I think the idea here would be to manage your manager so you can tie what work interests you into your job whenever possible, implied by this section: "Don't l

I think the idea here would be to manage your manager so you can tie what work interests you into your job whenever possible, implied by this section: "Don't let "work" mean something other people tell you to do. If you do manage to do great work one day, it will probably be on a project of your own. It may be within some bigger project, but you'll be driving your part of it." as for time with family and friends, I'd say you can't have it all. It's a personal decision on whether you want to achieve "greatness" and what you are willing to sacrifice for it