Ask HN: Can you relate to what this investor says?

5 points by hacker_jumper 14 years ago | 2 comments

This was interesting - In the video Julie Meyer talks about what her investment company looks for in startups and entrepreneurs. What's especially interesting is the 90 hour week.

Personally, I find myself working 90+ hour weeks more often than not with http://www.corsvi.com although recently I've decided to place importance on sleep(!) to keep balanced and healthy (it also helps with thinking clearer).

What do you guys think, can you relate to what Julie talks about? Interested in hearing your views/experiences.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiJtAOBceM8

chris_dcosta 14 years ago |

She's also reasonably popular with the BBC - featuring on their Dragons Den reality TV series, and now in the online version.

I think it's very easy for VCs who court the media to rely on statements like this. They don't have to do the work. But I also think it's pretty irresponsible: it seems to suggest that success requires this level of effort and that if you don't commit yourself to a 90 hour working week, you'll fail. I'd hate to see someone take on a 90hour working week for any extended period without suffering mental and physical issues.

I've no doubt passionate people can live and breath their projects, but that's a different thing altogether. We all know that you can feel like that when you believe in your project and it's going well.

My advice, for what it's worth is give it your best shot, learn when things don't work out, and be prepared to evolve your idea to overcome hurdles.

hugo31370 14 years ago |

Every time a person talk of hours of work as a requirement or measurement a puppy dies. I think she's trying to convey that passion and dedication are key, but the 90 hours reference is unfortunate. Why 90 and not 100 or 80?

Efficiency is they real metric. I know people who can do in 2 hours what for others would take 4 or 5 hours.

Now, I do think if you're passionate about your idea, you're constantly thinking about it, and you're going to spend a lot of sleepless nights in order to build it. I think passion and dedication is a requirement but I don't like the hour mark.