Henry Ford is reported to have said: “I do not believe that a man can ever leave his business. He ought to think of it by day and dream of it by night.” Seriously? That’s all there is to life? Nothing but business?
If he did indeed say this, and was implying a 24-7 business preoccupation, we must hope that he wasn’t addressing small business people like digital and sign shop owners. Today we know more about burnout and balanced, healthy lifestyles. And neglecting family, recreation, and ongoing education to be totally preoccupied with your business, hardly seems balanced or healthy. It’s flirting with burnout.
A humourous take on this obsession with “grinding” and a reminder that nobody on their death bed has ever been known to say that they wish they’d worked more is in this Pardis Parker Ted Talk. While Parker is funny, the underlying message is about a balanced existence and a reminder of the dangers of overdoing work.
Henry Ford was full of it.