People say " you can set your own hours." That's true. We can choose whatever 70 hours we want, as long as no emergency crops up.

It is a matter of perception. A successful entrepreneur will have a million bosses, if you think of it that way. You do not really work for yourself unless you have a self-sufficient farm (which, actually, is a myth: everyone except Crusoe trades).

I always think of my employer as just another customer. Back in the 90s, the gurus tried to sell "intrapreneuring". It actually went against the true nature of complex organizations, so it was doomed to be abandoned. However, it made perfect sense to me then, and still does. When I run out of things to do at my desk at work, I shop myself or my department around to other offices, looking for more work. I do not believe in "cost centers." I think that every department can be a "profit center" if you think about delivering value.

To me, that is what cuts to the meaning here. Von Mises pointed out that for creative people, there is no idle time, only productive time or frustration.

I'd work even more hours so long mas they're mine & no one else's

As the boss said watch your log book boy cause we are gonna be busy this week and next. Heard that so many times I just wait till the next time. I love capitalism. Show me the money.

Entrepreneurs seek creativeness and challenge rather than security like most people do.

Does anyone remember the "90 hours per week and loving it" shirts that Apple employees wore in the 1970s and early 1980s?

I would work more than 80 hours per week if I didn't get sick every time I tried to do so. Hence, I take my breaks here on Galtsgulchonline!

When I use to be self employed, I would joke about making it so someday I could only work half days. A half a day to an entrepreneur is only 12 hours. I salute all market entrepreneurs.

Hey friends! I am brand new to this community, but not new to Objectivism. Also a fair amount of experience doing entrepreneurial things but still learning and doing much more.


I believe passionately that we need to encourage and enable more Objectivist entrepreneurs. I've wondered for many years why this Venn diagram doesn't have more overlap. :-) Who's with me on that? And how can we use Galts Gulch Online to make more progress towards that?! That's a big reason why I'm here now. Thanks for any more discussion on this old thread. It's new to me. Brett

It was really great when we bootstrapped the business. During the day, Wm and I could go around demo-ing our software to lab owners during business hours, then after work was over we could go to the lab we had sold a few weeks earlier and work on the installation there. Two! Two! Two workdays in one!

(I ended up suggesting to Wm that he get an introduction tag to put on his suit when he went home at night, "Hello. My Name Is William. I am your Husband." That way his wife would know who he was when he came in the front door.)

Now things are better. I do not miss the 14 hour days or spending all my time on the road. I still like the 'making neat things' part, though.

Jan

Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven.

These are the people that think they have something unique to offer the world, are willing to bet on it, and thrive on each day's tiny successes!

I salute all of them as well.