A Balancing Act: Local Business Leaders Work Hard to Keep Playing

A Balancing Act: B Local Business Leaders Work Hard to y Matt Potter, photos by Dan Epstein Although signs of recovery are breaking through the recession, the long months of fear and uncertainty have taken a toll not only on our bank accounts, but on our sense of joy as well. Many business leaders and their employees worked longer hours for less money. In some cases, the approach worked well, helping them survive the roughest patches. But now many businesspeople are wondering whether the "all work and no play" philosophy can be sustained over the long run—and whether it's a good idea anyway. In fact, many recent studies show that when people take time out for family and recreation, they return to work more enthusiastic, focused, creative—and productive. InBiz Magazine spoke with two local business leaders InBiz about their own work-life balance and how they manage about to achieve equilibrium. DENNY DENNY KLEIN: A "I used to say I wanted to be a philanthropist," laughs Denny, the founder of the Fairfield-based insurance agency Rand, Feuer & Klein LLC. "That's the way I was brought up." Decades later, that desire to help has never waned. It's clear not only in his career choice, but also in the many ways he spends his hours outside the office. "In business, it used to be about how much money you could make," says Denny, adding that people today are learning that success is also about living a "sustainable life that has meaning." And that meaning can't be measured in terms of "stuff." "How many rooms can you sit in?" Denny asks. "How many vacations can you go on at the same time?" A prominent member of the local Jewish community, Denny participates in many meaningful activities— including playing golf with his buddies, playing music for the love of it, preparing meals for the needy, working in local politics, and performing in an annual production of "The Cat in the Hat." Of Of paramount importance to Denny, however, is his family: the North Caldwell resident and his wife have a son, 11, and seven-year-old twin daughters. "My goal is to find the ideal balance between all the It's All About Helping People sk most five-year-old boys what they want to be when they grow up, and you'll probably hear rock star, firefighter, or pro athlete. But Denny Klein was different. 20 | | Third Quarter 2009

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