The Real Problem with Glorifying 60-Hour Work Weeks

(And why burnout isn’t just about the hours you’re logging)

There’s been so much noise lately from founders and CEOs glorifying 60-hour work weeks like it’s some kind of badge of honor. And honestly, nothing boils my blood more than leaders bragging about how they expect employees to put in 60, 70, even 80 hours a week.

Now if you’ve followed me for a while, you know I talk a lot about burnout, overwork, and how career growth doesn’t have to come at the expense of your well-being.

So let me be clear:

I’m not saying you can coast your way to a thriving career. 

And I’m not saying ambition is a problem (anyone who knows me knows I’ve always been ambitious).

But what I can say—after nearly 30 years of experience—is that grinding yourself down for someone else comes at a cost. And that cost is often emotional.

My own experience

I know what it’s like to put in long hours. I’ve done it—at startups, at mid-sized companies, at Google. And right now, I’m actually working more than I ever did before, juggling my business with my 9-to-5 at Google.

Here’s the difference: I don’t feel burnt out. I feel energized.

And it’s not because I haven’t experienced burnout. I have—and it took me over a year to recover. But the truth is, back then I wasn’t even working as many hours as I am now.

So why wasn’t I okay then, but I’m okay now?

Because the work I’m doing now feels meaningful. I have agency. I choose it. And I’m the one who benefits from it.

If I were producing this kind of output for someone else’s bottom line—without ownership, without choice, without equitable compensation—I’d be burnt out in no time.

The problem with hustle culture

That’s the real issue with hustle culture, especially when people in power push the idea that 60+ hours a week is just the “cost of success.”

It’s not just wrong—it’s an abuse of power.

Employees feel obligated to comply, because who’s going to risk their job by pushing back? Especially in today's job market.

And let’s be honest about what they’re really asking people to sacrifice: hours and days they’ll never get back. Time with family. Birthdays and milestones. Critical doctor’s appointments. Not to mention the long-term effects of chronic stress.

Sure, if you’re the founder with equity, the sacrifice might feel worth it—you’re the one who stands to benefit most. But the employees don’t get a bigger slice of the pie for putting in more hours. They’re giving up their lives for someone else’s dream, while putting their own on hold.

And oh yeah, what about those promises of equity payouts? Let’s be real: how often does that actually happen?

The truth no one talks about

It's my firm belief that a lot of these leaders glorifying overwork aren’t actually working efficiently. If your company needs people grinding 60–80 hours a week to function, this isn't high growth—it's disorganization and chaos. Your priorities, processes, and systems—if you even have them—are broken.

The brain isn’t a machine. When you run it constantly without rest, performance declines. Creativity drops. Decision-making gets fuzzy. Everything takes longer.

But when you’re rested and have boundaries, your brain performs at its best—efficient, creative, high-quality.

That’s why burnout is less about workload and more about emotional depletion. It’s what happens when you don’t feel valued, when you lack autonomy, when you’re stuck reacting to chaos instead of doing meaningful work.

Questions worth asking

Here's something to reflect on. If you’re working long hours right now, pause and ask yourself:

• Am I doing work that energizes me—or depletes me?

• Do I feel in control of my time?

• Am I making an impact—or just keeping up?

Because despite what some tech bros would have you believe, success doesn’t come from logging 60+ hours.

It comes from working with intention, focusing on what matters, and protecting your energy—so you can actually show up at full capacity.

And One more thing...

If this spoke to you, I created a free guide called Boundary Setting for Burnout.

It walks you through the exact steps to start protecting your time, energy, and well-being—without guilt.

You don’t need to prove your worth by doing more than is sustainable. You just need to reclaim your autonomy.

👉 Download the worksheet here