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blog search -- The Challenge of Work-Life Balance and Why You Should Always Make Time for Cake December 17, 2019 Donna and me with the kids, before David was born, in 1964. I’ve worked in the hotel business for more than 60 years and I’ve been passionate about it from day one. While many other professionals enjoy a round of golf or a trip to a professional football game every now and then, I honestly would rather visit hotels around the world. I love this business. That said, I can’t stress enough the importance of work-life balance or at least some sort of time management. I learned this lesson myself, the hard way. Years ago, my son David was asked by his elementary school teacher to draw a picture of his father at work and at play. Without missing a beat, he completed the assignment. One picture depicted me in a suit and tie, sitting at a large desk with a pen in my hand. In the second picture, I’m at home dressed in a sweater, seated at a small desk with a pen in my hand. Wow. Looking back, I certainly worked long hours and I traveled extensively. The business demanded it. But today, at 87 years old, I can assure you that nothing is more important in life than family. As I shared in Dale Van Atta’s new biography “ Bill Marriott: Success is Never Final ,” life has taught me how to prioritize and make time for what really matters. Even if I have hours of paperwork to read at night, I’ve learned it can wait – especially if my wife has baked banana cake. Below is an excerpt from the biography about that life lesson. From Chapter 9 “Being a father and running a major corporation in his thirties was a serious challenge, and it required sacrifice and scheduling. If he was in town, Bill was always home for breakfast and dinner. Saturdays were the children’s days. He took them to see the ships and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis or to watch boat races on the Potomac River.” The chapter continues, “After dinner, Bill would retire to his den to work, but he had an open-door policy for the kids. It was in that den that they received some of their most treasured encouragement and counsel. “He made us feel like we were the most important people in his life,” Debbie said [Bill Marriott’s daughter]. [Debbie] remembered only one fight her parents had. “It was over a piece of banana cake. I was eight. Ten hours a day he’d work, and then bring four or five hours of paperwork home. He was so busy that night he wouldn’t come back to the table for dessert. Mom was upset. She got her bags out; she was going home to her mother. “Dad started to laugh. I thought it was the end of the world. [Then] he put his arms around her and told her he loved her.” As we enter the precious holiday season, let’s all take time to pause and cherish our family and friends. I’m Bill Marriott and thanks for helping me keep Marriott on the move. | Permalink -- | -- Comments (5) Helping Each Other Through the Storm March 25, 2020 Associates at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Gaylord, Michigan, packed free lunches for the local community. As I turn 88 years old today, my thoughts have dwelled, of course, on the global pandemic that has severely impacted our world and our company, resulting in quarantines and illness for... Current Affairs , Favorites , Personal | -- | Comments (1) -- Leadership, Negotiation and Meat Loaf: One Ensign’s Veterans Day Memories November 11, 2019 I had the privilege and honor to serve in the U.S. Navy shortly after graduating from the University of Utah in 1954. I was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in June 1954. I was assigned to the U.S.S. Randolph aircraft carrier and given the job of wardroom... Personal | -- | Comments (0) -- Introducing “Bill Marriott: Success Is Never Final” September 9, 2019 Over the next few months, I will share life lessons from my new biography, “Bill Marriott: Success Is Never Final.” When journalist and New York Times best-selling author Dale Van Atta approached me a few years ago about writing a biography exploring the lessons learned from my life story, I... Books , Favorites , Personal | -- | Comments (5) -- Take a Spin on National Roller Coaster Day August 16, 2019 In 1976, we opened a pair of amusement parks called Great America, in Santa Clara, California, and Gurnee, Illinois. In our quest to be the world’s favorite travel company, Marriott International has dabbled in a variety of businesses over the years, from airline catering to cruise ships to a number... Favorites | -- | Comments (0) -- Raising a Mug on National Root Beer Float Day August 6, 2019 One of my family's Hot Shoppes locations from the late 1930s. Happy National Root Beer Float Day! It’s no secret I love root beer. I love ice cream, too. They taste good together and they’re so closely tied to Marriott International’s history. My parents started their company as an A&W... Favorites , Food and Drink | -- | Comments (0) -- 50 Years Ago, We Opened Our First International Hotel June 19, 2019 The Paraiso del Pacifico was Marriott International's first hotel outside of the United States. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Marriott International opening its first hotel outside of the U.S. Back in 1969, we operated ten properties in the U.S We were also catering for airlines. And the Hot... Favorites | -- | Comments (0) -- Celebrating Fairfield by Marriott’s 1,000th Hotel April 25, 2019 Fairfield by Marriott was inspired by my family’s weekend retreat – a cattle ranch called the Fairfield Farm in Hume, VA. Fairfield by Marriott announced today the opening of its 1,000th hotel location: the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Denver Tech Center North. It’s the second Marriott International brand... Brands , Favorites | -- | Comments (6) -- Thoughts on My Birthday March 28, 2019 Celebrating my 86th birthday with my daughter, Debbie Harrison. I turned 87 years old this week and I have to say, I feel great. I spent the day, as I always do, with my family at Camelback Inn in Arizona. We’ve been going there for more than 50 years. I... Favorites , Personal | -- | Comments (13) -- Celebrating National Chili Day February 27, 2019 My father (left) in front of the first Hot Shoppes in 1927. Tomorrow is National Chili Day, a great day to celebrate one of my favorite dishes. Chili Con Carne was always a big seller at the restaurant chain my parents, J.W. and Alice Marriott, started in Washington, D.C., in... Favorites , Food and Drink | -- | Comments (3) -- To My Valentine February 14, 2019 Donna married me "for better and for worse ... but not for lunch." I proposed marriage to the love of my life, Donna Garff, by long-distance phone call – if you can believe it – in 1954. I was in Navy Supply School in Athens, Georgia, at the time, just... Favorites , Personal | -- | Comments (9) -- RSS Feeds Receive Email Alerts Receive new alerts. -- -- Read My Book Favorite Posts Categories Helping Each Other Through the Storm 03/25/2020 » The Challenge of Work-Life Balance and Why You Should Always Make Time for Cake 12/17/2019 » Introducing “Bill Marriott: Success Is Never Final” 09/09/2019 » Books Brands Current Affairs Diversity Education Employment Environment Favorites Film Food and Drink Games Government Music Operations Personal Religion Science Service Sports Technology Television Travel Web/Tech Weblogs Tag Cloud Books Brands Current Affairs Diversity Education Employment Environment Favorites Film Food and Drink Games Government Music Operations Personal Religion Science Service Sports Technology Television Travel Web/Tech Weblogs My Bio Bill Marriott Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board Marriott International, Inc. Terms of Use About Marriott Blog © Copyright 2007-2019...