Welcome to THE BALANCE PROJECT: a series of relevant and refreshingly candid interviews featuring inspiring and accomplished women talking about balance. I’ve always been curious about how women I admire manage the tragically glorified “doing it all” craze. So I asked them. As I suspected, no one really does “it all.” Everyone’s making sacrifices somewhere. And that should make us all feel a little better. I hope the conversation will be steered toward that reality rather than toward the flawed and dangerous assumption that we should try—or even want to try—to perfectly do “it all.”

By the way, looking for THE BALANCE PROJECT novel that was inspired by these interviews? It’s here.

No. 124: Kelley Spoljaric, Co-Founder and CMO of ComfortCam

Age: 36
Where I live:
 New York City
Job: Co-Founder and CMO of ComfortCam, a safe and secure WiFi-enabled baby monitor that allows you to see your child from anywhere in the world
Kids:
 A son, Chase (3) and a daughter, Madison (16 months)

About Us 1Have you changed jobs or adjusted anything in your career to have more balance?
Starting ComfortCam with my husband while raising two young children, plus all the other commitments I have (being a wife, daughter, sister, and friend) has forced me to find a better work-life balance. I quickly learned to delegate certain responsibilities in an effort to make my life less stressful. One of the first things I did was to ask our incredible nanny to prepare the kids’ meals in bulk and freeze them for us. As a full-time working mom, I want to maximize the time I have with my kids during the weekdays, so dinner is already prepared when I get home from work. Even on the weekends, I can just heat up a pre-made home-cooked meal for my kids rather than spend the time trying to follow a recipe out of a cookbook that never turns out the way I would have liked.

Do you think having “it all” is realistic or overrated and why?
I wish it was realistic. To be honest, this is an inner struggle that I routinely face myself. However, the older I get, the more I realize that it is impossible to have it all. What is realistic is being able to find a balance in life that gives you a sense of inner peace and happiness. That is what I strive to find on a daily basis.

What part of “balance” can you just not seem to figure out?
Finding time for me. I know how important it is to allow myself a little “me” time. It makes me a better and happier person, mom, wife, and boss. However, I just can’t seem to place my personal needs above my kids and work. Everything else seems way more important right now, but I’ve lost a little bit of me. Since we don’t have family that lives nearby, my husband is doing his best to give me a break here and there.

What part of “balance” are you getting better at?
Getting organized and putting EVERYTHING in a shared calendar with my husband. He can no longer say “I never told him about something” and vice versa.

Do you have a favorite time management tool, hack, or other strategy you use that helps you achieve balance that you would recommend to others?
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said, “There is not enough time in the day to do everything I need to accomplish.” But, thanks to my husband, I’ve discovered the importance of mapping out my day as thoroughly as possible on a Google calendar and segmenting the different tasks I need to complete into set periods of time. I used to proudly boast that I was the queen of multitasking (which I still am), but this sort of behavior can breed stress and anxiety. Now, I break down my day into sections and even insert breaks and lunchtime. I may not always stick to the day’s calendar, but this time management tool has drastically reduced the anxious feeling I used to get. It also forces me to prioritize certain tasks and stay focused.

What was the best advice you ever heard on balance? 
From a mentor/co-worker? 
“Family comes first.”
From your mother? “When you are experiencing challenges in your life, remember it is just temporary. It won’t always be like this.” 
From your spouse/partner? 
“Focus on what you have rather than what you want. Be grateful.”
From your kids? “Mommy, it’s just 5 more minutes.” This is a daily comment my 3-year-old son makes in an effort to have me stay and have breakfast with him instead of running out the door for work.

If you had one extra hour in each day and you couldn’t work or be with your family, how would you spend that hour?
Sleeping!

What do you wish you’d known when you were 20?
That working for someone else isn’t going to bring me closer to fulfilling my dreams.

What do you hope to know by time you’re 60?
That other people’s opinions of me don’t matter that much.

What part of your home life do you wish you could outsource?
Cleaning up the kitchen.

Whose job do you wish you had?
Jessica Alba (the entrepreneur) appears to have the whole work-life balance figured out. She’s done an incredible job building The Honest Company with her co-founders, has created a truly special work environment and culture that inspires its employees and is passionate about the products her company produces and the causes she supports. All the while, she is actively raising two young children. She also handles criticism and negative backlash like a champ. I am a fan!

Whose job are you glad you don’t have?
A pediatric oncologist for obvious reasons. With that said, I have such incredible respect for those who choose this profession. They wake up every day and try and save lives.

Favorite books?
Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree. I cry every time I read this book to my son. And Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë.

What are you reading right now?
I’m embarrassed to say nothing. I just can’t find the time to read a book right now. Audibles are my go-to as I head to and from the office. I just finished listening to Shawn Anchor’s The Happiness Advantage.

Biggest vices…
Food? Dessert. I have the BIGGEST sweet tooth.
Website? 
Daily Mail.

How many hours do you generally sleep at night during the week?
6 hours, but I am trying to get more.

What do you read every morning?
My email.

Complete the following sentences:
I think I: will have just one more bite (as it relates to dessert).
I wish I: could speak another language fluently.
My kids: 
are amazing!

Do you have a personal motto or favorite saying?
Ask, believe, and receive.

Anything else you’d like to add?
I think there is a real importance in women helping and supporting other women. There are a handful of powerful women in business like Susan Lyne who are really doing their part to support working women, but there are also unknown women in their local communities helping other females. I think we can all do more. Susie Schnall is certainly doing her part! Thank you very much for including me in The Balance Project.

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IMG_0869_edit 2About Kelley:
JS_BusinessCard_Front_FINAL
Kelley Spoljaric is Co-Founder and CMO of ComfortCam, a company that makes and sells a WiFi-enabled camera and app that safely and securely allow you to see your child from anywhere in the world with your smartphone and tablet. She co-founded the company in 2013 with her husband, Ray Spoljaric, shortly after having her first child when she couldn’t find a baby monitor with all the features she needed to stay connected to her son while she was at work. Kelley is responsible for overseeing the planning, development, and execution of the company’s marketing and advertising initiatives, new product development, and customer service.

Kelley has over 13 years of marketing and PR experience with expertise in luxury goods working for such prestigious brands as Patek Philippe and David Yurman.

Kelley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California. She lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan with her husband and two young children.

Find out more about Kelley:
www.comfortcam.com
Facebook: ComfortCam
Twitter: @comfortcamllc
Instagram: comfortcamllc
Pinterest: comfortcam

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WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT WORK-LIFE BALANCE? CHECK OUT MY NOVEL THE BALANCE PROJECT!

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