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Comment by yters | Hacker News Reader

I've wondered when people tell me to be more balanced if it is for my good or because people feel uncomfortable when someone is working very hard on something. I do know I've had better success in things with single minded focus, but when more balanced others find me more interesting. Perhaps I need to balance my periods of balance and being focused.

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I think a lot of people are stressed or sad when they are just going 100% on something difficult. They are probably just looking out for you. When my friends get crazy busy for a long time on something I tell them to take little breaks and balance it out because I know they don't feel good.

For some people though, working all the time doesn't feel bad. That could be the case for you.

The thing that sucks about going 100% on something difficult isn't the thing being difficult, it's when you fail relentless for an extended period of time that makes you burn out.

I've taken a big step back from start up culture. I don't work more than I have to, I travel more, I meet interesting people. The funny part is now I feel more energized and connected with what people really need. Very little of it has to do with apps or algorithms.

My feeling when being in startup mode was essentially the sunk cost fallacy. I've already put this much work in, success must be around the corner. But I look at some of my peers with similar mentalities and you can't help but feel they're too focused on the day to day without realizing the product and demand is garbage. Life is short, enjoy it.

>I do know I've had better success in things with single minded focus

You might have had better success "in things", but did you also had better success in relationships, family and personal health?

Because that's part of the balance thing.

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