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If You’re So Successful, Why Are You Still Working 70 Hours a Week?

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Re: If You’re So Successful, Why Are You Still Working 70 Hours a Week?

#31

Post by imilk »

sharadov wrote: post #12

Why do you suppose that people don't enjoy working 70 hours a week? My dad regularly worked 70 hour weeks - had multiple careers doctor/businessman/public figure. But he had a ton of help - manager, personal assistant, chauffeur. Everything on the home front was outsourced. He loved it. But he had a lot of control. Most people, I observe who burn out, do because of other reasons - work politics, poor health and ultim…

I'd much rather spend time with the people I love in life before I die than the abstract busyness known as "work". But that may just be just me.

Re: If You’re So Successful, Why Are You Still Working 70 Hours a Week?

#32

Post by whytaka »

Because I'm not nearly as good at any hobbies as much as I'm good at my job and being good at something is what gives me day-to-day satisfaction. Having a high wage but not enough stored wealth to feel invincible against an increasingly uncertain future, I'm spending more time feeling good about work than finding and investing in a hobby that'll make me truly happy.

Re: If You’re So Successful, Why Are You Still Working 70 Hours a Week?

#33

Post by Arisaka1 »

hulitu wrote: post #27
AlwaysRock wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people don't enjoy working 70 hours a week.

Most people do not really work 70 hours / week. They just are present at work.

You assume that workload is binary you either work or you are just present. The intensity fluctuates even if you study for 1 hour. This isn't something exclusive to those who work more.

Re: If You’re So Successful, Why Are You Still Working 70 Hours a Week?

#34

Post by daniel_reetz »

sharadov wrote: post #12

Why do you suppose that people don't enjoy working 70 hours a week? My dad regularly worked 70 hour weeks - had multiple careers doctor/businessman/public figure. But he had a ton of help - manager, personal assistant, chauffeur. Everything on the home front was outsourced. He loved it. But he had a lot of control. Most people, I observe who burn out, do because of other reasons - work politics, poor health and ultim…

It's true that some have an enormous capacity for work. I felt my capacity grew year on year for ten years straight -- simply by working with enormously ambitious people. But it can also happen by other means. While at a megacorp, for example, I was collaborating and competing with colleagues medicated with Adderal, who had astounding focus and output. The bar is always being raised, and sometimes in ways that are barely visible. My takeaway was that it's important to identify personal limits and boundaries, and be careful how hard you compete.

Re: If You’re So Successful, Why Are You Still Working 70 Hours a Week?

#35

Post by elpakal »

GDC7 wrote: post #22

The only true answer is that out there are 8 billion people waking up every day. And all they do is seeking social relevance, and by doing so they are inadvertedly diluting your own social relevance. There is not a mechanism which allows you to stop working and freeze your social relevance in place as some sort of videogame checkpoint type manner. You stop working and your relevance is eroded away...hell you could ke…

some people work because they have to though, it's not just about "social relevance".

Re: If You’re So Successful, Why Are You Still Working 70 Hours a Week?

#36

Post by Arisaka1 »

imilk wrote: post #31
sharadov wrote: post #12

Why do you suppose that people don't enjoy working 70 hours a week? My dad regularly worked 70 hour weeks - had multiple careers doctor/businessman/public figure. But he had a ton of help - manager, personal assistant, chauffeur. Everything on the home front was outsourced. He loved it. But he had a lot of control. Most people, I observe who burn out, do because of other reasons - work politics, poor health and ultim…

I'd much rather spend time with the people I love in life before I die than the abstract busyness known as "work". But that may just be just me.

Calling work "abstract busyness" devalues workers.

Re: If You’re So Successful, Why Are You Still Working 70 Hours a Week?

#37

Post by guessbest »

AlwaysRock wrote: post #16
sharadov wrote: post #12

Why do you suppose that people don't enjoy working 70 hours a week? My dad regularly worked 70 hour weeks - had multiple careers doctor/businessman/public figure. But he had a ton of help - manager, personal assistant, chauffeur. Everything on the home front was outsourced. He loved it. But he had a lot of control. Most people, I observe who burn out, do because of other reasons - work politics, poor health and ultim…

Most people don't enjoy working 70 hours a week.

Many people don't consider being controlling work. Thus the long hours.

Re: If You’re So Successful, Why Are You Still Working 70 Hours a Week?

#38

Post by neals »

Because I know what it means to work a 40hour shitty job. And I mean shitty. As in fill paint cans and inhale paint fumes all week shitty. I mean crawl into a conveyor belt that's stuck, use a torch to heat it up and a sledgehammer to straighten it shitty.

That I'm now able to what I do and earn what I earn, to me, is like a miracle and I enjoy every minute of it.

Re: If You’re So Successful, Why Are You Still Working 70 Hours a Week?

#39

Post by justinator »

whytaka wrote: post #32

Because I'm not nearly as good at any hobbies as much as I'm good at my job and being good at something is what gives me day-to-day satisfaction. Having a high wage but not enough stored wealth to feel invincible against an increasingly uncertain future, I'm spending more time feeling good about work than finding and investing in a hobby that'll make me truly happy.

> Having a high wage but not enough stored wealth to feel invincible against an increasingly uncertain future

Hate to be the one to tell you this, but there is no guarantee on what the future may bring, money can't fix everything, and true security is a lie. Live your life in the here and now, before you regret wasting it.

Re: If You’re So Successful, Why Are You Still Working 70 Hours a Week?

#40

Post by sgillen »

elpakal wrote: post #35
GDC7 wrote: post #22

The only true answer is that out there are 8 billion people waking up every day. And all they do is seeking social relevance, and by doing so they are inadvertedly diluting your own social relevance. There is not a mechanism which allows you to stop working and freeze your social relevance in place as some sort of videogame checkpoint type manner. You stop working and your relevance is eroded away...hell you could ke…

some people work because they have to though, it's not just about "social relevance".

True, but this article is about "insecure overachievers" who work at "elite professional organizations". I think there's a decent argument that these people are largely driven by prestige AKA social relevance.
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