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Comment by eloff | Hacker News Reader

Seems like a justification for mediocrity.

Yeah, you'll enjoy life more if you're not working 100 hours a week like Elon Musk. But I think you'll be in general better off and happier if you push yourself.

I've always worked very hard at my career and it has paid off. I get to do lots of fun things as a result. It was hard in the moment to make the sacrifices, but that's water under the bridge now. Present and future me are very happy past me spent so much effort getting better.

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Is Elon Musk not "semi-rad"? He's seems to have a wide breadth of knowledge in multiple fields (engineering, business). He's not the best at anything other than being himself, which I think is the point.

Elon Musk is not the best in anything? Not even building world changing businesses?

It isn't a binary choice between "rockstar" and "mediocrity". There's a huge area between those two: "semi-rad".

That's the point. Learn to recognize when you've achieved a level of skill where you're qualified more than most, and don't have to double your effort and time to get to the pinnacle. The opportunity cost may not be worth it if you can otherwise spend it pursuing other interests.

Perhaps I just don't understand this semi rad thing. And yeah that makes a certain amount of sense. But it also seems dangerous in that it can easily be used as a justification for underachieving.

I suppose. But at the risk of getting a little meta here: Wouldn't that justification only be relied upon by underachievers in the first place? Anyone looking for a reason to not do more than they are is already in that category I think.

I take it as a "whoa, slow down" message to overachievers that are sacrificing a well-rounded life on the alter of excellence. Maybe they can do more by widening their focus a bit.

Are you suggesting Elon Musk is happier than most? He certainly doesn’t seem happy to me.

No, I suggested that working 100 hours a week like Elon Musk will not likely lead to happiness.

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