Who says that in order to have flexibility the adjustments need to be made by an employer?  Let me be clear –  FlexPaths  does not advocate companies standing still but I did hear an interesting story last week. 

While on date night with my husband – we met up with one of his colleagues Larry and wife.  Larry is an SVP at a leading brokerage house and his wife Nancy a trader for over 20 years.  Nancy and Larry shared their personal ‘take’ on flex.  Like many of us, they face the expected pressures of work executives and share the bonds of family and parenting.  Neither of their jobs allowed for flex so years ago, Larry and Nancy decided to “live” flexibly.  They figured if “work” could not be the answer – how about life.  So they live in NJ and NYC (yes you heard me right) and work in NYC.  They found a creative way to make their work/life equation work for them.  Here is the set up… each Friday, together, they head out of NYC and commute back to NJ.  They either eat out or bring dinner in.  On Saturday mornings, Ron heads out and gets breakfast, enough for two days – yes two days ‘cause on Monday morning, they leave their suburban home for the week, to live in their NYC apartment.  And, to boot, Nancy’s 20 something daughter lives with them in the apartment (yes you heard me right…they live with their daughter!).  Ron describes his 10 minute commute to work as delightful.  Given that neither of their employers or jobs allow for flex they’ve built it in, on their terms.  So instead of jobsharing ortelecommuting, it’s now home sharing …And in this case, keeping their family time as well. There are clearly sacrifices – neither home is their “dream home” but they absolutely have their dream life with work that fulfills them as well.  I have no doubt there are variations on this theme… Do you have similar stories - I welcome yours…