Comment Take It From Someone.... (Score 1) 454
There will always be someone who is willing to work harder then you and someone who is willing to work as little as possible. In the middle reside everyone else. Your accolades will depend on hard work and a little bit of luck. You can pass legislation preventing you from being required to work 80 hours a week, but its not going to stop that overacheiver we all hate from doing it.
I learned this early on. First I worked my 40 and went home to my family and hobbies. Then I started working my ass off, 80 hour weeks, 100 hour weeks and even a 120 here and there where I ate at my desk and didn't sleep for three days straight.
What did I gain?
I gained EXPERIENCE. I didn't gain the approval of my employer who only cared about a deadline, I didn't gain the approval of my coworkers who worried I made them look bad. I certainly didn't gain the approval of the client who only sees total hours and not distribution.
When you work 80 hours a week you gain experience faster than those who work 40. It's an investment.
My long weeks are why I am now self-employed with a business that nearly runs itself. No magical "start your own business" scheme did it, no accolades or friends with money contributed in any way. It was purely experience and only experience, I have more of it because I worked harder. I got smarter faster because of the time I put in.