Over the past 7+ years I've learned, built, and honed my work ethic. Without limits, without consistency, and certainly without regard for my physical well being, this so called work ethic can be held responsible for multiple trips to the ER.
But to me, work ethic is a catch all for drive, determination, passion and blindly lead stupidity.
When at my first start-up I had a great mentor who actually helped me feel as though the company and my opportunity had no limits. But what that meant, was that for success to happen I had to work smarter then go work harder.
The result was always thinking to myself...if I'm not spending every moment getting after the opportunity someone else was, and our small company would never catch up and surpass.
This mentality can be incredibly powerful and motivating, but it is also an extremely slippery slope. 8 years in a row of hospital visits, most coming on the heels of a large working bender, can attest to that. However, it's not just about physical health.
In this current start-up, the driven mentality is prevalent, but it at times can move from a positive force to a negative one.
At the moments where I think our chance for success only comes by working every moment, then not working every moment leads to guilt. Guilt is not productive.
Tonight at 4 am I realized we needed to shut down operations for the night. This was despite our first major deadline being tomorrow, and despite our CTO, David Barnes bless his soul, wanting to work through until the job was done.
Pushing a day happens.
Pushing ourselves to a breaking point can have irreversible repercussions, and that can't happen.
All told, I'm thrilled to have made the call. None of this is worth it if we aren't well enough to enjoy it.
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Healthly mind and body needed to live what tomorrow brings.
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