Comments on: Book excerpt: Methods for controlling the hours you work http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:43:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: venkat http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-163893 venkat Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:21:43 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-163893 Walter Schloss, disciple of ben graham and contemporary of warren buffet, worked from 9 to 5 only. he managed investment firm. he is not obsessed about money investing and being rich. you can searc thru google ben graham center of value investing. Walter Schloss, disciple of ben graham and contemporary of warren buffet, worked from 9 to 5 only. he managed investment firm. he is not obsessed about money investing and being rich.
you can searc thru google ben graham center of value investing.

]]> By: J http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-147091 J Fri, 09 May 2008 21:48:27 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-147091 Hi Penelope, Most billionaires and others successful people work/ed incredibly long hours. I know no one rich or successful whom works 9 to 5 with the weekends off. The talk about decreasing productivity from long hours I think results primarily from doing work you don't like. So the key here isn't less hours, I think the key is to find work you like. A lot this work life balance in my opinion is just laziness. The average person watches 4 hours of television (although to be fair, this probably includes retired persons whom drag this up). I don't have data to prove this, but I really don't think people need to rest 4-6 hours a day. As a former professional athlete, I'm sure you practiced more than the average player. Why doesn't this make sense in the workplace. Hi Penelope,
Most billionaires and others successful people work/ed incredibly long hours. I know no one rich or successful whom works 9 to 5 with the weekends off. The talk about decreasing productivity from long hours I think results primarily from doing work you don't like. So the key here isn't less hours, I think the key is to find work you like.

A lot this work life balance in my opinion is just laziness.
The average person watches 4 hours of television (although to be fair, this probably includes retired persons whom drag this up). I don't have data to prove this, but I really don't think people need to rest 4-6 hours a day.

As a former professional athlete, I'm sure you practiced more than the average player. Why doesn't this make sense in the workplace.

]]> By: Andrey http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-89336 Andrey Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:12:38 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-89336 Hi Penelope, The column is great! I will print a copy too. One question: If one tries to get loaded less then others, and many of the others work overtime, then the one will not be likable among the stuff. How to be likable in the situation when others see your efforts and results in getting less workload? Thanks for the article, it gives food for thought ...) * * * * * <em>Andrey, this is a good question. Here is something that comes to mind: If doing a lot of work made people likeable then the hardest worker would be the most likeable. But in fact, it's usually not true in the office. So the people who are not the hardest workers are doing something else, besides work, that makes them likeable. Learn to do that stuff so that you don't have to focus on workload. That said, if you do no work and force everyone to pick up your slack, you will not have friends. Moderation is the key here, I think.</em> <em>Penelope</em> Hi Penelope,

The column is great! I will print a copy too.

One question: If one tries to get loaded less then others, and many of the others work overtime, then the one will not be likable among the stuff.
How to be likable in the situation when others see your efforts and results in getting less workload?

Thanks for the article, it gives food for thought …)

* * * * *

Andrey, this is a good question. Here is something that comes to mind: If doing a lot of work made people likeable then the hardest worker would be the most likeable. But in fact, it's usually not true in the office. So the people who are not the hardest workers are doing something else, besides work, that makes them likeable. Learn to do that stuff so that you don't have to focus on workload. That said, if you do no work and force everyone to pick up your slack, you will not have friends. Moderation is the key here, I think.
Penelope

]]> By: Justin Bishop http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-83909 Justin Bishop Wed, 06 Jun 2007 03:32:45 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-83909 Great recommendations for how to control your time. My only quibble is with the claim that coding video games is an industry that expects ungodly hours. This is a myth, perhaps perpetuated for you by stories concerning EA which came out not too long ago. It's really not true. A great game programmer is valued, and allowed to work very flexible hours... Great recommendations for how to control your time.

My only quibble is with the claim that coding video games is an industry that expects ungodly hours. This is a myth, perhaps perpetuated for you by stories concerning EA which came out not too long ago. It's really not true. A great game programmer is valued, and allowed to work very flexible hours…

]]> By: Alan http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-82193 Alan Mon, 04 Jun 2007 03:26:47 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-82193 Sometimes we forget that the value of our work depends on the quality and not on quantity. We can't expect anyone to be convinced that we did a good job for doing many things but don't give much effort in doing it. Sometimes we forget that the value of our work depends on the quality and not on quantity. We can't expect anyone to be convinced that we did a good job for doing many things but don't give much effort in doing it.

]]> By: Ron http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-80190 Ron Fri, 01 Jun 2007 08:45:15 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-80190 I'm obviously in the minority here, but I think the column about how to cut down on hours at work is nothing more than a how-to for lazies. I'm continually frustrated by the numbers of people who are expert at making themselves look productive when, in reality, they're doing nothing but busying themselves with avoiding work. Working long hours doesn't automatically make someone more productive or harder working, as some organizations and firms seem to think, but the advice given in this column seems more useful for all the lazy mo-fo's interested in doing as little work as possible -- a dime a dozen in most every organization I've ever worked in. It's the American way . . . I'm obviously in the minority here, but I think the column about how to cut down on hours at work is nothing more than a how-to for lazies. I'm continually frustrated by the numbers of people who are expert at making themselves look productive when, in reality, they're doing nothing but busying themselves with avoiding work. Working long hours doesn't automatically make someone more productive or harder working, as some organizations and firms seem to think, but the advice given in this column seems more useful for all the lazy mo-fo's interested in doing as little work as possible — a dime a dozen in most every organization I've ever worked in. It's the American way . . .

]]> By: Fran http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-80147 Fran Fri, 01 Jun 2007 06:41:33 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-80147 I agree with the list, especially with being in control of the things we do. We don't have to force ourself to do things that we don't like. If we think that a certain task will only slow us down and make us unproductive, we should should be frank about it. I agree with the list, especially with being in control of the things we do. We don't have to force ourself to do things that we don't like. If we think that a certain task will only slow us down and make us unproductive, we should should be frank about it.

]]> By: Wendy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-79676 Wendy Thu, 31 May 2007 15:15:09 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-79676 Hey Penelope, I loved this column. Like so many readers I"ve been burned a few times by the mistakes listed. Question for you: is there any research to suggest that in today's workplace, having a life outside of work will make you more productive and/or successful? Following up on your 2nd-to-last-tip, if you can't make up for working slowly or unproductively by working extra, you have to find a way to make the most of your hours. If you desperately want to finish everything crucial by 5:30 PM so you can go to Guitar lessons or have dinner with your kids or go mountain biking, then you'll find a way to do it. If there is too much on your slate, you'll find a way to delegate and/or ignore the unimportant stuff -- because it's important to you. <strong>* * * * * *</strong> <I>Hi, Wendy. Good question. I think that there is research that we can extrapolate to say that having a life outside of work makes people perform better in their work. For example, people who go to the gym regularly do better at work, and you have to leave work to go to the gym. And people who have good relationships are happier at work, and you can't have a relationship with a spreadsheet. I can think of a lot more examples like this. --Penelope</i> Hey Penelope,
I loved this column. Like so many readers I"ve been burned a few times by the mistakes listed.

Question for you: is there any research to suggest that in today's workplace, having a life outside of work will make you more productive and/or successful? Following up on your 2nd-to-last-tip, if you can't make up for working slowly or unproductively by working extra, you have to find a way to make the most of your hours. If you desperately want to finish everything crucial by 5:30 PM so you can go to Guitar lessons or have dinner with your kids or go mountain biking, then you'll find a way to do it.

If there is too much on your slate, you'll find a way to delegate and/or ignore the unimportant stuff — because it's important to you.

* * * * * *

Hi, Wendy. Good question. I think that there is research that we can extrapolate to say that having a life outside of work makes people perform better in their work. For example, people who go to the gym regularly do better at work, and you have to leave work to go to the gym. And people who have good relationships are happier at work, and you can't have a relationship with a spreadsheet. I can think of a lot more examples like this.

–Penelope

]]> By: Pirate Jo http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-79166 Pirate Jo Wed, 30 May 2007 22:25:58 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-79166 Richard, that may have been the case - I will never know, because a job opened up in another department and I transferred into it. That was the way I handled it, and my new manager didn't think childfree people should be expected to cheerfully accept the lack of a life outside of work. A definite plus! My work week immediately went to 40 hours and one of the first things I did was take a two-week vacation to Europe. Would my old manager have worked harder to keep me if I had pushed back harder? I don't know. I had been a senior-level person and a good performer for several years, and he really had his hands full with new hires for quite a while. Richard, that may have been the case - I will never know, because a job opened up in another department and I transferred into it. That was the way I handled it, and my new manager didn't think childfree people should be expected to cheerfully accept the lack of a life outside of work. A definite plus! My work week immediately went to 40 hours and one of the first things I did was take a two-week vacation to Europe.

Would my old manager have worked harder to keep me if I had pushed back harder? I don't know. I had been a senior-level person and a good performer for several years, and he really had his hands full with new hires for quite a while.

]]> By: Richard http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-79060 Richard Wed, 30 May 2007 19:19:37 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/29/book-excerpt-methods-for-controlling-the-hours-you-work/#comment-79060 "THEY’RE NOT GOING TO FIRE YOU!!!" Technically they can fire you for anything they want. Most U.S. states are at-will, meaning they can let you go whenever they want with no reason. However most larger companies have HR departments that make firing someone, for reasons you described, more difficult. If you decide to implement Pirate Jo's advice, they might not fire you but your mgt could make life very unpleasant for you. The resulting affect is that you decide to leave on your own. Another possibility is mgt. gets ticked at your tactic and starts being hyper critical about your work. This results in a "case" being built up against you. So when mgt pulls the trigger they have evidence of why they canned you. "THEY’RE NOT GOING TO FIRE YOU!!!" Technically they can fire you for anything they want. Most U.S. states are at-will, meaning they can let you go whenever they want with no reason. However most larger companies have HR departments that make firing someone, for reasons you described, more difficult.

If you decide to implement Pirate Jo's advice, they might not fire you but your mgt could make life very unpleasant for you. The resulting affect is that you decide to leave on your own.

Another possibility is mgt. gets ticked at your tactic and starts being hyper critical about your work. This results in a "case" being built up against you. So when mgt pulls the trigger they have evidence of why they canned you.

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