How many hours do you work every week? This is one of the most common questions you could possibly hear in any workplace. Pardon me for hysterically laughing within the confines of my mind when you ask me this question. I mean, why ask? Clearly, I don’t fit in the 9 to 5 mould and I’m sorry if I offend anyone but neither should you. This is what I love about these personal blogs. I get to speak my mind and entice you to speak yours. 

This past week has been an Epcot Center rocket ride. I honestly do not know how many hours I have worked this week but I can safely assume it’s around 85. And the best corrupt advice I’ve gotten so far is “Watch out, don’t overwork yourself or you’ll burn out and get depressed”. In comparison, my thoughts on this past week have been “I haven’t done quite enough, I’d like to do more next week”. I could not be happier to be getting so much done. I could not be happier overall actually. I love what I do, I love my life partner (shout out to Pamela) and what she is doing, I love my buddies at Father&Son Records. So the very idea that I need to “watch out” for a burn out is quite nonsensical to me. In fact, I’ve been at my most miserable when I did not have enough to do. I feel useless when I can’t contribute to society. I feel powerful and cheerful when I am providing a service of worth to others. 

“Take it easy”, “go slow”, “don’t work too much” are the bear traps of this world. They bite off your feet, slow you down and leave you to be eaten by earthworms. “I’m so depressed though, I need to relax”, you say? Hey buddy, I get it, life gets you down sometimes. Living on this ball floating through space isn’t easy-peasy lemon squeazy. But hell knows you ain’t gonna get better doing nothing and watching garbage on TV. Want to know how to get out of your depressed mind cage? Pick your butt off the ground and get something done. The streets of nearly every city on Earth are littered. Go clean ‘em. Help a friend move into a new place, go volunteer at a homeless shelter, help fundraise for a cause. By golly just do something will ya?! “Oh, but I’m not motivated and stuff”. Call me; I’ll get you out of your bed or off your couch. 

I’ve worked 85 hours (eighty-five, 80-5, LXXXV) this week and I’m walking on sunshine. I feel overworked and about to burn out when I do 40 hours a week. Don’t get tricked by the dilettante’s attitude that you need to “take it easy” and “be careful not to burn out”. 

The happy-and-burnout-proof-life formula: 

You are an extraordinary person + You’ve got extraordinary goals = Put in extraordinary hours.

Alessandre Macchione 

A & R at Father & Son Records

Ingredients: Opinions, life events, burnout-free weeks. May contain trace amounts of emotions.

© Photo by Abbie Bernet