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Working smart is more important than working hard
I used to be one of those guys who thought that if you put in long hours, got lots of email and had numerous people reporting to you then you were important and worked hard. It wasn’t until I got into one of those positions that I realized that being in middle management is no different than being the top guy in the proletarian class.
One day I just woke up to the lie.
I was working for a very boring software company in Provo. The business had no growth and the employee base was less than enthusiastic about the direction of the company. When I first arrived at the company I was very busy working under the previous managers processes. Then I quickly realized that my department was very inefficient. So I started to change things. Then I noticed that when I changed one thing, other things got easier too. Soon I found myself getting all my work done in about one hour then the rest of the day was spent doing things like putting out fires, studying for test (I was in MBA school at the time), and improving my already improved processes.
Some people might think that sounds lazy. I think I just figured out how to work smart. Most managers and entrepreneurs don’t work smart they work stupid. Most managers and entrepreneurs who put in 12+ hour days are unproductive, bad at time/resource management and are just plain crazy! If you’re working at 3 am in the morning you need to figure out what’s wrong with you and what’s wrong inside your organization. Working long hours for the sake of working long hours is a model that is not sustainable and will eventually catch up to you. You’ll either burn out and blow your cover, develop health problems or get a divorce (or all of the above).Â
I don’t want to wake up and be 60 years old and have worked myself into nothing but a bunch of health problems, a divorce and screwed up kids. Hey, at least you made some money…right? Blah! This is basically the whole idea around retirement and its screwed up! I don’t want my best years to pass me by in a windowless office. Your 60’s are not your best years. The years you’re in the office are your best years. Ask anyone who is retired and they will tell you I am right. Â
The amount of time you work, the amount of email you get and the amount of people who report to you does not impress me. Show me value. I don’t care if you’re in the office for six hours per day as long as things are getting done, things are moving forward and you’re creating value.  Working smart means exceeding the boss’s expectations and then leaving enough time for you to have a life.
I feel sorry for people who work an hourly rate (Lawyers, CPA, most consultants). Professionals who work for an hourly rate are no different than the people who work for minimum wage at 7-11 - they are constrained by time. One just makes more than the other. The constant time barrier makes it impossible for the person to earn outside of work. Therefore, it becomes difficult to leave any real time for yourself because you only make money when you are actually working.
But isn’t this how it works? Â
No. This is why I love the Internet. Internet companies make money whether you are there or not. I’m writing this post on a Sunday night. I guarantee that Podango is making money right now. I don’t have to be there to make someone click an ad or listen to a podcast - it’s happening and Podango is making money without me there.
So think about it. Are you just working hard long hours for the sake of working long hard hours or are you actually adding value and working smart while still maintaining a life outside of work?
So that all said - Sundance opens at the end of the month. Who’s up for a little Mountainpalooza!!!
I’m in for the Mountainpalooza. Just let me know when.
BTW, great thoughts. You’ve been reading the 4 hour work week, hugh? Great book, I read almost all of it over the weekend.
Left by Jeremy on 05/07/2007Great insight. I’m sending a link to this post to all of my co-workers.
Left by Alan Bradford on 05/08/2007@Jer:
You’re on!
Left by Chris Knudsen on 05/08/2007@Alan:
Thanks!
Left by Chris Knudsen on 05/08/2007Chris,
I really like this post. After 18 months, I’ve finally learned the ridiculously difficult–yet simple–lesson that excessive & long hours are bad. Period.
It may be a simple concept, but it has life-sucking consequences when ignored.
Providing value is the way to go. And I completely agree on the hourly thing– why is this archaic employment structure even used anymore? Timecards– seriously?
Left by Carolynn Duncan on 05/08/2007