Mindful Monday | Work as a status symbol

Could you work 130 hours in a week? The answer is yes.Marissa Mayer

Wow. Could you work 130 hours in a week? Sure. Do you want to? Not really.Does that make me lazy?Gosh, I hope not.I work a lot. And I work from home. I sometimes take naps in the middle of the day. And then work some more.When I look around me, I see a world in crisis.I see tremendous possibilities and opportunities as well.What does Marissa Mayer see?Or Tim Cook? Or Jeff Immelt?For a glimpse, check out this piece in The Guardian.I'm committed to spending my time here on the planet being a part of the solution to what I think is breaking our nation (and really the world) apart and frustrating so many people.Compromising families and keeping so many folks struggling to make ends meet.And doing all the above with literally too much stuff around them, demanding their attention to care for them.That's not a euphemism. I don't mean peopleI mean things.Years ago I read a great book: Your Money or Your Life!It's influenced how I look at the world and the choices I make every day.I don't mind hard work.I enjoy my work.In fact, I'm writing this on my day off. Oops. Guess it's not any more.But when I'm finished with this piece, I'm going to turn off the computer and visit with a sick friend.I don't get kudos for being a person.It isn't noble or exceptional to show up in ways that are authentic to one's values. It required.Now, if Marissa Mayer were in a lab figuring out a way to beat pancreatic cancer, maybe 130 hours a week could be justified.But at Google? Or Yahoo? Or Apple or GE?Not that these CEOs work isn't important but when work becomes the new status symbol and these titans start talking about never stopping, what is that saying to the rest of us?That if we want to survive, we need to work just as hard?Are they setting the bar for themselves or by extension for the rest of us as well?Is the idea that working that long should be the new normal?Or it just a way to justify a salary that otherwise would have people rioting in the streets and pulling down buildings?Is our greatest purpose on this planet to amass wealth?At what cost?How much is enough?Remember, it's your money or your life ... apparently even for the super wealthy, you can't have both.Screenshot image from The Guardian piece linked inside.