Comments on: Work less, produce more

By: Bob Reid

Bob Reid — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:12:06 +0000

I'd like to reply to my own comment of 19/11/2010 by saying: it was a very long day when I wrote that comment. I didn't mean to be so negative.

I still recommend helping non-profit and charitable organization, though. It's another way to perfect your craft, create a portfolio, and help out.

//Bob

By: Angelee

Angelee — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:52:57 +0000

People work for long hours mostly because of deadlines and not really getting ahead of others. Sometimes, we just reasoned it out as passion (some are really passionate though) until we realize it's no longer a healthy madness. I've read some good things about a lot of people being successful because they're wiser than their tickling clock.

But, success follows sacrifice. Thanks for speaking PAUL... wish more people will hear you!...

By: Bob Reid

Bob Reid — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 02:12:15 +0000

Apparently, the “I agree with you” majority do not have 24x7 website operations to maintain. That’s one of the benefits of being a web designer, without other implied job titles and duties. You often don’t have to support that which you have created. Enjoy it while it lasts. Even though I have staff on call rotation, monitoring operations 24x7 by cell phone and laptop, I typically end up monitoring and responding to site operations-related email requests from ~5:00AM in to the evening hours, plus most of Saturday and Sunday. If you truly like web design, and have a job that permits you to work 40 hours pper less per week, then you are living the web designer dream. Enjoy it while it lasts and use your spare time to improve your skills, providing free design services to non-profit and charitable organizations. It will look great on your resume.

By: Dylan

Dylan — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:47:25 +0000

My experience says that most late night problems won't be fixed by working even later. I've stayed hours after finish time trying to fix a bug, only to fix it within half hour in the morning.

By: Sebastian

Sebastian — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:07:04 +0000

I always wandered who in the first place came up with the idea of 8 working hours a days. With 9 to 5 jobs I never felt productive being told I have to give my best from this time to this time 5 days a week. You have different days with different moods and energy level in different time periods, yet you are required to perform on the same level at any given time. Took me a few years to realise that I was born a human being, not a machine, so I left the 9 to 5 circus (actually it was 8 to 4) and hope I never go back. Wish me luck please :)

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:12:43 +0000

How true, most people don't know that its not the hours they put IN the work, its the work they do IN the hours.

By: Blair Nichols

Blair Nichols — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 12:10:33 +0000

Work smart not hard, streamline your procedures, set up your working environment to work for you, invest in technology where needed and come to work ready to do exactly that.... WORK

By: Marketing Ninja Cat

Marketing Ninja Cat — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:30:16 +0000

Sometimes we forget, that the 8 hour norm is not some arbitrary number a lazy bum came up with to avoid work.

Decades of experience and research shows, that there is no difference in efficiency weather we work 8 or 10 hours, and there is a steep decline of efficiency when we breach the 10 hours for longer than a week. This is very valid for intellectual workers, not just those that do physical work.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:10:24 +0000

That happens to me all the time. A fresh pair of eyes in the morning are better and more productive than a tired set at 8:00pm.

By: Bob Reid

Bob Reid — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:24:30 +0000

Dear Paul, I mostly agree, on the point of employment-related work. There are, however, times when you must work a little overtime (OT), here and there, to help keep the lights on. IT and OT have always gone together and, I suspect, will for some time to come. BTW, I’m including all things web as IT.

Before the web, there was client-server, PC programming, mini computers, and CAD/CAM. Having made a living by way of keyboard for 37 years, I’ve always given a solid day’s work to my employer but reserved evenings and weekends for personal technical training, exploring whatever interests me. Not surprisingly, my personal R&D time make me a better employee, usually solves a problem for my employer, and often results in my learning the next technology before others.

Plan on working OT in IT but use it to improve your skills and keep you employable. Better yet, start your own business and really see the meaning and benefits of working overtime for your company. Bob