I truth is that in order to be effective you need to be aware of how much sleep you need. Everyone is different and as we age we continue to change (younger people tend to need more sleep). You need to make certain that you get as much sleep as you need to properly function whether that’s 10 hours, 8 hours or 6 hours.

Entrepreneurs often need to manage sleep schedules that are extreme, especially early in their venture cycle. Things come up and those things occasionally force even the most disciplined among us to step outside of our comfort zones and really push ourselves. I think if you recognize this, you will be willing to lose a nights rest to do what needs to be done.

That being said, being busy for the sake of being busy is a mark of inefficiency not pride. Your goal should always be to -reduce- the number of days you need to burn the candle at both ends, not luxuriate in them.

Thanks so much for the comment.

Firstly, I actually know and have worked with several successful entrepreneurs that do get 8 hours of sleep per night and do finish work at reasonable hours.

There’s a fair bit of research out there suggesting 6 hours or less can be chronically debilitating and lead to long-term health issues. Lack of sleep is also linked to reduced cognitive function and issues like Alzheimers.

Of course everybody is different within certain parameters and it does depend heavily on the quality of our sleep.

Lack of sleep and working insane hours used to be a badge of pride, but I think (hope) things are shifting somewhat even within the ranks for the super-successful (whatever that means!).

Second, I would like to point you to the final paragraph of my screed. If you really -want- to do anything in this wild and crazy world of ours, you should. That means that you have the wherewithal to overcome whatever it is that is standing in your way.

However, I think that it is irresponsible not to be aware of those parts of your personality that might make things more difficult for you. If you hate people, lack passion and want to get rich quick that severely shapes the types of businesses you will be able to successfully run (I’d avoid daycares). If you choose to start these businesses despite all of this, it shapes the types of people that you -need- to hire in order to make up for those things that you aren’t necessarily great at.

If we don’t ever look at our weaknesses we can never see our strengths, and if nothing else business is about using those strengths that we do have to their highest capacity.

Thanks again!

Nice post for a debate though. Thanks.

These are brilliant!

“Anyone who believes that it is critically important to get 8 hours of sleep every night” rings to me of working harder. I agree – that’s a must. But I believe working ‘smarter’ is equally important. It’s a balance. Being ‘busy’ and running around without a strategy/plan is a dangerous recipe.

Cheers!
Matt

Who knows, we might even strike it rich!