A Three-Part Series
In May, we kicked off part one of our three-part series on life-work balance, featuring Alesia Viscont, CEO and President of FranServe, Inc. Visconti shared the inspiration behind the term “life-work balance” and why she made it a core value for FranServe.
To illustrate the impact of Visconti’s decision to incorporate life-work balance into FranServe’s core values, parts two and three of the series feature a few top FranServe Affiliate Franchise Consultants who share their perspective on this principle and how it uniquely shapes business ownership.
Visconti defines the “life-work balance” principle as creating harmony between your professional drive and personal well-being. What steps/tactics have you put in place to achieve this?
To maintain a healthy life-work balance, I’ve set clear boundaries around my working hours. I dedicate five hours a day, Monday through Friday – from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – strictly for work. These hours are protected unless an emergency arises.
As a parent of a young son with special needs, I’ve also scheduled designated times for his care and activities, including weekly outings for movies, sports and regular medical appointments. These commitments are thoughtfully planned to complement, not conflict with, my work schedule. Both my professional time and my son’s needs are non-negotiable priorities. I plan everything else – errands, social engagements, personal tasks – around those fixed blocks of time. Evenings and weekends are fully reserved for family enjoyment and unwinding.
George Menassa, CFC, FutureFran Inc.
What may or may not make my situation different is that my husband is a franchise consultant as well, and we both work out of the house. We’ve worked together for 15 years, and people think we’re crazy! We’ve set a few rules that make our life-work balance successful:
- No work talk at dinner or any other meal we eat together: Whether our kids are at the table or not, that time is for things that are happening in our lives outside of work.
- Get physical exercise (without your phone!) Taking time every day to work on your physical wellness helps mental clarity and makes you more productive during your work hours.
- Turn off your phone at night: People may think it’s foolish to let phone calls go unanswered after 8 p.m., but I find that the downtime I give myself helps eliminate work fatigue.
Nancy Gugliotta, Pivot Franchise Advisors
Did you have a life-work balance before becoming a FranServe consultant?
I did, but it’s only because we’ve been entrepreneurs for a long time now and have had many years to figure out what’s important. I will say that being a FranServe consultant, in a very similar way, has allowed us to maintain our life-work balance.
Nancy Gugliotta, Pivot Franchise Advisors
How does being a FranServe consultant help you achieve this balance?
Joining FranServe gave me back control over my time. As a consultant, I choose how many hours I work and when I work them. That flexibility has been invaluable.
George Menassa, CFC, FutureFran Inc.
At FranServe, life-work balance is prioritized because it’s essential for maintaining a healthy organization. In addition to fostering strength and productivity, this principle promotes happiness, helping everybody thrive!
Stay tuned for the final part of this series, which will be published in the July 2025 issue.
Nancy E. Williams