In a survey of attendees of the Women Of The Channel Winter Workshop, host The Channel Company found that the majority of the women felt the biggest inhibitor to their career growth was work-life balance.

Here's some advice on how to handle it from top-level channel executives who have made it work:

Pam Johansen, Sr. Director, Worldwide Channel Operations, BMC Software: I'm an overachiever. I believe that my 80 percent could be someone else's 100 percent. The net-net of it is to be really clear when you're looking at something, don't panic. That's the first thing...But, above all, delegate, collaborate, take it in small bites. One thing I think was interesting from [Sheryl Sandberg's] "Lean In" book was "done is better than perfect."

Paula Gil, Director of Partner Programs, CA: I think your definition of work-life balance changes. It could be every year, it could be every week, it could be every ten years. My best practice is don't compare my dream to someone else's, don't compare my schedule to someone else's, don't compare my drive to someone else, do what I'm going to do that I'm going to be at peace with. If I won the Mega Millions tomorrow and I decided to go do photography, I'd probably have a work-life balance with photography. That's just the DNA for most of the folks in [the Women of the Channel]. Be flexible. Don't be so hard on yourself and do what's going to help you sleep at night, either physically or mentally. Every case is different, so set your own standards.

Penny Philpot, Group VP, OPN Program & Worldwide Partner Services, Oracle: I don't believe it exists. If you want to get another role and get more responsibility, for every action there has to be an equal and opposite reaction. It's part of your decision so suck it up. But, saying that though, I have a little girl...I also think about when at home, be at home and when at work, be at work. Someone told me that when I was pregnant 11 years ago...What I did find is that when you decide you want to have a little bit of balance, if you actually think about your day and try to be really disciplined about it, you'll do better than if you're not. Saying that, though, I do believe it is an urban myth.

Tricia Atchison, Sr. Director, RTM & Channel Marketing, Symantec: I think I would say that work-life balance means different things to different people and you have to find what is right for you and your situation. There are times that work wins. There are times that my family wins...I think you have to figure out what works for you family. One of the things that's been really good for me is having some other type of interest beyond just my husband and my child. Running, or sewing, or singing, or whatever you like to do, I think to have some outside perspective and to do something besides work all the time makes you a better worker...You can't work all the time or you're not a great employee or probably fun to be around at home. That would be my advice.