[outworlder]

Isn't this inverting the burden of proof here?

She made the extraordinary claim that she didn't even need to know who or what people were working on, just that they were there on weekends. She provided zero data.

It's just as likely that the weekend working startups are the one that will fail. Obviously by burning out, but also by losing sight of the big picture. This seems stereotypical of hackers coding the latest greatest features with zero customers. They could be seriously misusing their available time.

Companies (startups or not) should be able to set their own pace. People should learn to use their time well and save their energy for when they absolutely need to burn the midnight oil. Besides, getting burned out or sick doesn't help anyone.

[justin_vanw]

If you want to go 'slow and steady' and have great 'work/life balance' (and work with a lot of mediocre people and play a lot of political games..) go get a job at a big company.

Startups are not for that mentality, no startup has ever won by playing it safe and making sure people get plenty of sleep.

[outworlder]

> Startups are not for that mentality, no startup has ever won by playing it safe and making sure people get plenty of sleep.

Who's saying anything about playing it safe? It's all about strategically using your resources, not squandering them. Be it time, money or sleep. It's about engaging your afterburners when you actually need them, not when you are flying in circles.

[justin_vanw]

So what do you do when people work until 11pm every night and keep showing up on Saturday? Tell them to go home?

There are teams where people are having more fun 'kicking ass' and getting things done, and have a great time with the people they are there doing it with, and frankly they would laugh you out of the building (literally) if you even for one second referred to them as 'resources'. I have seen people wander into the office on the weekend just because they were bored (including myself), or were looking to hang out and hack on some stuff. It's not something that burns you out, it's a passion for some people. The good people.

I think you have had a very limited (and limiting) work experience, to be honest.

[exclusiv]

You're assuming the parent advocates discouraging passionate team members which isn't fair. "Resources" and "resourcing" are pretty standard terms esp. in the agency space and with companies using contractors as an example. Not sure why you take so much offense. Perhaps you are referring to co-founders or equity owners that would laugh one out of the building?

The notion that everyone has to grind on weekends to build something successful is ridiculous. Mayer is right about hard work. But she's simplistically equating "time logged" with "hard work".

What's success in this conversation? I'd be willing to bet most the startups that go to her husband's co-working space will fail. That's based on data and more accurate of a statement than hers.

[justin_vanw]

I'm not sure whether you even read my comments. It's not the weekend work that makes the difference, it's having the sort of people that show up on the weekend.

[exclusiv]

Yes I read them all, but I'm not sure you read your own.

"no startup has ever won by playing it safe and making sure people get plenty of sleep"