There are, of course, lots of ways to define success, but if you're talking about running a business then your Dad's experience largely matches what I've seen in my professional life (small business).
The interesting thing to me is that the desire to work that hard, and sacrifice that much, is largely an innate trait, not a conscience decision (at least that's been what I've seen). And the people who struggle the most are not those who work the most but who are torn because they WANT one thing but lack the inherent traits required to do it.
Personally, I don't think that professional success and money are good reasons to work that hard. Working that hard is gratifying in and of itself (to some people) because it teaches you things about the world, helps forge relationships with people, and forces you to develop skills you didn't know would benefit you later in life.
The interesting thing to me is that the desire to work that hard, and sacrifice that much, is largely an innate trait, not a conscience decision (at least that's been what I've seen). And the people who struggle the most are not those who work the most but who are torn because they WANT one thing but lack the inherent traits required to do it.
Personally, I don't think that professional success and money are good reasons to work that hard. Working that hard is gratifying in and of itself (to some people) because it teaches you things about the world, helps forge relationships with people, and forces you to develop skills you didn't know would benefit you later in life.