What work:life ratio would Michael Jackson have given, I wonder.
From the way he was portrayed in the sensational London West End production of MJ The Musical, which I saw last night – tortured, sensitive, and both pushed and driven to succeed – he was a perfectionist with a work ethic to be reckoned with.
So, I imagine the ratio would have weighed heavier on the work side.
Could he have produced such musical magic otherwise? I guess we’ll never know.
Whenever I see such dynamism on stage, I’m also left wondering about the work-life balance stories of the artists that work day and night in theatres. The performances that I saw last night were flawless and so uplifting.
This morning I released the podcast episode of my interview with Lana Manikowski – a powerful conversation about finding balance amidst infertility struggles and undesired childlessness. One point that Lana made has echoed in my mind since the curtain dropped last night.
She said:
“It’s a lot of pressure to declare your purpose.
Maybe it doesn’t have to be that hard.
When we show up in our life and give of ourselves in a way that feels authentic, people grab different things from us”.
I didn’t realise it until years later, but back in the 1990s, Michael Jackson was at the centre of one of my most impressionable work-life balance lessons — a lesson that still quietly guides the choices I make today.
That, along with the wave of nostalgia the show stirred up, and the joy of watching younger generations embrace his music and moves, is why MJ The Musical will stay with me. It certainly has throughout today as I listen back to some of my old favourite records.
And Lana’s insight — that a person’s purpose isn’t always obvious, or what you might expect of yourself or others — resonated in a new way too.
In drawing a connection between my 1990s nostalgia and Lana’s insights, I’m reminded of the power of holding conversations about work-life balance.
These conversations matter. Whether we’re talking about global icons, West End performers, or people quietly navigating unexpected paths — the way each of us balances work with everything else in life is deeply personal.
And when we share those stories, they can spark inspiration or clarity, even if the details don’t mirror our own.