Pushing your limits
2006.08.09
A few of my best friends are in Japan, doing their higher studies. One of them has come back on vacation, and while talking to him I was amazed to hear about the insane hours he’s working there. Apparently he gets two hours of sleep before heading off to work on the night shift at a restaurant, and then comes back to have one more hour of sleep before going to uni the next day. I never thought the human body could endure such torment, seeing how I get dizzy after a couple of days of sleep deprivation. I mean, it’s not like my friend is using polyphasic sleep, but here he was, fit as a fiddle, and yet sleeping only three hours a day.
Apart from sleep, this also reveals a rather strange aspect of us Sri Lankans - we’re able to work our asses off when we’re abroad, but return to regular sloth-mode when back here. It must be something in the climate around these parts I guess.
However, I’ve learnt from my friend that I could do better. Looking back at my regular schedule I see piles of wasted hours, even though I do get a fair amount of work done on several fronts. It’s more embarassing than amusing, I must admit. Does this mean Vesess could’ve become another 37Signals by now, had I, and our team, truly worked to our full potential? Aren’t we already working at full capacity? Are these “wasted hours” really wasted, or do they provide essential brewing time for ideas and creative concepts?
I guess we’ll soon find out. Last week, Vesess became a JoomlaShack partner, which will probably see us taking up projects at a rate we’ve never done before. They need quick turnaround time, and the same level of quality throughout. It’s the ideal challenge for a small yet growing startup like ours, not to mention a definite boost to our recognition-craving egos. Maybe this is the beginning of bigger and better things to come. Maybe it’s time to really cut down on reddit time, close that feed reader, and get real™.
6 Comments
Comments Feed
Mat
August 9th, 2006 at 7:10 am
I wouldn’t feel too bad.
I mean, it’s not like you haven’t updated this site in months. Now that would be embarassing.
Prabhath
August 9th, 2006 at 8:45 am
Ahaha… so true. Com’on Mat, give us an update!
Kishore
August 9th, 2006 at 8:54 am
Hmm… I would not agree that sleeping less gets more work done. Sleep can be an useful weapon. Lol.
Anyway, maybe this all due to Parkinson’s law? That would probably explain why some students who cramp get better marks those who would have prepared over a longer period of time.
And also, the fact that some people work their asses off when they are abroad: I just think they are paid better, and so they (are expected to) do so.
Time you enjoy wasting maybe is not time wasted after all ;)
Lakshan
August 9th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
I also had the same question for a while. Actually I was also doubting whether I have to get up until 2 am to be a real geek. On my personal experience, good sleep can make you more creative and innovative. It refreshes your mind and makes you look at the same problem on a different and easy perspective.
Asela
August 10th, 2006 at 9:17 am
Ooi, I updated my blog after a decade. Fired Sage and, here’s what I see!
Sure we have to push our limits, specially when you are in your twenties, but I certainly won’t recommend Japanese working style. That way you could build a country. But you have to sacrifice few things on the way.. hmm.. say family life, happiness…
See how Sri Lanka and Japan sit very closely on The Map of Happiness? (Man, do I envy those scandinavians!)
But hey, I’m all for getting real - the smatter way :)
Mag
August 20th, 2006 at 2:57 pm
There is so many weblogs that are updated by minute, but they do not contain anything that is truly useful inside though. It’s always quality that matters, not quantity.