[jblake]

I run my solo bootstrapped SaaS business and have put in consistent 80-100 hour weeks (total computer time) for the past 4 years and am 60-85% "productive" (according to RescueTime). Of course there have been some odd weeks of only 20 hours (...and some 120). Not really proud of it. It is what it is. It's been working. I think in the next 2 years I'll be able to figure it all out and taper down (which I really look forward to!). It's just that every hour adds such clear value to the company... so I keep going. The hours come easy when its all yours. I've had a programming job before and could hardly stay awake for the 8 hours... let alone be productive!

[Someone1234]

I can understand the motivation of investing so much time when you personally get to reap all of the rewards, but do you ever worry about burnout? Seems like you've been going at 100% for two years now, how long more can that continue before your mental or physical health takes a beating? When was the last time you took a vacation/holiday?

[jblake]

Worrying or thinking about burnout would condition me to inevitably burnout. It doesn't really even enter my mind, because I know it will just make me and the business weaker. I simply look at it like: I want a successful business that gives me freedom to do what I want. Bootstrapped, staying small, and making money is the path towards that for me. I've been going 100% for 4 years, so I think if I were to ever burnout then that would have happened already. I take "workcations" somewhat regularly.

[fantominous]

I feel this sort of thing depends from person to person - I enjoy programming and would probably enjoy it even more if I were doing it for myself, but I still can't imagine putting in 80-100 hours a week Elon Musk style.

I guess my stamina is just lower than yours.

[antb123]

Up 6:26 AM - Office 7:36 - work to 5 PM - 1.5 hour break broken up during the day. 6:30pm to 11:30 PM coding - 6.5 days a week. Mixture of Deep work and Management.