Don't let work dominate your life. Work is important, but it should not be a grind, or you will end up with serious mental health issues. I have some observati

Don't let work dominate your life. Work is important, but it should not be a grind, or you will end up with serious mental health issues. I have some observations to contribute (context: I am a solo founder of a bootstrapped business): * Much of the "news" you read will be stacked against you, because it is in the interest of VCs and employers to see you work your butt off for years, with the mythical carrot of a major payout hanging in front of you. Your mental health is not a consideration. * You can make good progress working reasonably. In fact, I'd wager that you can often make better progress, because the quality of your work is better than when you are tired. * Being a solo bootstrapped business founder is not necessarily a panacea, the anxiety and pressure are still there. You have to learn how to deal with them (I'm still learning, but making good progress). * Consider your goals. Does it really need to be a multi-million payout, or is a healthy income for you and your family enough? Do you really need huge growth, or are you OK with modest growth once you reach a comfortable level? Your goals might not align with those of others, and there is no such thing as "obvious" goals. I believe that a lot of problems in today's world are created by the pressure for constant growth (at all levels, both startups and companies like Apple).