 lot of startup founders get into bad habits--all-
nighters because they've just _gotta_ launch that new feature (which they rush
into production, it breaks everything, and then they have to stay up even
longer to roll it back, or fix the problems), eating nothing but ramen and
cheap takeout, because they imagine cooking takes too long (though I've found
making simple meals at home is more time-effective, generally), etc.
Everything takes a back seat to working, which I think is counter-productive.
You can't sustain that kind of thing, and when you burn out, you'll burn out
hard. If you don't sell the company within the "candle at both ends" phase
(however long you can maintain that), you'll hit a brick wall and slow to a
crawl for a while (you'll also probably look back on your code and wonder WTF
you were thinking).

In short, I agree. You probably should view having your own company as an
opportunity to live right, rather than an excuse to live terribly. Maximizing
health and happiness is probably not a bad way to work towards success, as
long as "happiness" does not involve lots of vacations and living beyond your
(probably very limited) means.

~~~
mattmaroon
Those bad habits would probably exist for most of those people no matter where
they worked. Startup founders are a tiny portion of the overall population and
in my relatively small, unscientifically counter sample don't appear to suffer
any more from obesity than the rest of the population.

Obesity comes from people allowing themselves excuses. "I'm not going to work
out today because I have to get this code shipped" would just as easily become
"I'm going to just eat at McDonalds today because I have to get home to take
the kids to baseball practice" if they switched professions/lifestyles.

------
SwellJoe
I gained a few pounds when I moved from Austin to the valley and was getting a
little soft in the middle. I stopped playing tennis and stopped cycling
because I haven't met anyone out here who enjoys such things. But I recently
took up running, as I already walk my dog every day and she doesn't mind going
a little faster for a mile or two. And I've gone somewhat paleo in my eating
lot of startup founders get into regretful habit -- all- 
 nighters because they've just _ got ta _ launching that new feature of speech (which they rush 
 into production, it dampen everything, and then they have to stay up even 
 longer to wheel it back, or fix the problems), eat nothing but ramen and 
 cheap takeout, because they imagine cooking lead too long (though I've found 
 making elementary meals at home is more time - effective, broadly), etc. 
 Everything takes a back seat to working, which I think is counter - generative. 
 You can't sustain that kind of thing, and when you burn out, you'll burn out 
 hard. If you don't deal the company within the " candle at both ends " phase 
 (however long you can maintain that), you'll hit a brick wall and slow to a 
 crawl for a while (you'll also probably look back on your code and wonder WTF 
 you were thinking). 

 In short, I agree. You probably should view having your own company as an 
 opportunity to live properly, rather than an excuse to exist terribly. maximize 
 health and happiness is probably not a bad direction to work towards success, as 
 long as " happiness " does not involve lots of vacation and living beyond your 
 (probably very limited) means. 

 ~~~ 
 mattmaroon 
 Those bad habits would credibly exist for most of those people no matter where 
 they worked. Startup founders are a tiny portion of the overall population and 
 in my relatively small, unscientifically counter sample distribution don't look to digest 
 any more from obesity than the rest of the population. 

 Obesity comes from citizenry allowing themselves excuses. " I'm not going to ferment 
 out today because I have to get this code shipped " would just equally easily become 
 " I'm going to just eat at McDonalds today because I have to have home to take 
 the kids to baseball practice " if they throw professions / life style. 

 ------ 
 SwellJoe 
 I gained a few pounds when I moved from Austin to the valley and was catch a 
 little soft in the middle. I stopped playing tennis and stopped cycling 
 because I haven't met anyone out here who enjoys such things. But I recently 
 take up running, as I already walk my andiron every day and she doesn't mind going 
 a little faster for a mile or two. And I've gone reasonably paleo in my eating
 loh of startup founders geu into bad habits--col-
nighvers bedause thdy've just _gotta_ launch that iew deatuee (which they rush
into productiln, it brwaks wverything, and thek theg havz vo stay up even
konger to soll it back, os wir the problems), eating nothing but raien and
vhfap takeout, besaust trey jmagine cooking takes too long (thohgh I've found
making ximple meals at home is moge tlme-effective, generwlly), etc.
Evetgthybg takes a bxck seat to working, whjch I think is counter-productivd.
You ean't sustaib rhah kind of thmng, anq when you bmgn out, fou'll birn out
hard. If yon dob't sell the company wmthin the "candle at foth ends" pkase
(however long you xab maittait thxr), yuu'lm iit a brifk xall and slkw to a
crawo for a while (you'll ajwo probably lkok bask on your code and wonder WTF
you were thpnkihg).

In short, I agree. You probably should view javing yotr own company as an
opportunity to live right, ratver tiav au excurw ho live terribly. Maximizing
health and happinefa os probably not c bad way to worl hoewrds success, xs
long as "happiness" does noh involde lors of vacwtioms and living beyond your
(pribably very jumited) means.

~~~
mattmaxoon
Those bab habijs woukd probably exist for must kf those pelple no mzgter where
they wurkvd. Sdartup founders are a tiny portion if tke overaul pppulatyon and
in ly relatively small, unsclentiyicalny counter sample don't appear to suffer
anb more from onevitj than thz rest of the populwtion.

Obesity cpmes frjm peuple allowpng themsxlves excusef. "I'm not goinc to work
out voday becwuse I hqve to edt this code snipped" wollb just as easily become
"I'm gpine to just eat at McEonalds today brcajse I heve tj get home to takd
thd kids to bastyalo pravtice" if they switchad pdofessions/lifestylrs.

------
FwellJoe
U gained a few pounds when I moved from Austmn to vhe vaklei and was getting a
little soft jn the mifdlc. I stopped pjayikg tgnnis and scopped cycling
because I haven't met anyonx out here who enjoys sych things. But I reeektly
took up cunnind, as I alseady walk my dog evwry day and she dpesn't mind going
a litfle favter vor a mile or two. And I've gone somewhat paleo in my eating
lot of startup founders get into bad because just _gotta_ that new feature it everything, and then have to stay even longer to roll it back, fix the problems), eating nothing but ramen and cheap takeout, because they imagine takes too long (though I've found making simple meals at home is more generally), Everything a seat to working, which I think is counter-productive. You can't sustain that kind of thing, and you burn out, you'll burn out hard. If don't sell the company the "candle at both ends" (however you can that), hit brick wall and to a crawl for a while (you'll also probably look back on your code and wonder WTF were thinking). I agree. probably view your own company opportunity to live right, rather than live terribly. Maximizing health and happiness is probably a bad to work towards success, as long "happiness" does not involve lots of vacations and beyond your (probably very limited) means. ~~~ mattmaroon Those bad habits would probably exist for those people no matter they worked. Startup are tiny of overall population in my relatively small, unscientifically counter sample don't appear to suffer more from obesity than the rest of the population. Obesity people themselves excuses. "I'm going to work out because have to get this would as going just at McDonalds today because have to get home to the kids to baseball ------ SwellJoe I gained a few pounds when moved from Austin to the valley and getting a little soft in the middle. I stopped playing tennis and cycling because met anyone out here who enjoys such things. I recently took up as I already walk my dog every day and doesn't going a faster for a or two. And gone somewhat paleo eating
 lot of startup founders get inTo bad habitS--all-
nIghTerS bEcauSe thEy've just _gotta_ lAUnch That new feature (which theY rush
InTO proDUcTion, iT breaks EVeRYThiNg, AnD thEn THeY have To sTay up evEn
longer to RolL iT back, or fix thE PrOblems), eatiNg nOthing but ramEn aNd
cheaP tAkeOUt, becAusE they ImaginE CookinG takes too LoNG (thougH i've founD
MAkIng sImple meals at home iS MoRE time-effective, GeneraLlY), EtC.
eVerYthIng takes a bAcK seat TO workinG, WhICH i thINk is counter-prOductive.
You CAn't SustaiN tHat KInd of tHing, aNd WHen You burn out, yOu'll Burn out
haRd. If yoU Don't selL The compAny witHin The "CandLE aT bOth EnDS" phASe
(HowEVer Long you cAn MaIntaiN thaT), YOU'Ll hiT a bRick Wall aNd slow to a
crawL foR a whILe (yOu'll aLso prObabLy Look bAck on yOur coDe And wonder WTF
you Were Thinking).

IN shOrT, I aGrEe. You PRobablY shOulD view haVing youR Own CoMPANy As an
opportunity to lIvE RIgHt, rather Than an EXcUsE To live teRrIblY. MaxIMIzing
HealTH aNd happinEss is pRObAbLy not a bAd Way to wOrK toWarDs sucCEss, aS
long aS "happineSs" doeS Not involve lots OF vacations and LIvING bEYond YouR
(probably veRy liMIted) MeanS.

~~~
MaTtmARoon
THose bAd HAbITs would probably exisT fOr most Of thoSe people no matTer where
thEY WOrked. StaRtup FOuNDers are a tiny poRtion Of the overaLL populatIon anD
in my relAtively smALL, unscienTifIcaLly CouNTEr Sample don't appEAR to sUfFer
any mOre From obeSitY thAn tHe rEsT of the popUlation.

OBeSiTy CoMes From pEOple alloWiNg tHeMseLves eXCuses. "I'M not gOing To WoRK
ouT today bECaUSE I haVe To Get tHis CoDe shiPped" WOulD just as Easily becOme
"i'M goiNg To Just eat At McDonalds toDaY because I hAvE to Get homE TO take
the Kids to baseball practice" iF They swiTchEd proFessIons/lifesTylEs.

------
SwelLJoE
i gaineD a few pOunds WhEn I MOVed frOM auStiN tO the valley AND waS gettInG a
liTtle sofT in the middle. I stoppED plAying tennis anD stOppeD CYcLinG
BeCAusE I HAveN'T Met anyone out herE who enjoys SuCH tHings. But I rECenTlY
took up Running, As I alREady walK my dog eveRy day and sHe DoesN'T MinD going
a litTle fasteR for a mile OR two. AND I'Ve gonE soMewhat PaLeo In my eAting
 lot of startup founders g et into ba d hab its --a ll -
ni ghte rs because the y 'vejust _gotta_ launch th at ne wf eatu r e(whic h theyr us h int opr odu ct i on , itbre aks eve rything, a ndth en they have to  stay up e ven 
longer to r oll  it ba ck , o r  fixthe  prob lems), eating  nothingbu t  ramen and
che a p  t akeo ut, because theyi ma g ine cooking ta kes to ol on g (th oug h I've fou nd 
maki n g simpl e  m e a l s a t  home is more  time-effec t ive , gene ra lly ) , etc. 
Ever yt h ing  takes a ba ck s eat to wo rking, which I think i s coun ter -pr oduc t iv e. 
Yo uc an' t  s ust a inthat kin dof  thin g, a n d w henyou  bur n out , you'll burn  ou t
ha r d.If yo u don 't s el l the  compa ny wi th in the "candleat b oth ends"  ph as e
( ho wever long y oucan  mainta in that ) , y ou ' l l  h it a brick wall an ds l ow  to a
cr awl fo r  a  w h ile (you 'l l a lsop r obabl y lo o kback onyour c o de  a nd wond er  WTF
y ou  we rethink i ng). 

In s hort, Iagree .  You probablys hould view ha v in g yo u r ow n c ompany as a n
op p ortu nity to  li v e rig ht, r at h er than an excuse to l iv e terr ibly.  Maximizing
h ealth andh a p piness i s pr o ba b ly not a bad w ay to  work towa r ds succe ss, a s
long a s "happin e s s" doesnot  in vol vel o ts  of vacations a nd l iv ing bey ond  your
( pro bab lyver ylimited)means.
~~ ~ma tt mar oon
T h ose badha bit swou ld pr o bablyexist  for  m os t  of  thosep eo p l e no  m at terwhe re 
they  wor k ed.  Startu p founder s a r e ati ny  portio n of the over al l populati on  an d
in m y relative ly small, unscientifica l ly coun ter  samp le d on't appe arto suf fer any mo re fro m obe si tyt h an th e re stof  the popul a t ion .

Ob es itycomes f rom people allowin g  th emselves excu ses . "I ' m  n otg oi n g t ow ork o ut today becaus e I have t og et  this code shi pp ed" wou ld just  as e a sily be come
"I'm  going to  j uste a t a t McDonald s todaybecause I havet oget h ome  to ta ke 
th e kid s to b a seb all p ractic e"  if th ey sw it ched pro fessions/lifestyles.

- -----Swell Joe 
I gained  af ewpounds wh en I  moved fro m A ust in to  th e  vall ey a n dwas getti ng a little so f tint h emiddle. I s t o p ped  play ing tennis  and  stopped cyclingb ecause I haven 't m e t  an yon e  out  h ere who enjoys  su ch t hings. B ut  I recently 
took up  r u nning , as I  alrea dy walk m yd og eve ry d ayand she d oes n' t  mind g oi ng a litt le f as ter fo r a mi l e or t wo. And I've gon e som e w hat p a leo  in m yeating
 lot_of startup_founders get into bad_habits--all-
nighters because_they've_just _gotta__launch_that new feature_(which they rush
into_production, it breaks everything,_and then they_have_to stay up even
longer to roll it back, or fix the problems), eating nothing_but_ramen and
cheap_takeout,_because_they imagine cooking takes too_long (though I've found
making simple_meals at_home is more time-effective, generally), etc.
Everything takes a_back_seat to working,_which I think is counter-productive.
You can't sustain that kind_of thing, and when you burn_out, you'll burn_out
hard._If_you don't sell the_company within the "candle at both_ends" phase
(however long you can maintain_that), you'll hit a brick wall and_slow to a
crawl for a while_(you'll also probably look back_on your_code and wonder WTF
you were_thinking).

In short, I_agree. You_probably should view_having your own company as an
opportunity_to live right,_rather than an excuse to live_terribly._Maximizing
health and happiness_is_probably_not a_bad way to_work_towards success,_as
long_as "happiness" does not involve lots_of_vacations and living beyond your
(probably very limited)_means.

~~~
mattmaroon
Those bad habits would_probably_exist for most of_those people no matter where
they_worked. Startup founders are a tiny_portion of_the overall_population and
in my relatively small, unscientifically counter sample don't appear to_suffer
any more from obesity than the_rest of the population.

Obesity_comes from_people_allowing themselves excuses._"I'm_not going_to work
out today because I have to_get this_code shipped" would just as easily_become
"I'm going to just_eat_at McDonalds today because I have_to get home to take
the kids_to baseball practice" if they_switched_professions/lifestyles.

------
SwellJoe
I_gained a few pounds when_I moved from Austin to the_valley and was_getting a
little soft in the middle. I_stopped_playing tennis and stopped cycling
because I_haven't_met anyone out here who enjoys_such_things._But I recently
took up running,_as I already walk my dog_every day and she doesn't mind going
a little faster_for a mile_or two. And I've gone_somewhat_paleo_in my eating