Significant Career Lesson From a Chief of Staff at Mesh
Caldwell, Mesh's Chief of Staff, reflects that a crucial career lesson, though not fully mastered, is prioritizing self-care amidst the demanding "hustle culture" of startups. Maintaining well-being is vital for long-term success, as "working 80-hour weeks for a year straight is not a good recipe for a good second year."
Executive/Leadership, Stress Management, Resilience, Work-Life Balance, Burnout Prevention
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Caldwell Clarke
Chief of Staff
Mesh
University of Maryland
UCLA Anderson School of Management - MBA
Engineering - Mechanical
Gaming, Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Prioritize self-care alongside hard work to avoid burnout.
2. Understand that career success is a marathon, not a sprint.
3. Recognize and avoid the pitfalls of startup 'hustle culture'
Transcript
What is one lesson that you've learned that has proven significant in your career?
I think it's arguable whether or not I've actually learned this, but it's become very apparent a number of times. I think it's really easy to get sucked into the hustle culture of startups.
While working hard is important, you also have to make sure you take care of yourself. It can be very easy to get burned out, especially if you're taking higher-risk bets.
Burnout is really tough. It basically means you're in it for the long run. I know it's super cliché, but the idea is that it's a marathon, not a sprint.
Making sure you take care of yourself so you can come in the next day is really valuable. Working 80-hour weeks for a year straight is not a good recipe for a good second year.
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