That chat with my neighbor about his 80 hour weeks made me rethink my whole setup

My neighbor Dave works 80 hours a week as a financial analyst in Chicago. Last Saturday he told me he hasn't taken a real vacation in 3 years because his job makes him feel like he'll fall behind if he stops. I run my own HVAC business and I've been guilty of the same mindset, working weekends and skipping breaks. Has anyone else had a conversation that made you step back and change how you structure your work week?

2 comments

2 Comments

phoenixp3016d ago

80 hours a week is probably what it takes to get ahead in that industry though... if Dave stops driving for a few weeks he's gonna lose momentum and that's hard to get back. Sounds like you're running a solid HVAC business and those weekend calls are probably the difference between just getting by and actually building something... most people who take it easy end up stuck in the same spot for years. The guys who grind now are the ones who can coast later, that's just how it works. If you can handle the pace and the money's good, there's nothing wrong with skipping a vacation for a few years.

faith_smith16d ago

You said "the guys who grind now are the ones who can coast later" and I hear that a lot but I'm starting to wonder if it's actually true or just something we tell ourselves to feel better about burning out. I see it all around me where I live, people working themselves ragged thinking they're investing in their future but then life just keeps throwing new stuff at them. A guy I know worked 70 hour weeks for years building his landscaping company and now he's 55 with bad knees and a divorce because he never took a break. I'm not saying don't work hard but I think there's something weird in our culture where we act like rest is a weakness instead of something you need to not fall apart. Some of the most successful people I know actually take time off and come back sharper, so maybe the whole "grind now" thing is just a way for bosses to get more free labor out of people.