Comments on: Burnout

By: Hans

Hans — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:10:35 +0000

I have never experienced burnout, but I never knew it could influence your physical perception this much

I work in the show business (I’m a life sound engineer) and got married 5 years ago. I quit a job as road manager, because it had meant that I was gone 9 months out of the year and my job was any waking minute. I’m still in the local life sound business now, but have tried to really cut down on the time worked (essentially, I’m working as much as I need to support my life). In return this now gives me enough time to do other things (ie: starting silly little companies that have not gone anywhere yet) and I hope to get out of that crazy business on the long run completely.

I grew up in Germany, and Europeans seem to take life a little bit easier. I am definitely enjoying time with my wife and my two little baby girls.

By: LW

LW — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:00:47 +0000

Agreed with The Chad. I’ve been working 45-60 hour weeks and over the past two years (the first two of my career) I’ve been promoted 5 times, given 4 raises, and taken 3 days off (2 graduations, 1 wedding). I’m exhausted and have zero social life apart from the occasional phone call to my parents. I will leave work on Friday and go home, and not speak to another person, and not leave my apartment again until Monday when I go to work again. Tonight I rationalized why “paid vacation” makes no sense, and am contemplating requesting one day of unpaid time off for the wedding I am attending next month instead of using any of my 10 vacation days this year. It’s 4am and I can’t sleep. Its awful.

Help? I HAVE been promoted 5 times but I don’t even care about the job anymore. I used to LOVE the company I worked for and now I just don’t care.

The Chad poses a very good point. If you don’t kill yourself, you won’t get anywhere in your career. That sucks but that’s just the way it is.

By: Burnout « Entrepreneurial Activism

Burnout « Entrepreneurial Activism — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:13:19 +0000

[...] by Steve Blank's post] Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Update on ProjectJobs_ and On Picking a NameA [...]

By: The Chad

The Chad — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:45:54 +0000

As a young professional looking towards the future and trying to cut my own path, I love hearing about how others built up a stable work-life. Would you be where you are now if you hadn’t worked so hard then? By learning these lessons early am I denying myself future opportunities? I hope to someday reach C-level positions, whether at my own company or through other means, do I need to log 80-hour work weeks to hit my goals?
Thanks for the great insight, I’m so glad I found your site!

By: The Road Not Taken « Steve Blank

The Road Not Taken « Steve Blank — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:02:29 +0000

[...] Burnout [...]

By: Kate McPhail

Kate McPhail — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:08:03 +0000

My “Burnout” caused me to switch professions. I was working and going to school for a second degree in my field; I was spending 14 hours a day dedicated to my job, plus a three hours of commuting, and homework on the weekends. I was overworked and under appreciated. I completely agree that burnout is self -induced! I hope that I have learned my lesson and will not let that happen again. Everyone needs a life outside of work. Thanks for sharing your story.

By: steveblank

steveblank — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:42:08 +0000

Jeff,
It changed over time. It was all about work at first.
See http://steveblank.com/category/familycareer/ for the narrative.

steve

By: Jeff K.

Jeff K. — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:36:45 +0000

Good story. I like your style of using parables, anecdotes, and narratives to convey lessons.

A question in my mind: were you working that hard because you enjoyed the work, or were you working that hard because you enjoyed the act of working? That is, what was the source of your “sheer joy of it”?

By: Maintenance Man

Maintenance Man — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:46:40 +0000

Oh man. You left us with a cliff hanger. Bust out that next post and let us know which job you chose.

By: Tim Pham

Tim Pham — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:03:18 +0000

Love reading your blog, Steve.

My burnout was when I was still finishing my C.S. while doing 2 jobs. I had resolved to get myself back by taking a 2 week-long vacation at a Zen center in Los Angeles. That has changed my life.

Keep it coming..

By: Sean C.

Sean C. — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:36:05 +0000

Nice lessons. I have sympathy for people who burnout, but only so much.

I think any professional has to know their limits and play within them.

“Are ya hurt or are ya injured?”

If you’re injured, it’s better to say so than to let down the team.

I’ve gotten pats on the back for clearly saying “I’m burned out. I’m going home this weekend. I’ll see you all on Monday.”

As one boss said “I’d much rather hear that over the phone than in an exit interview.”

By: objectiveassociates

objectiveassociates — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:47:06 +0000

Good post.

At a particularly busy/stressful time years ago I found that sliding down a flume at a swimming pool helped reset me at the end of the week.

I’m scared of heights and a dreadful swimmer so the rush really flushed out the over tired brain cells.

Seemed to help.

By: Tim Raleigh

Tim Raleigh — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:35:36 +0000

Ya, unfortunately I have experienced, know and understand the feeling, but until I read your account I never would have said (admitted) I had been burned out. Admitting (that I was burned out) is very difficult. Thanks