And our careers provide the most concrete evidence that were moving forward. You ship a product, finish a design, complete a presentation, close a sale, teach a class, publish a paper, get paid, get promoted. In contrast, investing time and energy in your relationship with your spouse and children typically doesnt offer that same immediate sense of achievement. Kids misbehave every day. Its really not until 20 years down the road that you can put your hands on your hips and say, I raised a good son or a good daughter.

HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself by Harvard Business School Press