4 ms·

Agreed, it reads like pure insanity. That you would only be "granted" to have time for your family if you're on the brink of burn-out is ... horrible. I'm pret

by unwind 14y ago

Agreed, it reads like pure insanity. That you would only be "granted" to have time for your family if you're on the brink of burn-out is ... horrible. I'm pretty sure that's not the general guideline about how Google operates, not sure if there's some editing and/or language barrier here.

PakG1 14y ago
I don't think there is any such barrier. I've read multiple articles from multiple publications about the same Marissa Mayer, and they all have the same anecdotes and themes. If it's so consistent across multiple publications, you have to think she really does say all these things. Whether she walks the talk is another question, but she's probably a freak of nature who is really able to do so.
- eitally 14y ago
  Moreover, the legend of the über-productive employee who never sleeps is a double-edged sword and can demotivate the employees that person touches in ways that far outweigh the direct positive impact to the company that person has. As stated above, it's one thing to work 12-16hr days during start-up phase, but if you're doing it as a matter of fact when you're a 30,000 person company, frankly you're doing it wrong -- even if you're the founder, owner, board member or C-level executive. Leading via exemplary personal performance and ethics is one thing; driving those values throughout the organization is far more important.
napillo 14y ago
Yeah. You know how I avoid burnout? I work 8 hours a day, no more no less. Occasionally, I will work a 9 hour day, but that's a rarity. If I can't get done what I need to do in an 8 hour day, well it just has to wait until tomorrow. Perhaps I'll put in two three hour days on the weekends. Either way, I am a programmer, and I am at my best when I program for 6 hours or less per day. The more time I spend thinking about an issue, the better my programs will be. If I am going to be sitting at my desk, coding away, for 12 hours straight, you will see some sorry excuse for code because I haven't thought through the whole process.

by unwind 14y ago

PakG1 14y ago

I don't think there is any such barrier. I've read multiple articles from multiple publications about the same Marissa Mayer, and they all have the same anecdotes and themes. If it's so consistent across multiple publications, you have to think she really does say all these things. Whether she walks the talk is another question, but she's probably a freak of nature who is really able to do so.

eitally 14y ago
Moreover, the legend of the über-productive employee who never sleeps is a double-edged sword and can demotivate the employees that person touches in ways that far outweigh the direct positive impact to the company that person has. As stated above, it's one thing to work 12-16hr days during start-up phase, but if you're doing it as a matter of fact when you're a 30,000 person company, frankly you're doing it wrong -- even if you're the founder, owner, board member or C-level executive. Leading via exemplary personal performance and ethics is one thing; driving those values throughout the organization is far more important.

napillo 14y ago

Yeah. You know how I avoid burnout? I work 8 hours a day, no more no less. Occasionally, I will work a 9 hour day, but that's a rarity. If I can't get done what I need to do in an 8 hour day, well it just has to wait until tomorrow. Perhaps I'll put in two three hour days on the weekends. Either way, I am a programmer, and I am at my best when I program for 6 hours or less per day. The more time I spend thinking about an issue, the better my programs will be. If I am going to be sitting at my desk, coding away, for 12 hours straight, you will see some sorry excuse for code because I haven't thought through the whole process.