Navigating The Chaos
At his old company, Dave felt pressure to be the first to arrive and the last to leave. Yet he never felt like he was doing 'enough'. He wished he could spend more time with his wife and two sons, instead of living at the office. Dave recently switched to a flexible company that focuses less on hours logged, and more on acing the work.

Now he's free to manage his own time ? calling overseas clients in the morning from his home office and finishing emails from his Blackberry on his commute home. He knows exactly what he has to deliver and his performance is judged on what he does, not whether he's sitting at his desk.

Dialing It Down
Marcella is 62 and looking forward to reducing the intensity of her high-pressure position and having more time to herself. But, she doesn't think she has a big enough financial cushion to live the way she's imagined. Plus, she still loves the challenge of her job and would miss it if she stopped working completely.

Marcella's manager, who didn't want to lose her critical expertise and client relationships, made a suggestion: How about simply cutting back on her current workload ? taking on fewer clients and projects, and working a reduced schedule to "phase into" retirement? She would have partial salary and benefits, keep the stimulation and camaraderie of her work, but also have more free time.

The Freedom To Work In Your Bathrobe
Three days a week, Jeanne has to commute to work, but on the other two days she works from home. She gains nearly three extra hours on the days she doesn't commute and feels more focused on work, rather than stressed by traffic. The flexible work schedule has reduced her stress, given her more time to exercise and even increased her productivity. The technical work she does requires intense concentration, and her home office gives her the peace and quiet she needs. She saves her most intense thinking and writing for those days, knowing she's more accurate and effective. Plus, she plans ahead with colleagues so that she's accessible when they need her, without constant interruptions.

Work Hard, Play Hard
Vijay is spending a beautiful summer day on his sailboat. It's a Tuesday, and the lake near his house is blissfully free of the many boats that crowd it on weekends. "This is so worth it," he sighs, thinking about the seven straight days he just worked. He'll work seven days straight again next week and he'll be ready for it?today he's come up with a few ideas about how to deal with a particularly thorny client problem. But right now he has three days to relax, run errands?and sail. And though Vijay keeps his Blackberry nearby for the occasional call, he rarely has to use it.

Returning With Gusto
When Kate took a leave to adopt a baby, she was sure she'd be back in just a few months. She loved her work and was committed to advancing her career. But two months
into her leave, she knew she had discovered another job she loved equally?being a Mom. She was relieved to use a special arrangement that her firm offered for professionals who resign for personal reasons but intend to return. During the three years Kate stayed home, the firm matched her with a mentor, a career coach and training to keep her skills honed. When she returned to work, she was up-to-date on what had been happening at her firm and in her specialty, and was energized and satisfied from the time she spent in her new role.