Long Hours of Work and Early Morning Are Not the Key to Success
The Economist, a notorious enemy of billionaire worship, says the media (and their consumers) are unhealthily obsessed with the work habits of successful businessmen , especially their long hours and early morning hours. According to the socialist publication, these people became rich and powerful by acting like they wake up at 5:30, we ignore the obvious:
If long hours were the key to success, after all, people with two jobs, or night-shift nurses in emergency departments, would slide into wealth.
Other cliches of management profiles — meditation, forced “off hours,” limited screen time — may seem contradictory, but they all fit the same narrative: that these executives “earn” their status, that the reason they are so much richer the rest of us is that they are more virtuous than the rest of us. Once again The Economist:
No boss would admit that they eat pizza and watch Game of Thrones box sets on Friday nights. Instead, they claim to be meditating or reading augmentation books. Many business profiles are reminiscent of the medieval “Lives of the Saints”, when the subjects of the Lives were given stock options instead of canonization.
These details also show a lot of privilege – you really don’t have as many hours a day as Beyoncé – sometimes a well-deserved privilege, sometimes the very privilege that got these executives up in the first place. Getting up early isn’t what made Tim Cook successful, and getting up late isn’t necessarily what is holding you back.
Neither part of the work habits of successful people is included. In fact, some of our best How I Work profiles are dedicated to successful people who are honest about their failures and shortcomings – and not just in the sense that “damn it, this is what I learned.” For example, we asked bestselling author Roxanne Gay, “What are some of your best everyday activities? What’s your secret? “Her answer:” I am very good at meeting deadlines. My secret is that I do too much projects because of the complete inability to say no. ” Honestly, this is a real role model for you.
So listen to the leading Marxist mouthpiece, The Economist, and don’t let the titans of business convince you that if you wake up two hours early, you will one day be as rich as they are. Everyone must find their own way. Life is not a meritocracy. And the most successful people are those who do not impersonate demigods.
The Annoying Habits of Highly Effective People | Economist