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Seth Priebatsch: Get a life

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Re: Seth Priebatsch: Get a life

#31

Post by j_baker »

acangiano wrote: post #16

While this is a worthwhile discussion, and I fundamentally agree with the points made by the article, I find it distasteful to see articles which isolate a specific person and publicly tell them how they should live their life. Not too long ago there was another article about how it was tragic that Patrick didn't use his skills for more ambitious projects. The same points could be made without making the article grav…

If people can't handle others publicly criticizing their lifestyle, they shouldn't bloviate about it to the New York Times or CNN. He willingly made that lifestyle a matter of public discourse.

I see this more as an attempt to prevent other Boston area people from idealizing his behavior. I admit he diluted his point by focusing on Priebatsch himself, but it doesn't make the point less valid.

Re: Seth Priebatsch: Get a life

#32

Post by j_baker »

mooneater wrote: post #20

"Nothing has been produced from that". Uh-huh. Maybe because watching a movie together is a very poor way to spend time with someone you care about. Instead, spend even 30 minutes talking about the things you care most about. I guarantee then something "will be produced from that".

Personally, I think not being productive is the point of going to movies. One only has so many hours they can spend being productive before they become wrecks!

Re: Seth Priebatsch: Get a life

#33

Post by lkrubner »

codypo wrote: post #9
Mystalic wrote: post #2

Different lifestyles work for different people. I know Seth -- he's energized and motivated by the work at hand. He's happiest when he's working. That doesn't mean he doesn't know how to have fun. We were racing bicycles around Google Ventures just for kicks. He's also 21 -- he doesn't have a family he has to worry about. In fact, I'd say his employees and his company are his family. I like work and life balance, but…

I disagree that not everyone needs work/life balance. If you're a leader at a company, your employees count on you to make good decisions regarding their future. I don't think you can make reasonable decisions here if you spend all of your time working and thus lose the perspective one gains from an outside life. Let's say that I'm an employee of yours and I have a pregnant wife. I wish to take off at 3 PM once a wee…

My remark may be dismissed as trolling, but seriously think about the scenario you are putting forward:

"Let's say that I'm an employee of yours and I have a pregnant wife. I wish to take off at 3 PM once a week to accompany her to the doctor. I make this pitch to you, my 21 year old CEO who lives at the office."

This is at a startup?

The early phase of a startup is short - within 2 years the company either takes off or dies. I really, seriously think that if you and your wife want to have children, you should get a job at a larger and more stable organization - its good for your kid, good for your wife, good for you. If you have a pregnant wife, you should not be working at a startup. Find something more stable and secure.

Re: Seth Priebatsch: Get a life

#34

Post by jeffclark »

lkrubner wrote: post #33
codypo wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree that not everyone needs work/life balance. If you're a leader at a company, your employees count on you to make good decisions regarding their future. I don't think you can make reasonable decisions here if you spend all of your time working and thus lose the perspective one gains from an outside life. Let's say that I'm an employee of yours and I have a pregnant wife. I wish to take off at 3 PM once a wee…

My remark may be dismissed as trolling, but seriously think about the scenario you are putting forward: "Let's say that I'm an employee of yours and I have a pregnant wife. I wish to take off at 3 PM once a week to accompany her to the doctor. I make this pitch to you, my 21 year old CEO who lives at the office." This is at a startup? The early phase of a startup is short - within 2 years the company either takes off…

I'd like to buy enough downvotes to make this comment disappear forever.

A startup is still a job, and a job is still only part of your life.

There are jobs before and jobs after, but nobody lays on their deathbed wishing they would have spent _less_ time with their family.

Re: Seth Priebatsch: Get a life

#35

Post by codypo »

lkrubner wrote: post #33
codypo wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree that not everyone needs work/life balance. If you're a leader at a company, your employees count on you to make good decisions regarding their future. I don't think you can make reasonable decisions here if you spend all of your time working and thus lose the perspective one gains from an outside life. Let's say that I'm an employee of yours and I have a pregnant wife. I wish to take off at 3 PM once a wee…

My remark may be dismissed as trolling, but seriously think about the scenario you are putting forward: "Let's say that I'm an employee of yours and I have a pregnant wife. I wish to take off at 3 PM once a week to accompany her to the doctor. I make this pitch to you, my 21 year old CEO who lives at the office." This is at a startup? The early phase of a startup is short - within 2 years the company either takes off…

The scenario I put forward is my current scenario. My wife is due tomorrow (yippee!), I've been to nearly all of the doctor's appointments with her, and I'm cofounder of a startup that's doing quite well.

Sure, I put in plenty of hours, but I never forget the importance of work/life balance. My company is important, but it's not all important.

Re: Seth Priebatsch: Get a life

#37

Post by acconrad »

The post makes sense, and we should not be putting people like him on a pedestal. It's in bad taste to call out someone specifically. He is not the only one who does this, and this article can be generalized to any over zealous leader. I feel bad for him for missing out on so much in life, and he's young - there's no reason to knock a young kid when he's down. Eventually it will catch up to him.

Re: Seth Priebatsch: Get a life

#38

Post by portman »

codypo wrote: post #35
lkrubner wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My remark may be dismissed as trolling, but seriously think about the scenario you are putting forward: "Let's say that I'm an employee of yours and I have a pregnant wife. I wish to take off at 3 PM once a week to accompany her to the doctor. I make this pitch to you, my 21 year old CEO who lives at the office." This is at a startup? The early phase of a startup is short - within 2 years the company either takes off…

The scenario I put forward is my current scenario. My wife is due tomorrow (yippee!), I've been to nearly all of the doctor's appointments with her, and I'm cofounder of a startup that's doing quite well. Sure, I put in plenty of hours, but I never forget the importance of work/life balance. My company is important, but it's not all important.

A hearty congratulations to you and your family.

And don't worry about the parent-haters here on HN.

I had hoped that the anti-childrearing bias would disappear after Paul and Jessica's baby, but that hasn't seemed to have any effect.

I hope everything goes well with the delivery and that you continue to find time for balance in your startup life.

Re: Seth Priebatsch: Get a life

#39

Post by devinj »

peteforde wrote: post #5

The simple fact is that he'll burn out, sooner or later. That kind of energy can be initially compelling, but very few great leaders thrive without compassion and charisma. There's a large element of the media that champions sociopathic tendencies. It's good for the HN types to visibly push back against it, even if every situation is different. Sometimes it's good to cry it out with people. Hard to do that if you can…

This is more autistic than sociopathic. It's quite possible that he won't burn out, simply because he really isn't interested in socialization.

Re: Seth Priebatsch: Get a life

#40

Post by usiegj00 »

Seth Priebatsch: Love a life. Hey guys--I've had the pleasure of working with Seth. He's a stellar entrepreneur. He is intensely intelligent. He's a humble and thoughtful hacker. He's living a dream--enjoying what he does and working hard. And isn't that the special thing about geeking out today? We get to do the things we love to do. The things we stay home on a Friday night to hack at? It's a choice I make all the time and I love to hear Seth talk about it with a sense of passion. It doesn't have to be your choice--but it's one many of us make--and Seth gets my nod.
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