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Success at Work, Failure at Home

scott.a16z.com

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Re: Success at Work, Failure at Home

#2
I can relate to this.

I am a notoriously bad multi-tasker and when I'm concentrating on a project I had a really hard time paying any attention to my girlfriend. I also found it harder and harder to relate to the struggles that other people have in a normal life. Trying to add something significant to the world comes at a cost: I might not ever be able to have a normal relationship.

Re: Success at Work, Failure at Home

#3
post #2

I can relate to this. I am a notoriously bad multi-tasker and when I'm concentrating on a project I had a really hard time paying any attention to my girlfriend. I also found it harder and harder to relate to the struggles that other people have in a normal life. Trying to add something significant to the world comes at a cost: I might not ever be able to have a normal relationship.

Chances are the world will keep on spinning without your product. Happiness should be your primary goal.

Re: Success at Work, Failure at Home

#4
One thing you can do at home is the cooking (including buying the food and the washing up). It is not hard to do if it is something you always do.

Serve up a great meal prepared from actual ingredients and enjoy eating it - plus the conversation that goes with it. If you can do this then you are likely to succeed at home.

If you can make cooking something you enjoy then that becomes an 'inline hobby', i.e. something to care about, enjoy and look forward to doing. It does not need extra time. You can feel good about yourself for doing it if what you serve is well appreciated. But you have to do it as soon as you get in, put your feet up, watch teevee, allow an hour to pass and it all goes wrong.

Re: Success at Work, Failure at Home

#5
I very clearly remember the week this clicked in my brain. Being very successful, really crushing it, and whining to my wife that the company should give more vacation, and her reminding me that I had been at work on Christmas Eve. My whole perspective collapsed around that instant. I could see the hit in career path I was going to take by changing my perspective, but I decided to do it anyway. And I have always been glad I made that choice.

The challenge is there will always be people who are willing (either consciously or unconsciously) to throw away their family and personal relationships in order to pursue success in their career, and it is difficult, if not impossible to compete against them with the 'balanced life' bit set.

Re: Success at Work, Failure at Home

#6
post #3
post #2

I can relate to this. I am a notoriously bad multi-tasker and when I'm concentrating on a project I had a really hard time paying any attention to my girlfriend. I also found it harder and harder to relate to the struggles that other people have in a normal life. Trying to add something significant to the world comes at a cost: I might not ever be able to have a normal relationship.

Chances are the world will keep on spinning without your product. Happiness should be your primary goal.

Why do you assume working on his project doesn't bring him happiness?

Also, though I'm sure you are well-meaning, advising strangers how they ought to live their life makes you sound like a prick.

Re: Success at Work, Failure at Home

#9
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Chances are the world will keep on spinning without your product. Happiness should be your primary goal.

Why do you assume working on his project doesn't bring him happiness? Also, though I'm sure you are well-meaning, advising strangers how they ought to live their life makes you sound like a prick.

Article is titled: "Success at Work, Failure at Home" and they say they can relate to this. Laments that "...comes at a cost: I might not ever be able to have a normal relationship."

I'm not saying working on their project doesn't bring them some happiness, but they hardly sound like they're as happy as they could be.

And I'm probably just a prick.

Re: Success at Work, Failure at Home

#10
Key question: did Ironport succeed in spite of his family sacrifice, or because of it? It's not fair to recommend spending more time with the family without addressing what the consequences would have been.
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