“Not just a car — it’s the ultimate driving machine.”

That’s a slogan BMW has lived up to. But even a Beamer can’t perform well if something’s out of balance.

Let me explain. I was recently at an EO (Entrepreneurs’ Organization) Advanced Forum Training session. (I found immensely beneficial for several reasons, which I’ll inevitably post in future blogs.) While there, one of my fellow EO members shared an experience we had many years earlier when he was first starting his business. At that time, I’d been recommended to him by his uncle, who happened to be my close friend and EO forum mate.

My fellow EO recounted that during our first meeting, we discussed an imbalance he was experiencing. In response, I had shared a powerful visual model to illustrate my point.

The Balanced Wheel

Like so many great and lasting life coaching tools, the “balanced wheel” is credited to Stephen Covey. Essentially, you take a circle and divide it into sections like pieces of a pie. Each section represents a slice of your life. How many pieces there are is up to you. Next, you label each section. Then, starting at the center, you color in each section individually so the shaded area represents how satisfied you are with that component of your life.

You fill in each wedge from 0% (totally unsatisfied) to 100% full (completely satisfied).

Hypothetically, let’s say one of the sections is health, and you shade that in 65% full. Perhaps the next section is financial, and you shade that in 80% full. The next could be relationships, shaded to 90% full. Finally, you shade the career section in 70% and your last slice, spiritual life, about 50% full.

Now, draw a line to connect the different sections. Then look at you finished product. How round is that wheel? Most likely, it has some flat spots and is certainly not a perfect sphere!

Driving a Balanced Life

If that irregular shape was your car’s rim and tire, how smooth would the ride be? Kind of bumpy? Does that represent your life right now — a little rough? Now imagine you have to accelerate and really move fast for the next six or twelve months. Just picture riding on that unbalanced wheel during a grueling cross-country trip.

In the short term, you can handle a bumpy ride. It might even be humorous. But if you have to take an unbalanced ride for a long haul, it will wear down you and everyone who’s on the journey with you. On a long trip, uneven wheels can even be dangerous.

The Need to Accelerate

Sometimes I imagine myself as a BMW. It’s easy because I’ve personally owned eight different models. And enjoyed each one. Which is why I keep going back (they truly are the “ultimate driving machine”).

One of the beauties of a BMW is that they drive wonderfully smoothly at 65 mph. However, if I need to speed up, they can also cruise safely and comfortably at 130 mph! Even at high speeds, the engine is not straining. The well-engineered suspension, steering, and brakes are all designed to handle high performance for prolonged periods. That’s the kind of life I want.

On the other hand, I’ve seen people whose lives more closely resemble a used minivan than a new BMW. They’re a little dicey at 65 mph and downright dangerous at higher speeds. These vehicles were never meant to be driven quickly. Engine, brakes, suspension — nothing on the car (including the tires) is rated for speed. If a quick decision needs to be made, it could end in a crash. Any extra stress can cause a breakdown. My BMW can handle any high-speed maneuvers and bring me home safely. That’s my mental image of the balanced wheel example.

Be honest. Are you closer to the BMW or an old minivan?

What would it take to get your vehicle in top shape — not just for day-to-day commuting, but for intense high-speed runs? What if your career or life requires you to accelerate? Can you safely drive at demanding speeds for sustained periods? What do you need to do physically, mentally, and spiritually to feel comfortable and confident cruising through life, even at triple digits?

Enjoy the drive, friends.