There are three kinds of work: 1. Owner 2. Manager 3. Worker Most of us start out as (3), and some move on to (2). Entrepreneurs are immediately (1+2+3), wh

There are three kinds of work: 1. Owner 2. Manager 3. Worker Most of us start out as (3), and some move on to (2). Entrepreneurs are immediately (1+2+3), which explains why it's so difficult. When we're young we have a lot of energy and not so much wisdom. 3 is a natural fit. As we get older we gradually have less energy but hopefully more wisdom and experience. I'm 46, and I just can't do the all nighters that I did so often as a young programmer at Apple. So the goal for me has been to gradually move up the scale. I realized this about 15 years ago after hearing the expression "the men who manage money manage the men who manage men". That expression describes the three types of work. EDIT: For example, I'd put pg in category 1. So category 1 doesn't necessarily mean managing money.