4 ms·

Please don't take this the wrong way, but until we stop humblebragging about not taking vacation the problem of equating hours to output won't go away. Not that

Please don't take this the wrong way, but until we stop humblebragging about not taking vacation the problem of equating hours to output won't go away. Not that it's even intentional, it's just the cultural norm lately to give lip service to the idea that overworking is a bad thing but I don't see evidence that most of us mean it... it's all "Gosh, I'm the worst, I never take time off."

Touche 12y ago
I didn't take the comment as bragging. At least I hope it wasn't meant that way. If the boss doesn't take vacations it makes the employees feel like they shouldn't take (many) either.
- beat 12y ago
  Exactly. I realize that as the founder/CEO, I set an example for employees. I don't want it to be a bad example. And this is a problem in part because crazed workaholic is kind of wrapped up with the founder mindset, but it's a rotten trait for employees.
rayiner 12y ago
I once spoke to a department head at a D.C. law firm known for its aggressive trial work. He mentioned he took his four weeks every year, including the whole time he was an associate. This is the kind of humble-brag I like to see. "I took my four weeks every year and still {got promoted, got funded, hit profitability, etc}."
beat 12y ago
I consider my lack of vacationing to be a serious problem, something I need to change. Frankly, one of the causes is that my wife and I don't vacation well together. We want different things from vacations. She travels a lot more than I do. And part of it is a couple of years of contracting, when I feel guilty for not getting paid if I'm not working, even though it's theoretically rolled into my rate.
- JoeAltmaier 12y ago
  Add another column to your life ledger: satisfaction. If you're not getting the time with your spouse you should, then that column would show it. Personally I value my time with family at about 2X my rack rate. So I resent work interfering with my vacation and not the other way around.
  - beat 12y ago
    Oh, it's not that... my spouse and I simply don't like the same kinds of vacations. So mostly, we vacation separately. We're really good at doing a lot of other things together. My favorite vacations are basically road trips, and she hates long car drives. Her favorite vacations are dance workshops, and I'm not a dancer.

Touche 12y ago

I didn't take the comment as bragging. At least I hope it wasn't meant that way. If the boss doesn't take vacations it makes the employees feel like they shouldn't take (many) either.

beat 12y ago
Exactly. I realize that as the founder/CEO, I set an example for employees. I don't want it to be a bad example. And this is a problem in part because crazed workaholic is kind of wrapped up with the founder mindset, but it's a rotten trait for employees.

rayiner 12y ago

I once spoke to a department head at a D.C. law firm known for its aggressive trial work. He mentioned he took his four weeks every year, including the whole time he was an associate. This is the kind of humble-brag I like to see. "I took my four weeks every year and still {got promoted, got funded, hit profitability, etc}."

beat 12y ago

I consider my lack of vacationing to be a serious problem, something I need to change. Frankly, one of the causes is that my wife and I don't vacation well together. We want different things from vacations. She travels a lot more than I do. And part of it is a couple of years of contracting, when I feel guilty for not getting paid if I'm not working, even though it's theoretically rolled into my rate.

JoeAltmaier 12y ago
Add another column to your life ledger: satisfaction. If you're not getting the time with your spouse you should, then that column would show it. Personally I value my time with family at about 2X my rack rate. So I resent work interfering with my vacation and not the other way around.
- beat 12y ago
  Oh, it's not that... my spouse and I simply don't like the same kinds of vacations. So mostly, we vacation separately. We're really good at doing a lot of other things together. My favorite vacations are basically road trips, and she hates long car drives. Her favorite vacations are dance workshops, and I'm not a dancer.