How hard do you work? (And for how long?)
- Thread starter Mick Dempsey
- Start date
Mick Dempsey
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- France
Srsly?
In general yes. The difference between working 8 or 12 hour days or 4 or 6 days a week is mostly insignificant. And the personal costs are usually not worth it.
Obviously there are those rare cases where someone blows up and goes rags to riches, but they're the exception.
Serf Life
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Maine Island
He is certainly right imo with thought out decisions for future ease. Working an extra 10 hrs a week without a plan/investment for that effort is how Boom describes it. We’ll be stuck in serfdom save for a plan that bears fruit, luck, or rich relatives who die.
Muggs
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Canuckistan
I've just never believed in the modern concept of retirement, as sold to us by the baby boomers. This idea that we'll just work our asses off until we're 65, and as long as we've been putting enough away into mutual funds or whatever, earning compound interest at 8% blah blah blah then we'll never have to work again, and we just enjoy our golden years in peaceful tranquility, to me is bullshit. It's not going to be my future, and it sure as hell won't be my kids' future. I lived through the 80's and 90's, I know how good we had it, and how easy things were. But that time is over and it's not coming back.
For me, I also have the fact that my dad died at 43. I'm now 42. I think a lot about how short life is and how fast it goes. Every year is the shortest year of my life. I was 13 when he died and all I remember everyone saying was how young he was. I didn't get it back then. 40 sounds old to a kid. I get it now, I think about it all the time.
My wife and I made the conscious decision 10 years ago to purposely work less than we could, to spend more time with our kids. We sacrificed to get our family out of the city, to live in the middle of nowhere and homeschool. She quit her job at the hospital and I went to 4 days a week. I could have gone to work for Hydro and be making more than double what I make now. She could have stayed in a career and be making lots of money. We could ship our kids off to government school like everyone else. But we choose to work and earn less than we can, for the time being. It's a sacrifice. I'll work more when I'm older. I know that sounds crazy to some, but I've never planned on retiring. Lost money can always be made back later. Lost time is gone forever.
For me, I also have the fact that my dad died at 43. I'm now 42. I think a lot about how short life is and how fast it goes. Every year is the shortest year of my life. I was 13 when he died and all I remember everyone saying was how young he was. I didn't get it back then. 40 sounds old to a kid. I get it now, I think about it all the time.
My wife and I made the conscious decision 10 years ago to purposely work less than we could, to spend more time with our kids. We sacrificed to get our family out of the city, to live in the middle of nowhere and homeschool. She quit her job at the hospital and I went to 4 days a week. I could have gone to work for Hydro and be making more than double what I make now. She could have stayed in a career and be making lots of money. We could ship our kids off to government school like everyone else. But we choose to work and earn less than we can, for the time being. It's a sacrifice. I'll work more when I'm older. I know that sounds crazy to some, but I've never planned on retiring. Lost money can always be made back later. Lost time is gone forever.
Patrick you still live near London correct? I grew up there in the 80s. I am 56. Life then was insanely easy. What a beautiful city. My bedt friend from high school still lives there up by the fairgrounds. Works in a casino there. I might visit in the near future. You are doing it right. Retirement is nonsense. I am 56. Will work til I die. Play at the same time. Spend all my time with my 2 youngest. They are 11 and 9. I like living on the edge makes me feel alive. Wife is a teacher. Love reading the different perspectives on work. I work to live, saving my body.
Muggs
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Canuckistan
Hey Paul, yes I'm outside of London. You bringing your climbing gear?
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
I don't get this.
macrocarpa
Branched out member
- Location
- Midwest
I should add for us solo operators, we typically do the work of 2-3 people solo. Therefore, 2.5 days/week is surely fulltime 
If I work 4 days/week I’m basically working 8 days a week.
If I work 4 days/week I’m basically working 8 days a week.
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You're limited by the number of hours in a day, your physical and mental limitations, and a system that doesn't reward the hard workers.
Passive income, exploitation, and to a lesser degree higher education are the best ways to generate significant wealth. Not putting in more hours.
VenasNursery
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Michigan
So I learned a long time ago I wasn’t no smarter than the average
So
If I worked longer and harder than average I would have more wealth than average
Really simple
I don't disagree with that, but more than average does not equal rich. If you're content with being average and finding enrichment in things other than money then time is much more valuable.
It boils down to what you gives you the most fulfilment and enjoyment out of life.
VenasNursery
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Michigan
Happiness has to be in the equation no doubt or what is the point
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
Ever heard the phrase, "I don't make any money until Friday"?
The concept is that M-Th covers overhead, Friday is all profit.
The concept is that M-Th covers overhead, Friday is all profit.
VenasNursery
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Michigan
It also depends on what you’re comparing yourself to
My class of 96
Small businesses owner
Politicians
Oil tycoon’s
Average income of your country
definition of wealth and is measured differently
My class of 96
Small businesses owner
Politicians
Oil tycoon’s
Average income of your country
definition of wealth and is measured differently
I've actually never heard of that. Doesn't relate to my business, but I could see how it would to larger operations
data farm 26
Been here a while
- Location
- Casablanca
My overhead is usually covered by about noon on Monday.
data farm 26
Been here a while
- Location
- Casablanca
Comparison is dangerous imo because you can only really know the external reality of a person's life most of the time. But I do it all the time anyways, it's probably a natural or instinctual behavior.
In a material sense, I like to think of global and or historical circumstances for humans. In that regard most alive in the USA today are doing very well, comparatively. Also in the sense of education and our access to information is truly unprecedented.
Spiritually and emotionally we seem unfulfilled imo. Supposedly Jesus said it'd be easier for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle than it would be for a rich man to enter heaven. Ideas like this and stories like "the pearl" are interesting to me. They help guide me in my laziness.
cody willard
Participating member
- Location
- Tulsa
I have an incredible wife, and 4 kiddos ages 3 to 7. It’s hard for me to split my energy into different categories, because I just want to focus on one and master it, but that’s not possible in life. My kiddos will be out of the house here in 13 years, and my wife will always be by my side. I have to turn the burner down and realize that these are the most important years of my life, so that’s why I take every Saturday and Sunday off, and make sure I’m home by 5 to 530 every day. I have to set a strict routine to keep me in line.I think it’s an interesting thing to think about. I personally am a very unidimensional person.
Even as a child I would obsess on topics until I knew every specifications or concept. “My earliest memory was being 13 years old and shopping for a mountain bike with my dad, the manager overheard me finding the right one. After purchasing, he asked my father if I could work the shop and sales for them during my summer break”.
I was obsessed with mountain bikes from the age of 13 to 16, and I was working 90 hours a week during the summer as a 14-year-old, saving up to pay for my downhill mountain biking hobby. “I learned hard work paid off when I dropped $3700 in cash for a Kona Stab Supreme at 14 years of age”.
Eventually, my obsession went to firearms, I collected almost every HK handgun made, including a Mark 23, but I didn’t own them all at the same time, but sold and traded it up when possible. Also had a heck of a custom built M1A. Eventually, I sold my whole collection to pay for my wife and I’s wedding. We got married at age is 19 and 21, (we are nine years in). At that point in life, I had to figure out how to split my unidimensional mind, investing into more categories, such as faith, marriage, and work.
I started working with trees at the age of 17 and got hooked and haven’t stopped since. I still struggle to this day to split my mind and prioritize, so it’s definitely been a slow improvement over the years, but my natural default would be to work 100+ hours a week. That’s what my mind and body craves, to get lost in the sauce.
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