Startup world is hard. It's exciting. There are a lot of moving pieces, and our success or failure rests squarely on our hard-working shoulders. It's a lot of responsibility. The thing is, there is one key component that makes it a lot more stressful than it needs to be. It's the mentality that startup = workaholism.
John Lee Dumas, founder and host of Entrepreneur on Fire, is the latest of hundreds of founders to laude the workaholic lifestyle of startups. On a recent show he mentioned going on vacation for two weeks, his first vacation in more than 550 daily episodes of Entrepreneur on Fire. That's close to two years without a break. I call foul.
Teaching today's new founders that they need to put in seven days a week, 12+ hour a day, to make it, is just a falsehood. More than that, it can kill productivity and make you absolutely abhor what got you so excited and passionate in the first place.
I have a few questions:
Do you take as much vacation as you want to? Why? Why not?
Do you feel you work at your creative and innovative best every day? Why? Why not?
I've founded seven companies in the last 14 years, and am working on two more at the moment. The first year I worked for someone else, I was cited regularly as being both the most valuable and productive employee, as well as the employee who took the most time off. I was held up as an example of what to do for the rest of the team. I don't say this to brag, but to show that it can be done, and is something every entrepreneur can do if they so choose - enjoy a balanced, integrated life, and produce incredible results both personally and professionally.
Pro tip: Take time to exercise your mind in different ways than work: It could be traveling, hobbies, dinners with friends, yoga, partying your ass off, having sex, or going to the spa. You will be more productive when you get back to your laptop.
Living a balanced life means you don't have to make choices between work and play, between your business goals and your life objectives. You don't have to put your life on hold to reach your business objectives. You get to have it all.
Please help me share this philosophy, so our new founders don't burn out, don't hate what they once loved, and can be their most creative and productive selves. If you agree and have insight to share, or disagree, let me know! I'm eager to continue the conversation.
