Founders: workaholics versus lazy bird, choose your style

The gap has never been wider and I feel it widening everyday. The world of entrepreneurship, and the founders making it, are pushing to opposite directions.

On one side, the good old entrepreneur, working 80 hours a week because it is required to succeed. They are trying to outwork the competition by working more. This state of mind was recently illustrated by a founder stating “I barely see my kids, that is a risk I am willing to take.” The reactions online illustrated this gap pretty well.

[sorry I could not find the tweet 😑]

On the other side, a new kind of entrepreneurs, more aware of their body and mind, trying to be more efficient and working better to work less. With entrepreneurs like Jason Fried leading the way and fighting to save everyone from burning out with his latest book called «It does not have to be crazy at work».

The gap has never been so wide. Each team has its own arguments. Someone recently told me “there are no part time entrepreneur, part time work is an employee thing.” The part-time founder I talked to a week later disagreed, but what she does probably does not apply right? Crazy hours on one side, 4-day week during summer for others.

Who the hell is right? Yes, working more hours can usually mean getting more done. Some argues that it does not last, and mistakes and lack of creativity starts creeping in pretty fast. People like Gary Vaynerchuck seems to keep their shit together with crazy weeks, how do they do? Why some might think a truck driver that only sees his kids during the weekend is a hero working his ass off for his family and an entrepreneur doing the same is a moron?

I have been struggling with these ideas for a while. I already chose my team, trying to work better to work less and making sure I eat 3-meals a day with my family most days. But what to think of those who don’t, working hard now to work less later?

I think it all comes down to personality, personal goals, values and abilities. And that is unmeasurable and incomparable. So good luck with that!