I appreciate that the article emphasizes personal well-being, but I'm having trouble finding its insight.
Specifically, I would want the author's opinion on how much of yourself you should invest in your startup, or more philosophically, the balance between what you do and what you are.
Tension certainly exists between success-of-the-company and health-of-the-self, respectively represented by coaching and counseling. These two sides are separate, and, in a billion-dollar-pressure-cooker, may even be in open warfare with each other: "I need to work harder" versus "I want to spend time with my children".
So far, this balance seems weighted towards the former. Michael Siebel of YC, has gone on record saying the best startups have founders who stake their self-worth on success and who are, therefore, unhealthy. [1]
I would even surmise that part of why the author recovered is because he left Reddit. His all-consuming focus was just that: All-consuming. Did Reddit need to eat away at him? Or was it incidental? The article doesn't quite say one way or another, but other resources indicate that the authors departure 3 years after the acquisition, gave him the chance to work on his health.
A founder needs to sacrifice for their company, that much is a given.
But the big question for me is, in the pursuit of greatness, when does self-sacrifice become self-destruction?
Specifically, I would want the author's opinion on how much of yourself you should invest in your startup, or more philosophically, the balance between what you do and what you are.
Tension certainly exists between success-of-the-company and health-of-the-self, respectively represented by coaching and counseling. These two sides are separate, and, in a billion-dollar-pressure-cooker, may even be in open warfare with each other: "I need to work harder" versus "I want to spend time with my children".
So far, this balance seems weighted towards the former. Michael Siebel of YC, has gone on record saying the best startups have founders who stake their self-worth on success and who are, therefore, unhealthy. [1]
I would even surmise that part of why the author recovered is because he left Reddit. His all-consuming focus was just that: All-consuming. Did Reddit need to eat away at him? Or was it incidental? The article doesn't quite say one way or another, but other resources indicate that the authors departure 3 years after the acquisition, gave him the chance to work on his health.
A founder needs to sacrifice for their company, that much is a given.
But the big question for me is, in the pursuit of greatness, when does self-sacrifice become self-destruction?
[1] https://youtu.be/4oeDLeRcook?t=14m56s
[2] http://www.businessinsider.com/reddit-cofounders-saw-a-thera...