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. 142: Phoebe Tisdale Andrews, VP Production at FOX
Age: 48
Where I live: Manhattan Beach, CA
Job: VP of Production for FOX Broadcasting Network
Kids: One daughter, age 5
Have you changed jobs or adjusted anything in your career to have more balance?
YES. I tried to go freelance thinking that would give me more freedom vs. a 9 –7 pm job. I’ve tried to take jobs that don’t travel. I have now taken a corporate job, because I don’t want to be working nights and weekends consistently.
Do you think having “it all” is realistic or overrated and why?
I think that having it all is a MYTH and having it all would be completely overrated, because you would need to be sober, awake, and working professionally and personally 23 hours a day to achieve that. There are not enough hours in the day to balance everything that we have on our plates.
What part of “balance” can you just not seem to figure out?
When is there time for me???! I am the last one dressed, there is not enough time for me to get my makeup on, hair styled, and any errands done whatsoever. I am RUNNING everywhere.
What part of “balance” are you getting better at?
I am working very hard to try and find time to step out for lunch to run an errand or at least get my makeup on.
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 put everything on my calendar, and I have to set alarms for myself on my phone that ring more than once for me to stop what I am doing and get to them. I try very hard to “meet all of my milestones” on the weekends—but that does not leave a lot of time to just sit and smell the roses.
What was the best advice you ever heard on balance?
From a mentor/co-worker? A very successful female attorney in Los Angeles told me on my first week back at FOX that she went home every night for dinner with her family at 6 pm. I could not believe it. She said, “Don’t ask, just take it.” I have been trying very hard to push myself to do that.
From your mother? My parents have zero interest in show business nor are they impressed. They make it very clear that I need to keep it in perspective and just how foolish some of my phone calls at our Thanksgiving dinner table are.
From your spouse? My husband and I push to put our cell phones down in the evening. It is difficult, but I tell my work that if they need an immediate answer at night, they must call me, otherwise I will respond in the morning.
From your kids? My daughter wants eye contact. Just test yourself to see how much of that you really do. We are usually looking around, cleaning while they are talking or playing, or on our cell phones when they want our one-on-one attention.
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?
I would do a little exercise, take a nap and/or do my hair and makeup. I hate when I am not put together but everything else is getting done.
What do you wish you’d known when you were 20?
That love is not everything in a marriage or relationship. Also I spent way too much time crying over men. That, I will never allow my daughter to do. They are all in the same place they were years ago!
What do you hope to know by time you’re 60?
I hope to know that there is a cure for cancer.
What part of your home life do you wish you could outsource?
I already have a cleaning lady and a nanny who helps. I would love to outsource a “home manager” to get all of the other errands and projects supervised, paid for, and off my list.
Whose job do you wish you had?
I wish that I could be a speaker or event planner and just focus on celebrating and laughing all day while I work.
Whose job are you glad you don’t have?
Coroner would be torture for me.
Favorite books?
I would love to sit down one day and pull out all of my old Nancy Drew books and show them to my daughter. Otherwise I have zero time to read—period!
What are you reading right now?
I read nothing. I actually read a tear-jerker article in the American Airlines magazine on a flight this week about a pilot whose dad was a Tuskegee Airman.
Biggest vices…
Activity? I don’t get activity, and I would like to walk outside every day. I love to drive even in LA with traffic.
Food? McDonald’s. A bad day equals a trip to the McDonald’s drive thru for some fries and a big Diet Coke. Nothing better to soothe the beaten-down soul.
Website? Amazon, Gap.com, and Google.
How many hours do you generally sleep at night during the week?
I must get 9 to function, and I make it my top priority in my life to try for that every day—my sleep outweighs everything.
What do you read every morning?
Work and personal emails.
Complete the following sentences:
I think I: need to get my life in balance and treat myself better.
I wish I: had more set vacation time and things to look forward to that would not involve me hauling my laptop around.
My daughter: deserves more of our time at a decent hour during the week.
Do you have a personal motto or favorite saying?
Attitude outweighs assets. Try harder. Apply yourself. No crying over boys. Move on—let’s start over. WHO does that?
Anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you for asking me to do this. I see a few things right away that I need to TRY HARDER to improve!!
About Phoebe:
Phoebe Tisdale Andrews began her 25-year career on the set of the Joan Rivers Show in New York City when she was 22 years old. She became an MTV network executive during it’s heyday launching their top shows: The Osbournes, The Newlyweds, Punk’d, Pimp My Ride, Meet The Barkers, and Making The Video. During her 7 years there, she was a key player in building up MTV’s West Coast, putting together their scripted shows, game shows, stunt shows, spring break specials/events, multi-camera concerts and tours, and clip shows.
Phoebe continued her network career at the FOX Broadcasting Company over the next 5+ years as their VP of Production. She oversaw American Idol, Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, Master Chef, So You Think You Can Dance, Smarter Than A Fifth Grader, Teen Choice Awards, The Oscars, NAACP Awards, and their late night programming. She was actively involved in the new HD technology and delivery, and she was also a liaison for content being delivered to the mobile, web, and iTunes platforms.
Phoebe went on to be the VP of Production for Ashton Kutcher’s company, Katalyst Films. She jumped at the chance to line produce the multi-camera crew for the star-studded theater play, What About Dick, with the producers from Monty Python and Spamalot. She most recently launched the new series, Hit Record On TV with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, that won an Emmy in 2014.
Before and after Phoebe’s network executive career, she has worked as a producer, talent booker, development executive for scripted films, executive in charge of production, and line producer. She produced in the news environment for CNBC’s America’s Talking; and she has produced/booked talent for various network morning shows, talk shows, variety shows, and game shows. Phoebe has also overseen production on many large series that included fashion shows, musical performances, international travel, and live airings. Phoebe serves on the Board of Advisors for Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy in Chicago. She is a co-founder of the production101.net website and teaches production classes.
Find out more about Phoebe:
www.production101.net
Facebook: Phoebe Tisdale Andrews
WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT WORK-LIFE BALANCE? CHECK OUT MY NOVEL THE BALANCE PROJECT!
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