “work to live.” For a lot of personal reasons, having a better work-life balance makes for a better outlook on life. Unfortunately, life has proven that you can’t always have everything when you want it but sometimes need to sacrifice today for future rewards. I am not sure that I would change a thing, though, as it has been a great ride! 

Tom Krupa 
NGL Supply Terminals Co. 
Richmond, Virginia 

The answer — live to work or work to live — has gone through quite an evolution for me and honestly has, in many ways, come full circle. In 2010, when my husband passed, having to get up and go to work in the morning was my saving grace. So, it was definitely a work-to-stay-alive time for me. Five years in, as I started to learn about our industry and the amazing people in it, I “lived to work” and have never looked back, coming to love what I do. Fast forward to today with the economy changing and the cost of everything going up, I guess it has become a combination. I love our industry, but I feel I am now also working to live again. 

Judy Taranovich 
Proctor Gas Inc. 
Proctor, Vermont 

In my early years, I used to live to work. I started working various jobs at 11 years old. I would save money to buy all kinds of things, from record albums to bicycles. As I grew older and started a family, I was working to live. I had two jobs at a time when my kids were younger to make sure my family had the necessities and a little extra for vacations and activities for my kids to experience. As time went by and my career grew, I realized how important life balance is. In order to be a good worker, parent, friend, etc., you have to work to balance and prioritize your life. I have had employees that never took vacation. I encouraged them to plan vacation and spend time away from work. They always would come back refreshed and more positive. As I am likely in the fourth quarter of the game of life, balance is ever more important. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. My motto is to live every day as if it could be your last. Work is not everything. My bucket list is very small because I challenged myself to take chances, explore new things and share my skills with others. Don’t let work control your life. Take charge and enjoy the ride. 

Ed Varney 
Topline Management 
McKinney, Texas 

I work to live! My husband and I stay very busy with all of our activities away from the office. We have long enjoyed doing things with family and friends. For instance, through the years we have attended many Cincinnati Bengals games, University of Dayton Flyers basketball games, shows at the theater, and many trips with our family and friends! While work is important, there are so many opportunities to experience in life. I think that old saying “work hard, play hard” describes us pretty well! 

Rosie Buschur 
McMahan’s Bottle Gas 
Dayton, Ohio 

I like to think that I work to live, and I believe that’s the case most of the time. But there are other times when the subject matter is so compelling that I become immersed and wind up just being grateful to have a job that can be this fulfilling. 

Bruce Swiecicki 
National Propane Gas Association 
Tinley Park, Illinois 

I suppose I’m extremely lucky. I really enjoy the people I work with every day, the company I work for and my role in it. I feel many people view “live to work” as a negative term. I don’t necessarily see it that way. Work is where I spend roughly one-third of my day. I’m fortunate enough to find happiness in my work, which is what I always wanted to do. I’m also fortunate that my work allows me to enjoy my life away from the office. It’s not so much balance as it is “working” and “living” becoming in sync together. It has taken me a while to get to this point, but it’s been well worth the effort. 

Don Montroy 
Bergquist Inc. 
Rockford, Michigan 

Work to live or live to work? I guess I do both. I love what I do, which is why so much of my career has been dedicated to our industry. Of course, we must all find a way to provide for our families, make a good life and prepare for the future. To quote Mark Twain, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” I agree with that: At EDP, our values statement includes “an appreciation for the joy of work,” and I think most share in that. 

Boyd H. McGathey 
EDP 
Parkville, Missouri 

Live to work — as I have been doing this business for a long time. I feel that I am successful at this point and that I may not need to work to live. 

Richard Strycharz Jr. 
Walter’s Propane 
Sunderland, Massachusetts 

While I wholeheartedly enjoyed my work, I don’t believe I lived to work! To me that would mean it was the highest on my priority list. My priority list has more important items on it — my family in particular. I think I worked to live. But, since I enjoyed my work immensely, I was ‘living life’ while working; it just wasn’t the absolute priority for me. That has to be the best, to be able to say I’m really enjoying and living life while I’m working. How many people get to say that? However, if important items came up for my family or my friends, those needed to take precedence. I was blessed to be able to have that option. 

Susan Peterson 
Rural Computer Consultants 
Bird Island, Minnesota 

This question is really focused on your work-life balance. Many people view employment as a means to support your lifestyle and goals. However, many others place a high value on career growth and achievement. The key for me is finding a balance, which is a challenge in the sales world. This balance can shift throughout your career based upon a variety of circumstances and priorities. I think what’s best for me is to seek a blend between the two styles and focus on achieving a balance between both. Remote work and technology have been instrumental in providing the foundation that supports flexibility, productivity and overall satisfaction. 

Jerry Schimmel 
P3 Propane Safety 
Cumberland, Rhode Island 

Work, Play, Live 

Our lives are so multidimensional that it seems quite reasonable that many believe they can alternately feel that work is a necessity of their lives or that “living” is found at their place of work. I’m one of the lucky ones to find joy at my workplace surrounded by kind, good-humored, smart and talented people, as well as daily being challenged to create and implement projects that contribute to our company’s well-being. I know I share a mutual benefit with many of my fellow propane colleagues to have landed in this industry.