[MrTonyD]

I've consistently found that strategy had far more impact on schedules and success than the frenetic approach I've seen at companies in the past decade. Over and over again, I see companies with poor product or poor marketing or poor sales or poor management that are trying to coax more from their employees - claiming that hard work will solve their problems.

Just as consistently, I've found well managed companies to have more sane hours (with occasional exceptions of course - eg. greedy founders) and that good strategy leads to successful tactics and markets that can fund a more sane work life. I should add that I'm over 50 and spent my entire career in Silicon Valley - lots of startups and a couple of Fortune 50s. I've had the Product Manager title three times. Had my share of both successes and failures.