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But how come so many people are talking about burnout and stress of a start-up? It sounds like the allure of money and prestige is keeping startupers at work, s

But how come so many people are talking about burnout and stress of a start-up? It sounds like the allure of money and prestige is keeping startupers at work, sort of like an invisible god or invisible slavemaster that they created in their brain. But if they could understand that money will be gone, prestige will disappear, their little software they did to "change the world" will soon be gone, would they work that hard? If yes -- great, but then there wouldn't be no stress because an ultimate anaesthesia is coming and it's going to make everything as meaningless as the stuff you build in dreams. If no -- they're trapped, deluded by an illusion that anything we do in this world matters, that it's possible to change the world, that we're even going somewhere as human species. Which is just an illusion as we're all terminally ill and there is no escape. When you dream, don't you worry about things that happen there as well? And don't you feel sad you didn't take advantage of the fact that it's a dream: that you didn't jump off buildings, fly, shoot from large grenade launchers? Well, life is a similarly shaped dream just a bit sharper and longer and more brightly colored. Just a dream though, nothing matters :)

seregine 17y ago
"Nothing matters" is a recipe for despair, not happiness :) Sure, money and glory are shallow motivations. Dig deeper, though, and you'll find that people aren't as shallow as they seem - money can be a means to gain freedom, glory a confirmation from fellow humans that your accomplishment has lasting value. I'm motivated by the satisfaction of doing something well, the "aha!" moments of learning, the knowledge that I am becoming more like the person I want to be. But even these joys are as transient as money and glory. I will die, but maybe, if I get good enough at what I do, I can make a lasting difference that improves the world for current and future people like our ancestors improved it for us. In your face, death! I don't want to change your mind, merely explaining why I disagree. Our different notions of "the good life" may be rooted in fundamental personality differences, even biology. If some of those stressed out startup people are like you - they should stop and understand themselves. Some of them are like me, and they should push on. I believe people generally know to do what's best for them. It's when we assume to know what's best for others that we get in trouble. Finally, people change. Ten years from now, you and I could both flip sides.

seregine 17y ago

"Nothing matters" is a recipe for despair, not happiness :) Sure, money and glory are shallow motivations. Dig deeper, though, and you'll find that people aren't as shallow as they seem - money can be a means to gain freedom, glory a confirmation from fellow humans that your accomplishment has lasting value. I'm motivated by the satisfaction of doing something well, the "aha!" moments of learning, the knowledge that I am becoming more like the person I want to be. But even these joys are as transient as money and glory. I will die, but maybe, if I get good enough at what I do, I can make a lasting difference that improves the world for current and future people like our ancestors improved it for us. In your face, death! I don't want to change your mind, merely explaining why I disagree. Our different notions of "the good life" may be rooted in fundamental personality differences, even biology. If some of those stressed out startup people are like you - they should stop and understand themselves. Some of them are like me, and they should push on. I believe people generally know to do what's best for them. It's when we assume to know what's best for others that we get in trouble. Finally, people change. Ten years from now, you and I could both flip sides.