The most interesting lesson of this story is the purpose of reserves. I feel like ---especially here at YC news--- the attitude is always "charge full strength ahead! Work 80 hours a week and just release something as soon as possible!"

The problem with this tactic is that when you need reserves to seize some unforeseen opportunity, you don't have any. For a startup, "reserves" could be something as simple as extra cash, employees not already committed to an 80 hour crunch, or your own health and morale.

"That's a real un-Mexican thing to do, accusing yourself like that."

What a moron... the whole piece is full of nonsense like this.

It's a joke. Come on: War Nerd? It's his writing character. But that doesn't change the substance of the essay.