Was slaving/living at work worth it?

I spent years working 60 hours a week. It was not worth it. No one says at the end of their life, “Darn, I wish I had worked more hours.”

Instead, they are bemoaning not spending time with friends and family.

I used to bust my butt to get everything anyone wanted accomplished and think that was a good thing but after so many projects that I did and others took credit for it. I quit putting in the hours. Now I work the hours I have to and no more.

I never wanted to be a workaholic. I wanted to spend more time with my children (when I had them). So I never did. I worked 8 hour days mostly.

It did cost me, however. I always wondered how much I was really worth in the labor market. I felt less valued because, even though I don’t believe income determines worth, there is a part of me that measures myself by that standard and I found myself wanting.

I’ve gotten very lucky in that I have a job that pays me what I think is a good salary (I really don’t have anyone but my wife to compare myself to), and I don’t have to work that hard. I can spend a lot of time doing what I really enjoy and I do that about ten hours per day. Maybe more. It’s an amazing thing, but there’s always this bit of guilt lurking around that I shouldn’t have it this easy and it’ll come crashing down when they figure it out. My department will be cut. Maybe that will give me the motivation to write the damn book.

Anyway, I’m glad I get to do something I really enjoy, and I put many hours into it even though I get paid nothing. Is it worth it? I’m still doing it, aren’t I?

I believe in working hard so that I can play harder later. Unfortunately I’ve been working for 10 + years and I haven’t even been able to afford a vacation yet.

Nope. Work to live. Don’t live to work.

From experience I know it’s better to a job you find fullfilling for less money than one you don’t that pays well. Yes, you need to earn a certain amount to be comfortable (roof over your head, eat etc) but the cost of happyness is often a lot less than you imagine.

It was worth it because I didn’t do it for long, and won’t do it again regularly. I was part of a historic event, and it was worth it for that. However, for the mundane events the same sort of work, although not as extreme, would be required. So…that’s not worth it at all.

I’d rather have my life than be successful at something that people will remember me for after I’m dead. I’m dead – what the hell do I care at that point?

I love working and regularly pull 60 hour weeks. But there’s absolutely a direct correlation between how hard I work and how successful my store is. It’s not busywork if you delegate effectively and use your time wisely. I spend a big chunk of my time planning and implementing new ideas, learning new things, and training the staff. We use e-mail a lot to talk to the home office, so everybody knows what everyone is doing- there’s really no way to steal credit. But even so, the best way to get credit for what you do is be proactive. Instead of waiting for a pat on the back, send out a quick e-mail that says, “Hey, look what I did!”