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Is the Leisure Life Overrated?

Is the Leisure Life Overrated? 
The Value of Work 
 
Many dream of striking it rich so they can exchange work for a life of leisure. Funny thing is, most of the young and suddenly rich seem to end up going back to work. What for? 
 
It's not for the money. Some have already made more than they could ever spend. Just look at two of the world's richest men. Bill Gates' company, Microsoft, made it's first million when he was 22. At 31, he was a billionaire. Yet, he kept working as hard as ever.(1) Warren Buffett had his first million at age 31 and quickly multiplied it to billions. Yet today, in his late 70's, he keeps right on working. (2) 
 
For some it's the thrill of competition. Others simply love their work. Still others throw themselves into finding worthy causes to support. 
 
Max Levchin co-founded Pay-Pal and sold it to E-bay in his late 20's to net himself a tidy $100 million. "So, all that work paid off," you say. "He worked his tail off but then got to sit back and enjoy life, spending his millions." But on his personal Website, he cites his years building PayPal as "arguably the best and happiest times of my life." (3) 
 
So maybe work's not so bad and the leisure life's overrated. That's precisely what Levchin learned during his year out of work after leaving PayPal. "I enjoy sitting on nice beaches and hanging out with my girlfriend and playing with my dog," says Levchin, "but that's three hours a day. What about the remaining 18 hours I'm awake?" He felt "worthless and stupid," calling it the worst year of his life. (4) 
 
He'd hang out with Mr. Hong, another entrepreneurial super-success story, and talk about how miserable they were. "We were both pretty pathetic," Levchin said. 
 
Hong threw himself back into work. So did Levchin, who now relishes putting in long hours to start new companies. 
 
Reflections 
 
1) Why do you think Levchin couldn't enjoy the leisure life? 
2) How does this article challenge our thoughts about work and leisure? 
3) Do you think Levchin's experience with the leisure life is more the exception or the rule? Why? 
4) What does this tell us about the relationship between work and happiness? 
 
Sources 
 
1) Stephen Manes and Paul Andrews, Gates (Touchstone: New York, 1993), p. 128. Janet Lowe, Bill Gates Speaks (John Wiley & Sons: New York, 1998) p. xii. 
2) Roger Lowenstein, Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist (Mainstreet Books: New York, 1995) p. 73. See also Wikipedia on Warren Buffett. 
3) www.levchin.com, http://www.linkedin.com/in/maxlevchin 
4) Gary Rivlin, After Succeeding, Young Tycoons Try, Try Again, The New York Times, October 28, 2007. 
 
Copyright October 30, 2007 by Steve Miller. All rights reserved.

Will Smith

Want a great video for your students to motivate them to work hard at developing their skills? Show them this collection of clips by actor/rapper/film producer Will Smith. I've transcribed some of it below the link with an introduction you could use for the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLN2k0b3g70

(If it's moved, search "Will Smith's Wisdom" in www.youtube.com)

Introduction

Will Smith - successful rapper, actor and film producer - has achieved such a level of success that Newsweek called him "the most powerful actor on the planet." He has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards, two Academy Awards, and has won multiple Grammy Awards. You may have seen him starring in Men in Black, I, Robot, Hancock, Hitch, Bad Boys, Pursuit of Happiness, The Wild Wild West and other hit films.

So is he just one of these naturally talented guys who can rehearse a couple of times and whip out a great performance? Not according to Smith. Listen to what he has to say about developing his skills.

Quotes from Will Smith

“The separation of talent and skill is one of the greatest misunderstood concepts for people who are trying to excel, who have dreams, who want to do things. Talent you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.

I’ve never really viewed myself as particularly talented. Where I excel is ridiculous, sickening work ethic. You know, while the other guy’s sleeping, I’m working. While the other guys’ eating, I’m working.

There’s no easy way around it. No matter how talented you are, your talent is going to fail you if you’re not skilled. If you don’t study, if you don’t work really hard and dedicate yourself to being better every single day, you’ll never be able to communicate with people - with your artistry - the way that you want….

The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is: I’m not afraid to die on a treadmill. You might have more talent than me; you might be smarter than me. But if we get on a treadmill together, there’s two things: you’re getting off first, or I’m gonna die.

It’s really that simple."

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