Creating a World That Works for All
Question: How much does Steve work?
A BK community member who did not wish to be identified asked me the following question:
"I get emails from Steve at ridiculous hours and times -- including on the weekend. However, whenever I talk to him, he always seems to be full of energy and well-rested. How many hours a week does Steve put in anyway?"
The answer to that question would involve me giving away a company secret. Steve actually doesn't work crazy hours, he just sets his computer to Italian time so that all messages seem to go out with date stamps that suggest that he's working incredibly late in the evening or incredibly early in the morning. Most of the time, Steve can be found relaxing with a cigar and a copy of the Wall Street Journal ("The NY Times is for polly-annas and communists," he often says) by his infinity pool at his Four Seasons Residences penthouse in downtown San Francisco.
Alright, yes, Steve works insane hours from his home office in Pinole. He works six days a week for about 12-14 hours a day. I have worked with Steve for over a decade now and there's no sign of him letting up. I can't tell you the number of times I've seen him come bouncing into the office in the morning only to find out that he never went to sleep the night before. Really.
It's quite disgusting, in my opinion. I just wish there was some way to package and mass-produce whatever it is that drives him -- imagine the money I could make selling that on the open markets! Unfortunately there's no way to bottle belief, faith, and mission -- but I'm working on it.
"I get emails from Steve at ridiculous hours and times -- including on the weekend. However, whenever I talk to him, he always seems to be full of energy and well-rested. How many hours a week does Steve put in anyway?"
The answer to that question would involve me giving away a company secret. Steve actually doesn't work crazy hours, he just sets his computer to Italian time so that all messages seem to go out with date stamps that suggest that he's working incredibly late in the evening or incredibly early in the morning. Most of the time, Steve can be found relaxing with a cigar and a copy of the Wall Street Journal ("The NY Times is for polly-annas and communists," he often says) by his infinity pool at his Four Seasons Residences penthouse in downtown San Francisco.
Alright, yes, Steve works insane hours from his home office in Pinole. He works six days a week for about 12-14 hours a day. I have worked with Steve for over a decade now and there's no sign of him letting up. I can't tell you the number of times I've seen him come bouncing into the office in the morning only to find out that he never went to sleep the night before. Really.
It's quite disgusting, in my opinion. I just wish there was some way to package and mass-produce whatever it is that drives him -- imagine the money I could make selling that on the open markets! Unfortunately there's no way to bottle belief, faith, and mission -- but I'm working on it.
Views: 8
Replies to This Conversation
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Permalink Reply by Ann Matranga on -
BK friends, has anybody noticed the same thing about Jeevan? You stay up until midnight to finish an overdue review and you send it in at 12:01 a.m. and go to bed. The next morning, there's a cheery note from J stamp 12:03 a.m. to say thank you. Hmmm. He must be coming along with his bottled mission-driver.
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Permalink Reply by Marcia Daszko on -
It seems to me that when a person is self-motivated, has found their passion, and "work" is joy in learning and life, the time spent just flows. It's not uncommon for me to read, research, write, think, coach, consult for "work" 12-18 hours 6 days a week and only 8 on Sundays, and take a 6-hour break for a golf game in Monterey on a holiday week-end. On the other hand I am fortunate to make time for meetings of choice (like the BK Shareholders meeting) or time with friends, family or travel when others have to "work." It may all be a difference of operational definition for the word balance. Happy week to all!
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Permalink Reply by Jeevan Sivasubramaniam on -
Ha! Ann, that's because I set my computer clock to Sri-Lanka time!
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Permalink Reply by David Marshall on
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What is the famous saying, find a job your truly love and you'll never work another day in your life. That's Steve. I estimate Steve works between 70 and 80 hours a week, sometimes more, but at least he takes Sundays off.
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