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If you look at successful people - no matter if it's in business, sports of mathematics then one thing they have in common is hard and challenging work over lon
by amix 17y ago
If you look at successful people - no matter if it's in business, sports of mathematics then one thing they have in common is hard and challenging work over longer periods of time. You won't get good at golf, programming or business by not practicing it a lot - and others that work harder than you will outperform you at some point, no matter what your initial talents are.
Is hard work an addiction? It probably is, but not like a cocaine addiction, but more like a become-good-at-golf addiction.
Hard work and becoming really good at something requires sacrifices, no matter if it's for sports or startups. And becoming really good at something isn't for everyone.
I want to become really good at what I do, I love my work and I spend a lot of time "working" (or at least practicing). I don't think hard work is a problem and I don't think DHH should tell us that it's a problem. We all have different values in life and we have different ways of achieving success. I mostly work hard because I enjoy it and because I want to become better.
- RyanMcGreal 17y agoHard work != addiction to work.
- amix 17y agoFrom the outside hard work can seem like an addiction and this is what DHH is seeing. What I see are people that are passionate about their work and passionate about succeeding - - they breathe startups just like a upcoming basketball player breathes basketball. And yes, there are some that don't exercise, don't eat healthy, that ruin their friendships - - but I doubt these people would improve their habits by doing something else...
- jimbokun 17y agoWith sports, one of the critical aspects of success is adequate sleep and nutrition (and exercise, obviously). At the very least, sacrificing sleep, nutrition and exercise for "work" is obviously counter-productive, regardless of your personal values.
- amix 17y agoFor the record I ran the last Berlin marathon - - and I think exercising, eating healthy and sleeping well can go well with working hard...