SubscribeTalk: Work/Life Balance and Blood Sweat and Tears
Published by cornelius on Friday, April 17th, 2009 in Entrepreneurship.Tags: ambitions, startup life, sweat & tear, work/life balance
A great polarizing talk ‘Work/Life Balance and Blood Sweat and Tears‘, on the one side Tom Nixon opting for a startup with a work/life balance to be happy while building the business, on the other side well-known Jason Calacanis opting for the excellence with regards of putting all your time and passion into this one real business to change the world and to become big and tremendously successful.
Why do I blog this? It’s good to have talks about work/life balance, a topic never attracting attention in the startupsphere and maybe for good reasons. As an entrepreneur you cannot finish a regular work day and stop thinking about your company, you are always with your thoughts involved into shaping the business and you have to because it has a tremendous impact on your future, your ambitions and your goals in life, don’t forget potential investors and your own money involved. BUT it’s all about productivity, efficiency, finding the flow, creativity and different perspectives and there is a demand for getting a clear mind, a new view on the company and some relaxing moments to get new energy, nothing better than being motivated when starting a new work day. How a company evolves, lifestyle business or not, and how big the potential is, is in my opinion not directly the founders decision but the question of market, technology, company setup, your business network or the innovation potential of your products.
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April 24th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Wow, what a disappointment! I’ve had great respect for Jason Calcanis’ vision and have benefited tremendously from his advice in the past. But, I’m very disappointed, if not suprised, that a recognized leader among entrepreneurs and webworkers would take such a hardcore, elitist, Jack Welch-ian approach to talent and the workplace.
Throughout his presentation, he accuses companies who value work/life balance of being mediocre and claims excellence (and millions) only come to those who sacrifice it all for the sake of the almighty dollar.
Unfortunately, Tom Nixon failed to highlight companies like Microsoft, RSM McGladrey and others who are at the top of their game, whose employees have made millions, and who have proved that the longest lasting productivity gains come from valuing both the lives and the work of employees who contribute.
Jason is playing the short-game in an industry that still benefits from tremendous growth. This marks a missed opportunity for a well-known leader to tout values that go beyond money and to offer a vision of the future for Gen Y’s that encompasses both ambition and a personal life. Shame!
April 24th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Thanks for the comment.
I agree, hardcore opinion, just working 14 hour days does not mean crazy financial success after some years. Also successful companies need by far more than 3 years to grow and create value so you should give yourself some time to relax and work on a long-time execution of your vision without any burn-outs and a bloody path of success for only a handful of persons.