“Hot Mommas”: Research Shows Work/Life Balance is a Key to Success

Seventy percent of women who define themselves as highly balanced believe they are more successful than their colleagues, according to newly released research from the Hot Mommas Project, a George Washington School of Business-supported research initiative which chronicles the best practices of women who have achieved success in multiple facets of their life.

The research, which was conducted between 2005 and 2007, is based on an in-depth survey of 269 working women in the U.S. One of the questions survey respondents were asked was how successful they felt relative to other colleagues. "We found that the most balanced segment of the survey population was a group of women termed 'Master Balancers.' They actually believed they were much more successful than their colleagues, versus the rest of the survey population," said Kathy Korman Frey, adjunct professor and associate director of GWSB's Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence.

According to Frey, "Master Balancers" were defined as women who rated very high on professional drive, personal/family expectations, and their ability to balance both. Forty percent of the general survey population -- which was comprised of working women --believed they were more successful than their colleagues while 70 percent of "Master Balancers" believed they were more successful than their colleagues.

"There is a great deal of discussion among women, educators, and thought leaders about success and how we define it," Frey added. "These Master Balancers are creating a new definition of success. Our survey, and ongoing research, will shed new light on how they're doing it."

The Hot Mommas Project will release the remainder of the research via installments on its blog: Visit HotMommasProject.blogspot.com or you can visit HotMommas.org for more links and information.

The Hot Mommas Project's mission is to increase self-efficacy in women and girls by providing scalable, global, free access to role models online. Women who are interested in serving as a role model can participate in the Hot Mommas Project case-study competition, which will be launched on October 13. Case-study competition winners will have the opportunity to have their stories published in a leading Prentice Hall textbook. Click here for more information: hotmommasprojectinfo.wordpress.com