Work | Life Balance, Feat. Brent Bowen

Building a Better Work Life Balance: Lessons from the Field

In this blog, we feature a powerful and heartfelt conversation with construction leader Brent Bowen from Person Services. Brent shares his personal story about learning the hard way what true work-life balance means and how prioritizing family ultimately makes us better professionals and leaders.

The Wake Up Call

Early in his career, Brent was working relentless hour’s sixteen-hour days, seven or even eight days a week at a power plant project on the West Coast. His wife, who had moved across the country away from family, was home with their two small children.

One day, she met him at the door holding both kids and said, “I didn’t sign up for this.” That moment hit hard.

Brent realized that while he was trying to provide for his family, he was losing precious time with his family. He called his general superintendent, who immediately told him to take time off. “That was easy,” Brent remembered. “Why didn’t I do that earlier?”

After that, he sought advice from his father, who gave him a piece of wisdom that would reshape his life:

“In five, ten, or twenty years, nobody will drive by that power plant and say, ‘Brent Bowen built this.’
But they will look at your children and your family and say, ‘Brent Bowen built this.’”

That perspective changed everything. Brent decided to become not just a better worker, but a better husband, father, and friend.

The Mindset Shift

Brent explained that finding balance wasn’t just about taking time off it was about a mindset change. He started planning intentionally, using tools like time-blocking and buffers to ensure family always had space in his schedule.

“I didn’t miss any of my son’s high school football games,” he said proudly. “Before that, I probably would’ve missed half of them and not realized how much I’d regret it later.”

As a leader, he now encourages his team to take time off and plan around family commitments. “We still have to serve our clients,” he said, “but we also have to serve our families.”

The Power of Planning and Presence

One of Brent’s most memorable examples of planning was during his son’s freshman football season. While working in California, his family was still in Arizona. Every Wednesday, he’d leave work at 2:00 p.m. to make it to the game by 6:30. After spending time with family, he’d drive back at 2:00 a.m. to start again.

It wasn’t easy but it was worth it. The team and leadership supported him because he communicated and planned ahead.

Balancing Family and Technology

When asked what his wife might say about work-life balance, Brent laughed and said, “She’d probably tell you to put that on my tombstone ‘He was a hard worker.’”

He admitted that putting his phone down is still a challenge, but he’s working on it. The couple found new ways to connect, like golfing together in the evenings or maintaining a weekly date night. “That’s why I’ve got to hit the road at three o’clock today,” he joked. “We’ve got a date night.”

Lessons for Construction Leaders

This discussion revealed a key truth work life balance isn’t about choosing between your job and your family. It’s about planning intentionally so both can thrive.

Jason Schroeder, the blog’s host, added examples from his own life: his wife reminding him to take vacations, delegate work, put down his phone, and take time to think. These lessons tie directly to leadership when we plan and delegate well, we create space to live fully.

Brent summed it up beautifully:

“Be present. Don’t take it for granted. Don’t get too far down a path where you can’t fix it. The more planning and preparation we do at work, the easier our lives can be at home. You’ll sleep better, rest better, and be truly present.”

Key Takeaway

Work life balance isn’t a luxury it’s a discipline. As Brent Bowen reminds us, our greatest project isn’t the one we’re building in the field; it’s the one we’re building at home. Through intentional planning, clear boundaries, and presence, we can be both great builders and great family members.