Comments on: Why More Stress Is Not Inevitable

By: Josh P.

Josh P. — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:52 +0000

Rejected title "Hey Fred Wilson, Read This"

By: deva_hazari2084

deva_hazari2084 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:52 +0000

Excellent post. Many people could benefit from changes like that. So much of what people get stressed out about is the illusion of being busy and urgent and always connected, which often doesn't really have all that much to do with actually getting stuff done. Most of those people would end up being more productive and giving higher quality output if they focused on getting some rest and balance in the ways you mention. Here's a related blog that's pretty interesting and makes some good points: http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/966-urgency-is...

By: peter_hove12341

peter_hove12341 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:52 +0000

Thanks for the inspiration. I now have my Blackberry set to automatically turn itself off at night.

By: Ian Lamont

Ian Lamont — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:52 +0000

The advice about not checking email at night is helpful, as is the general theme of shutting off access to networked communications when work is over, whether its email, IM, or a mobile phone. The term "workaholic" has been around for decades, but the electronic element makes the situation far more pervasive.

By: bijan

bijan — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:52 +0000

Great post brad. I needed it.

By: Emil Sotirov

Emil Sotirov — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:52 +0000

Thank you for the "sane" voice on this matter!

Too many people project their own "busy-ness" (especially in terms of answering phone calls and emails anytime, anywhere) as an outward measure of their irreplaceability. It's like saying all the time to the people who happen to be around you – you see, I'm constantly needed somewhere else, by other people… It's a high school level of social levereging – i.e. total BS!

By: BD

BD — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:52 +0000

I think it comes down to defining what you want. I strongly agree with Emil above that many people use stress/business as a measure of "irreplaceability." Unfortunately for them, "busy-ness" doesn't matter, only results do. I know I've fallen into this routine quite often. "Feeling busy" is completely different from actually getting things done.

By: Franchise Whale

Franchise Whale — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:52 +0000

Really enjoyed it, I wanted to click out and
you kept pulling me back in! Many thanks
and keep up the great work!

By: Franchise Whale

Franchise Whale — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:52 +0000

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing, one fresh
idea and you can change the world, keep
up the great work.

By: Marc Averitt

Marc Averitt — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:52 +0000

Amen, brother! Your story sounds eerily similar to what I experienced during my last few years at Intel. I was away from home ~15 nights a month in places like Russia, China, South America, and other "far away" places. I chose to leave it all behind a few years ago (upon the birth of my son) and haven't really looked back since. I'm now a "local" VC in SoCal and loving every minute of it. Life is truly short — live it stress free.