Does something gotta give?

Put "something's gotta give meaning" into Google and 221,000,000 results are returned.

It appears that many before me have decided to ponder what this so oft-used expression actually means.  It is one of those passive aggressive phrases wheeled out when discussing how to live, or how you should live your life.

I like this definition from wiki.answers.com:
In the most common sense of the phrase it means that that a given situation cannot remain the same forever and will surely change.

So, let's ponder on a recent use of this phrase discussed on this very site, inserting the new definition that I now have:

"As all working parents know, when it comes to balancing work and family, something has to give."

Becomes:

"As all working parents know, when it comes to balancing work and family, this situation cannot remain the same forever and will surely change."

Do you know? I think I might have underestimated my fellow blogger on the Wall Street Journal.  What I dismissed as patronising, non-sensical drivel was actually truly inspired.

I could not agree more. When balancing work, family, or indeed any of the components of your Life Scorecard, the situation cannot remain the same forever and will surely change.  And would we want it any other way?

Could you imagine a scenario where you made a decision about how your life was going to go at, say, university leaving age or post honeymoon, or post first child or post second child or, you know, tomorrow, and made no plans to change it again?  Not only would you be absolutely incapable of flexing to events as they are thrown at you but you would also be rooted in a life-style better suited to a different you.  In at least one of those scenarios, I would be sentenced to a life wearing overly baggy jeans and tummy tops, aiming to look like Gerri Halliwel in the 'It's Raining Men' video, frequenting all-nighter drum and bass events and eating nothing but satsumas.

Thank goodness life can change.  The important thing is that you are the one who controls the change.  As previously noted, you are the CEO of your life project. If there is a change, or you wish to effect a change, you can decide what you want to do.  The good news is that you have four levers at your disposal: quantity, standard, schedule and budget. 

1. Change the quantity of the life components that you are trying to deliver.  Cut back on one of your hobbies or add one. Cut down your number of days of work or build it up.

2. Change the standard of what you are trying to achieve. Turn up to the triathlon with lower expectations of your placing. Get a takeaway when your friends are coming round, don't cook. Spend better quality time with your children with no mobile devices.

3. Re-schedule your plans.  Accept that you wont make sub 2 hours in the half marathon this year, you'll do it next year instead. Decide that this is the year to go for the Partner promotion.

4. Flex your budget.  Find additional childcare. Find a house keeper to help out. Cut down your grocery bill or go on a  cheap holiday this year.

Whatever it takes.  You're the boss. You're driving this project and if you do a good job, when something gives, you are absolutely able to accommodate it. And don't forget, as the boss, you reserve the right to change your life strategy at a moment's notice.

Daily exercise:
Play Cliché Bingo with me.
First to find a newspaper article that has the following wins a prize:

• Something's got to give
• Work Life Balance
• Thorny issue
• Professional woman
• High profile

Yippee - I win! Reference previous blog - Marissa Mayer Madness. Thanks again Wall Street Journal Blogger. Thanks. Thanks a million. Thanks without end.