I was recently exposed to a video by Gary Vaynerchuk. I had not been previously aware of Mr. Vaynerchuk’s style of “coaching” and this is the first video of his that I had seen. At first I thought he was just over the top but then I realized that the advice that he was giving could really lead to a health disaster. He may be speaking to his primary audience, which I understand is the college age “entrepreneur.” But having this video as my first exposure to Mr. Vaynerchuk’s method of coaching really felt like a slap in the face as a more mature entrepreneur who works full-time and works the rest of my waking hours to build a business.
His methods are not for everyone. I personally feel that if a young person invests late hours in their business (Mr. Vaynerchuk recommends working from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.) after working a full-time job he/she MIGHT be able to be successful. But the long-term effects of working long hours does not always equal success. In many cases, this is a recipe for disaster – for your health. Even if you are not doing the things that are mentioned in his video, like watching TV or playing video games, there is no guarantee that you will be successful. Success takes so much more than putting in long hours. To say that all it takes to be successful is working long hours late into the night trivializes how much work it takes to build a business. As a health coach, I would not advise anyone to work to 2 a.m., especially after working a full-time job. That’s a sure way to burn out.
It’s been shown that working long hours leads to less productivity. [1] Working past your ability to maintain clarity and focus, leads to exhaustion, chronic stress and even depression. It’s really necessary to learn to work smarter, not harder or longer hours. It’s best to manage your level of energy, rather than the number of hours. You don’t need more time, you need energy. If you feel your energy flagging, it’s time for rest and recovery. Stop feeling like you have to do everything yourself and prioritize. Most of all, self-care is critical. Eat well – whole, unprocessed foods, drink plenty of clean, filtered water and get adequate rest. Even if it takes you a little longer to be successful, at least you will have your health to enjoy it. Working long hours for a year or two or more can cause a total burn out – which can lead to weight gain, gut disorders and so much more.
Balance the various aspects of your life. Work, play, rest and recovery are all important. Don’t sacrifice one over another just because a person in a video makes you feel you’re not working hard enough. Don’t pay the price of your health for success. Without health, wealth cannot be enjoyed.
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