> Because no one who's putting in 50 or 60+ hours because they're afraid not to > is going to stick out their neck and demand their lives back from the tech > j

> Because no one who's putting in 50 or 60+ hours because they're afraid not to > is going to stick out their neck and demand their lives back from the tech > jobs that consume them or the venture capitalists who get wealthy on the backs > of overworked and stressed-out technology employees. Well, okay, this guy has quite an ax to grind. I've spent lots of time in the start-up world. The people I've seen who rise the quickest and achieve the greatest financial heights put in long, hard hours. They put in long, hard hours as interns, as junior programmers, as mid-level programmers, and on up to CTOs or CEOs. Yes, they work "smart" too. But we're talking here about putting in the hours. It is very true that you don't want to work so hard that you're burning yourself out. It's also very true that everyone has a different number of hours at a given type of work beyond which your returns gradually (or even rapidly) diminish. But don't be deluded by the use of Sheryl Sandberg's CEO's prerogative to create her own schedule. Hard work tends to pay off. I'm not saying everyone can or should put in 80 hour work weeks, but when you're young and starting out -- figure out what your limits are. Push yourself. See how your body and your mind respond to throwing yourself into your work. Learn your craft. You're reading YCombinator. You're probably here because you want to be an entrepreneur. Ignore sour grapes articles like the one from that itworld author. That guy would have you start off with an attitude that (here come the down votes) is for losers and people who would prefer to spend their time railing at those dirty Haves rather than doing their best to avoid being a Have Not. That kind of class warfare rhetoric never gets you anywhere unless you're in entertainment, the media, or politics.