In the last few days I’ve been quite busy, but I still found a few hours here and there to jump on a trampoline with elementary school kids, walk through the woods in a light rain, peruse the magazine section at Barnes and Noble, and have a bunch of enjoyable meals with great people. It takes discipline, but it’s very possible.
Regardless, I felt the pressure that this author was describing. That’s very real.
Cheers to that. And, for the record, in this past year I have experienced unprecedented/agonizing levels of depression and anxiety - two very different things. One is just dark and hopeless and the other is manic and out-of-control. I’ve written extensively about all of this, as a way to cope. It can eventually be funny to talk about breaking down in tears, but when it’s actually happening it’s a nightmare - especially if you’re really, deeply alone. Like, say, in a Walmart parking lot in the middle of nowhere. Yeesh!
I hear you, I have bipolar, OCD, and generalized anxiety disorder. I'm on disability for these, and about all the work I can handle is part-time sales at a tool store. I do pretty well with minimal stress, but wow was that breakdown in 2003 bad, I spent weeks in the hospital. Unix sysadmin is high-stress, I'm surprised looking back that I made it 10 years, and 10 years before that doing electronic circuit design and developing CAD automation software.
Love it! It's really incredible what a "normal" job can do for a person. I spent two years as a part-time dairyman at a rural gas station in New Hampshire. After years of stress in corporate and entrepreneurial roles, it felt so good to be a cashier who stocks eggs on the shelf and cleans milk spills in a walk-in fridge.
I'm "proud" (maybe that's not the word? I really don't mean to offend!) that I have never used any kind of mood-altering drugs. I'm certain that most doctors would want to prescribe me all kinds of stuff - anti-depressants, speed, stuff for my intense ADHD. Thankfully, there is only one (very natural!) poison/medicine that I'm semi-addicted to (marijuana) and I do believe that it's kinda/sorta under control at this point.
I think this question and mentality persist in the corporate world as well, and I’m 100% behind the work smarter not harder. I think leaders are starting to realize this too focusing more on employee experience and well being. However, will be a slow transition as generations transition out of leadership roles.
Alexis Ohanian, the founder of Reddit, who coined the term "Hustle Porn," rejects the "idea that unless you are suffering, grinding, working every hour of every day, you’re not working hard enough."
Well, we're not crushing it. But, I'm having fun building this business again. I'm staying healthy and enjoying other areas of my life. Ones that don't revolve around hitting KPIs or whatever fuck-all nonsense is being pushed out there.
Btw, I don’t necessarily think KPIs are “fuck-all nonsense” but I agree with the author’s use of blow-it-all-up language and his insistence on free, wild ways of thinking and speaking.
Insightful. Sounds honest and real. Nothing is worth sacrificing your health - mental and physical. Balance is key in all situations. I’d say it’s an art form. One must be creative in their choices and implementation to thrive.
Man. It is so easy to blur the lines when you’re working at a startup. Easily admirable and also terribly exhausting.
Damn.
Reminds me of something similar I wrote a few years ago, titled 'Human Compilation Error' - https://thevunderkind.com/human-compilation-error-5d23baea3b96
Great insight
⭐ and will ✅
I feel like this was written for you and Jeff. Balance, self care and perspective and stay passionate about your startup.
This is why I'd never make a good entrepreneur.
Ha! But we’re not all work-a-holics!
In the last few days I’ve been quite busy, but I still found a few hours here and there to jump on a trampoline with elementary school kids, walk through the woods in a light rain, peruse the magazine section at Barnes and Noble, and have a bunch of enjoyable meals with great people. It takes discipline, but it’s very possible.
Regardless, I felt the pressure that this author was describing. That’s very real.
I'm glad you have a good balance, that is best for you, which is the most important, but it's also good for Readup, healthy people do better work.
Cheers to that. And, for the record, in this past year I have experienced unprecedented/agonizing levels of depression and anxiety - two very different things. One is just dark and hopeless and the other is manic and out-of-control. I’ve written extensively about all of this, as a way to cope. It can eventually be funny to talk about breaking down in tears, but when it’s actually happening it’s a nightmare - especially if you’re really, deeply alone. Like, say, in a Walmart parking lot in the middle of nowhere. Yeesh!
I hear you, I have bipolar, OCD, and generalized anxiety disorder. I'm on disability for these, and about all the work I can handle is part-time sales at a tool store. I do pretty well with minimal stress, but wow was that breakdown in 2003 bad, I spent weeks in the hospital. Unix sysadmin is high-stress, I'm surprised looking back that I made it 10 years, and 10 years before that doing electronic circuit design and developing CAD automation software.
Love it! It's really incredible what a "normal" job can do for a person. I spent two years as a part-time dairyman at a rural gas station in New Hampshire. After years of stress in corporate and entrepreneurial roles, it felt so good to be a cashier who stocks eggs on the shelf and cleans milk spills in a walk-in fridge.
I'm "proud" (maybe that's not the word? I really don't mean to offend!) that I have never used any kind of mood-altering drugs. I'm certain that most doctors would want to prescribe me all kinds of stuff - anti-depressants, speed, stuff for my intense ADHD. Thankfully, there is only one (very natural!) poison/medicine that I'm semi-addicted to (marijuana) and I do believe that it's kinda/sorta under control at this point.
I think this question and mentality persist in the corporate world as well, and I’m 100% behind the work smarter not harder. I think leaders are starting to realize this too focusing more on employee experience and well being. However, will be a slow transition as generations transition out of leadership roles.
Yes! Excellent comment!
That’s a good reality check and I’d expect this to resonate with a lot of people. This is what it comes down to:
YES
Interesting read!
You picked my two favorite quotes!!
Ohanian really needs to be a Readup investor.
Btw, I don’t necessarily think KPIs are “fuck-all nonsense” but I agree with the author’s use of blow-it-all-up language and his insistence on free, wild ways of thinking and speaking.
Insightful. Sounds honest and real. Nothing is worth sacrificing your health - mental and physical. Balance is key in all situations. I’d say it’s an art form. One must be creative in their choices and implementation to thrive.
Boom. This is good, honest, real writing.