--- title: Life is about choices canonical_url: 'https://rhino-inquisitor.com/life-is-about-choices/' markdown_url: 'https://rhino-inquisitor.com/life-is-about-choices/index.md' content_type: article site_name: Rhino Inquisitor date: '2023-11-06T17:31:55Z' lastmod: '2023-11-06T17:32:02Z' description: >- Have you ever wondered how some people seem to have it all together? How do they manage to balance work, family, and personal interests? author: Thomas Theunen categories: - Community tags: - event - ohana --- ## Key Takeaways - Reflects on how career, family, community work, and personal interests compete for the same limited time - Explains the trade-offs behind prioritizing family and Salesforce community involvement over other hobbies - Argues that the visible highlights of a public career often hide real sacrifices and deliberate choices Have you ever wondered how some people seem to have it all together? How do they manage to balance work, family, and personal interests? I often get asked this question, and it’s a valid one. Life is full of choices, and we must decide how we want to spend our time. In this article, I will share my experience of finding the time to do what I love and the choices I’ve made along the way. ## Family & Salesforce As the Head of Commerce at Forward, I have a deep passion for everything Salesforce, specifically [Salesforce B2C Commerce Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/nl/campaign/sem/commerce-cloud/?d=7013y000000ZiZWAA0&utm_source=google&utm_medium=sem&utm_campaign=nl_alllobcon&utm_content=_7013y000000ZiZWAA0&soc=Google-commerce-cloud&ef_id=Cj0KCQjw-pyqBhDmARIsAKd9XIN5JEeCyJb-jki0mVkSNGsVjJRRwZzvvahGq5KearIHpTEixKnOtzoaAophEALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!7501!3!442529105175!p!!g!!salesforce%20b2c%20commerce&&mkwid=s&pcrid=442529105175&pkw=salesforce%20b2c%20commerce&pmt=p&pdv=c&gad_source=1&gclsrc=ds) (duh). I’ve worked with Salesforce for a long time and have built a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field. I’ve also been an active member of the Salesforce Ohana, contributing to the community and sharing my knowledge to help others succeed. But my passions don’t stop there. I am also a proud father of two wonderful children, and being a dad is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I always make time for my family, which is the most important thing to me. ![Comic-style family portrait at the zoo underscoring the family-priority theme.](/life-is-about-choices/img-0051-979cd7bd1c_hu_4256c5e60d8a85d6.webp) Prioritising family over career milestones is one of the defining choices that shapes a developer's journey. However, this balance means I have had to choose how to spend my time. That meant prioritising my family and Salesforce over other personal interests. It’s not always easy, but it’s a decision that I am happy with. By following my passion for Salesforce and being there for my family, I can be the best version of myself. I understand that it’s not possible to have it all, but I’m content with my choices and focus on what truly matters to me. ## Goodbye games and fitness ![A comic book of three panels depicting someone running slowly transitioning to someone in a corporate office behind a desk working. This is the result of choices made!](/life-is-about-choices/img-0050-470298895d_hu_656008c1b790f1b8.webp) Trading active hobbies for a desk career is a trade-off many developers make without realising the long-term cost. Ok… I never had this kind of physique… Doing all this also means less time for sports and fitness. I used to be very active and enjoyed doing sports. It was a big part of my life and helped me stay in shape, but now my time is limited. I am also a big fan of video games and anime. I would spend hours playing my favourite games and watching One Piece, immersing myself in different worlds and enjoying the challenge of overcoming obstacles. I found it a great way to relax and unwind after a long day at work. I enjoyed playing a variety of games, from first-person shooters to RPGs. But, as they say, everything comes with a cost, and the joy and love that my children bring far outweigh any sacrifices I’ve made. ## Events Being a part of the Salesforce Ohana has allowed me to attend many exciting events, such as [Dreamforce](/chasing-clouds-catching-up-with-the-commercecrew-at-dreamforce-2023/). These events are an excellent opportunity for me to connect with other Salesforce enthusiasts, learn from industry leaders and experts, and stay updated with the latest Salesforce ecosystem developments. However, attending these events also means being away from my family and putting additional responsibility on my wife to take care of the kids by herself (with the help of our parents). This is why I must carefully decide which [events](/community-salesforce-events-and-commerce-cloud/) to attend, considering the cost and the impact on my family. As my children get older, I plan to find a way to combine these events and holiday trips. But for now, that is not always really a possibility. ## Beneath the glamour In life, we are constantly faced with choices and decisions. Whether deciding between a career move, starting a family, attending an event, staying home with loved ones or going out with friends. These choices shape our lives and shape who we are. ![Split-scene illustration contrasting visible career success with unseen sacrifices at home.](/life-is-about-choices/img-0058-3f3716c170_hu_e00c1de480926cae.webp) The highlight reel of career success rarely shows the family time and personal health sacrificed behind the scenes. The life you see versus the part you don’t. This may be an over-dramatic representation… Everyone is fighting battles you don’t know about. It’s easy to get caught up in the highlight reel of life on social media, where people constantly post about their successes and accomplishments. But we often don’t see the sacrifices and failures people endured to get to this point. _Just make sure you are happy with the future you are forming for yourself! Sacrifices and failures are part of the journey…_