I don't disagree with anything here. Great rundown of why mentally healthy people don't rise to the top of the business ladder. Now the question is, even if you grant that maximal economic growth requires this kind of culture -- the one where the good version is you're available 24/7 but only sit down to work beyond DMs any time 24/7 if your boss directly asks you to -- is it worth having the kind of society this creates to chase extra basis points of economic growth?
Really well structured post. I agree with all your suggestions and tactics, and I would also encourage the reader to think about "availability" not like a chore but an opportunity.
If you find interest in your work, then being available won't be hard. I only have one mobile phone, and I use it for both personal and work stuff. Over the weekend or after 5pm I normally use my phone and, if I happen to receive a work email, I surely read it.
With my boss, I normally interact on WhatsApp, so there are truly no boundaries, and it's fine!
I like the “opportunity” phrasing. It leads to another point: do something you are passionate about. That helps reduce the chance you see things as nuisance requests and instead adress because you’re truly interested.
I think you’ve articulated why women with no children have risen so fast in big companies…fewer distractions and less boundary-setting ‘ego’…if you a modern male focused on their family, you will be less available than childless female peers…
I think the hard thing about this advice is you have to be checking your emails/slacks all the time even is 99% of the of hours stuff is unimportant...
So you run a company for people with wives and are not concerned about supporting the professional ambitions of people married to folks like you. Way to acknowledge the privilege your spouse has created for you and then choose to perpetuate that inequality for future generations rather than seeking to see a way to a better, fairer world.
I agree, this is how you “play the game” when living in a late-stage capitalist, patriarchal society. I very much look forward to “the game” being turned on its head as more gender- and racial- diverse leaders start running the show. Change is coming.
Great outcomes don’t come without a ton of force being put upon a challenge. Great things don’t happen by working 30 hours a week. Transformational things happen when people obsess over problems until they figure out the answers.
Do I think people should work every weekend or all the time? No, of course not. Leaders should try to be reasonable. I think the authors lay out a reasonable outline if you want to have access and move your career forward.
But, if you are looking for a more European style system then you’ll get those results — PE ratios worth half US companies and maybe only one outlier startup with massive growth (Spotify) during this century.
I’ve yet to meet a successful business leader (male or female) or parent for that matter who doesn’t obsess over problems. Obsession doesn’t always follow normal business hours.
We’re talking about two different things here—leaders vs those who support your vision. I would never require or expect my employees, freelancers, and other creatives I lead to share that same level of obsession. Yes, it takes an incredible amount of obsession to realize a vision but an equal amount of empathy and perspective to be a great leader.
I was starting to think this too. The work world is kind of divided between the obsessives and the rest. I think if you think you have the opportunity to get rich in your role then being obsessive can be exciting. Trick is to be a leader who communicates that the future is bright if you will be obsessive with me!
Unfortunately, being available isn’t the price you pay to get ahead, it’s the price of admission. Don’t play along? You won’t make it out of probation. All the cool people are in there but also a lot of poor bastards like me who never get noticed or promoted.
This is so obvious and the fact that we created a culture to reject is absurd. What? You need me time to scroll insta? You need me time to take a selfie? Are you playing in your kids games? It takes 20 minutes a day extra to be a star.
I don't disagree with anything here. Great rundown of why mentally healthy people don't rise to the top of the business ladder. Now the question is, even if you grant that maximal economic growth requires this kind of culture -- the one where the good version is you're available 24/7 but only sit down to work beyond DMs any time 24/7 if your boss directly asks you to -- is it worth having the kind of society this creates to chase extra basis points of economic growth?
Really well structured post. I agree with all your suggestions and tactics, and I would also encourage the reader to think about "availability" not like a chore but an opportunity.
If you find interest in your work, then being available won't be hard. I only have one mobile phone, and I use it for both personal and work stuff. Over the weekend or after 5pm I normally use my phone and, if I happen to receive a work email, I surely read it.
With my boss, I normally interact on WhatsApp, so there are truly no boundaries, and it's fine!
I like the “opportunity” phrasing. It leads to another point: do something you are passionate about. That helps reduce the chance you see things as nuisance requests and instead adress because you’re truly interested.
I agree with your points but also live for the day people don’t care about what they do for a living and it’s the least interesting thing about them.
Erm this is a good outline of how to play the old game. Can we reinvent it though, please?
Great piece that takes a contrarian view to current popular anti-hustle trends while acknowledging healthy limits.
One more thing to remember, don’t assume what the culture of your company is.
Use two important tactics to help your truly understand what matters in your organization:
1. Observe — just as you did at AOL and how senior executives behaved.
2. Ask — build trusted relationships with senior leaders and insiders who influence the top of the food chain.
You can’t go wrong by observing how people live out your company values and by asking those nearest the top what is really going on and why.
I think you’ve articulated why women with no children have risen so fast in big companies…fewer distractions and less boundary-setting ‘ego’…if you a modern male focused on their family, you will be less available than childless female peers…
I think the hard thing about this advice is you have to be checking your emails/slacks all the time even is 99% of the of hours stuff is unimportant...
So you run a company for people with wives and are not concerned about supporting the professional ambitions of people married to folks like you. Way to acknowledge the privilege your spouse has created for you and then choose to perpetuate that inequality for future generations rather than seeking to see a way to a better, fairer world.
I agree, this is how you “play the game” when living in a late-stage capitalist, patriarchal society. I very much look forward to “the game” being turned on its head as more gender- and racial- diverse leaders start running the show. Change is coming.
Uh. I disagree.
Great outcomes don’t come without a ton of force being put upon a challenge. Great things don’t happen by working 30 hours a week. Transformational things happen when people obsess over problems until they figure out the answers.
Do I think people should work every weekend or all the time? No, of course not. Leaders should try to be reasonable. I think the authors lay out a reasonable outline if you want to have access and move your career forward.
But, if you are looking for a more European style system then you’ll get those results — PE ratios worth half US companies and maybe only one outlier startup with massive growth (Spotify) during this century.
I’ve yet to meet a successful business leader (male or female) or parent for that matter who doesn’t obsess over problems. Obsession doesn’t always follow normal business hours.
We’re talking about two different things here—leaders vs those who support your vision. I would never require or expect my employees, freelancers, and other creatives I lead to share that same level of obsession. Yes, it takes an incredible amount of obsession to realize a vision but an equal amount of empathy and perspective to be a great leader.
I was starting to think this too. The work world is kind of divided between the obsessives and the rest. I think if you think you have the opportunity to get rich in your role then being obsessive can be exciting. Trick is to be a leader who communicates that the future is bright if you will be obsessive with me!
I think Bernie and AOC are all about enhancing the lives of all our citizens.
Unfortunately, being available isn’t the price you pay to get ahead, it’s the price of admission. Don’t play along? You won’t make it out of probation. All the cool people are in there but also a lot of poor bastards like me who never get noticed or promoted.
So, CEOs are Regina George. Got it. Checks out, actually.
Great distinction between working and being available.
The best ability is availability.
This is unimpeachably true — not sure why people try to claim otherwise.
Great article
This is so obvious and the fact that we created a culture to reject is absurd. What? You need me time to scroll insta? You need me time to take a selfie? Are you playing in your kids games? It takes 20 minutes a day extra to be a star.