LinkedIn's cofounder Reid Hoffman says seeking work-life balance is a red flag(fortune.com)
fortune.com
LinkedIn's cofounder Reid Hoffman says seeking work-life balance is a red flag
https://fortune.com/2025/04/02/reid-hoffman-says-the-best-founders-dont-have-work-life-balance-anything-short-means-theyre-not-committed-to-winning/
6 comments
I agree, I've always felt that its something that is necessary for much younger founders who this sort of material is aimed at. They don't have the experience so have to work hard to gain that experience, older founders would be making decisions from a much more seasoned standpoint and knowing what to expect in their domain so wouldn’t or not a much.
That said the cynic in me thinks it’s just a load of narcissistic clap trap that people tell themselves that it was all hard work and not their: Geography, network, Net worth that made the difference. The truth is all are going to be factors generalised as “Luck”.
That said the cynic in me thinks it’s just a load of narcissistic clap trap that people tell themselves that it was all hard work and not their: Geography, network, Net worth that made the difference. The truth is all are going to be factors generalised as “Luck”.
"Committed to winning"?
Here's the thing. I'm not going to sacrifice my life on the altar of someone else's company. If I'm going to be as devoted to a company as this guy apparently thinks I should be, it's going to be for my own. For everyone else, I'll do the best work I can, in a professional manner, in exchange for a regular paycheck as we agreed to in the employment contract. It's called "doing business".
Here's the thing. I'm not going to sacrifice my life on the altar of someone else's company. If I'm going to be as devoted to a company as this guy apparently thinks I should be, it's going to be for my own. For everyone else, I'll do the best work I can, in a professional manner, in exchange for a regular paycheck as we agreed to in the employment contract. It's called "doing business".
I can't tell from his quote if he means "entrepreneurs" and I think of that as founders and folks with lots of skin in the game ... or if he means everyone like some code drone who comes on later.
I do kinda get this concept as it applies to founders to SOME extent.
I do kinda get this concept as it applies to founders to SOME extent.
If he's talking about people working on their own businesses, that's an entirely different thing and my comment is wildly off the mark. I guess I didn't consider the possibility because most entrepreneurs don't need to to be told that, plus because he's a LinkedIn cofounder.
Paywall is in the way. If you are listed as a co-founder, it should apply to you. You have meaningful participation.
If you're a non-founder employee, heck no. Your mission is making the VCs rich and the founders rich, in that order.
If you're a non-founder employee, heck no. Your mission is making the VCs rich and the founders rich, in that order.
Just dinner? What about waking up at 3am to workout and doing ice baths?
(Kinda serious, interesting how every hustle influencer is convinced their routine is the key to success, and they’re all different)
I worked at a really old school company as my first job. Some folks talked about how hard the CEO and that team worked and so on. And they did put in a lot of hours, they really did.
On the other hand they had staff that catered to their work and their personal needs. The executive suite had a lounge and bar and storage for their personal stuff like their golf clubs... they flew first class when they traveled and stayed at the nicest places.
All strong contrasts to my windowless cube that was falling apart, basic travel ... is it any wonder why I'd rather not be there too much?
On the other hand they had staff that catered to their work and their personal needs. The executive suite had a lounge and bar and storage for their personal stuff like their golf clubs... they flew first class when they traveled and stayed at the nicest places.
All strong contrasts to my windowless cube that was falling apart, basic travel ... is it any wonder why I'd rather not be there too much?
Pretty much this. I too could work 60-80h weeks if I didn't have to worry about cooking, laundry, cleaning, taxes, childcare, random paperwork.
The advice wasn't for you, in your cube your job is to make them money.
For everyone, peak performance is achieved with physical health and mental health, so working out and non-work brain-boosters like playing music or racing bikes are crucial.
For everyone, peak performance is achieved with physical health and mental health, so working out and non-work brain-boosters like playing music or racing bikes are crucial.
Reid Hoffman is a pedophile, and his opinion is worth nothing to anyone.
Just a reminder that this man was a frequent visitor to Jeffery Epstein's island, so it really makes you wonder what his definition of "work" is.
out of touch and/or virtue signaling
I really don't think your "uber but for cleaning windows" start up is going to succeed or fail because someone spent Christmas Day pounding out some code...
It seems more like product fit and so on are the reason most startups fail, not hours put into it.