Entrepreneurs: Don’t Forget About This One Thing
It matters more than you think.
I recently wrote an article here on Medium about how the 40-hour work week has become an American myth:
We are overworked:
US workers report that, on average, they work 47 hours per week, and 4/10 work more than 50.
But what about entrepreneurs and CEO’s? How many hours do they work?
According to a study of over 250 top Executives and Founders, they work an average of at least 60 hours per week.
The rise of entrepreneurship has brought with it an overwork glorification. We are obsessed — myself included — with hustling and working ourselves to the extreme.
Look, I understand the importance of working hard and being disciplined. Back in college, as an NCAA basketball player, I was in the gym until 3 am every Friday and Saturday night while my friends were out partying. Now, as a freelance writer, I write thousands and thousands of words every single day. I outwork people.
But I am still surprised to this day about how many great leaders forget to take care of one crucial thing — their health.
You won’t be successful for much longer if you don’t get in shape.
Even Gary Vaynerchuk, the hustle-prophet, understands this:
“I was working eighteen-hour days, taking every meeting I could, running an agency, investing, and spending time with my family. But I wasn’t making any time for my health. It wasn’t a priority.”
“What’s the matter with me?” was something I thought a lot back then. If I don’t fix this, I’m going to die. I’m going to lose.
Here’s what I don’t understand:
How can CEO’s and entrepreneurs call themselves disciplined and still completely disregard their health?
How can they talk about “long-term thinking” and not realize their health won’t allow them to get there?
How can they go on and on about ROI’s and not understand there’s no better investment than being healthy?
Now, I am not saying you allocate 5 hours a day towards being an Olympic athlete. But…
can you not invest 30 minutes a day, four times a week in your health?
Don’t you want to see your business grows? Or your kids?
Don’t you want to be energized so that you can operate at your best?
Don’t you think your body deserves the same self-improvement effort than your brain does?
Gary Vaynerchuk gets it:
A year and a half ago, I was eating like crap, not working out, and generally feeling awful. It was a tough life, and I realized quickly that I couldn’t sustain a life like that. It was impossible. So I hired a trainer to force me to be better. I made an enormous lifestyle shift, and I am so happy I did.
What’s stopping you?
Money? — No need for a personal trainer. Either go to the gym or work out at home.
Time? — 2 hours a week in exchange for a drastically better living? Seems like a great deal.
Know-how? — There’s hundreds of free information on the Internet. Just find a routine that you enjoy and make it a habit.
Seriously, there’s nothing more important than your health. You only have one life and one body.
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