By Miranda Myers, staff writer at Grow Wire


The slogan for International Women’s Day 2019 (yes, it’s today) is “Balance For Better”--a slogan upon which bestselling author and entrepreneur Samantha Ettus has lived her life and built a successful career.

Ettus’ book "The Pie Life: A Guilt-Free Recipe For Success and Satisfaction" discusses the importance of women replacing negative and unhealthy habits with a positive attitude and beneficial work-life balance.


“The most fulfilled women were involved in six or seven areas of their life,” she explains. “Those areas are: families, careers, health, friends, hobbies, community and quest to find relationships.”

Ettus stresses the contribution of company culture in helping everyone--both men and women--improve work-life balance, noting her belief that executives are responsible for setting a good example.

“It’s really critical that we realize who’s watching,” she states. “If your boss isn’t taking vacation time or leaving work at 5 p.m., then you don’t feel comfortable doing it.”

“It’s really critical that we realize who’s watching. If your boss isn’t taking vacation time or leaving work at 5 p.m., then you don’t feel comfortable doing it.” -Samantha Ettus


Ettus discusses the data-based fact that women who leave the workforce for maternity leave struggle to re-enter in full-time positions. Thus, it’s pivotal women demand support within their companies and create clear-cut and specific expectations, both at home and at the office.

“It’s impossible to be successful in your career if you’re going to work, and then [end up] doing 90 percent of the work at home,” Ettus explains.

However, she also warns against quitting a job after maternity leave, stating, “If you have no earning power ... and if you haven’t worked in ten years, you put yourself in a really vulnerable position.”

Ettus concludes by telling parents to encourage their girls to be as successful and as hardworking as they can be. The habits girls establish at a young age are the same habits that define how they approach life later.

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