I worked 7 days a week in the early days of my career as a composer, often in an all-consuming terror that I was going to fail somehow, or fall behind my peers. It’s funny how habits are built. 8 years on, working on the weekend seems fairly normal to me, and it is something I do regularly - not out of stress and panic, but because it seems normal. The idea of a 5 day work week sounds like a nice idea to me, of course. But I’ve gotten so used to working in some way every day that the weekend is by no means sacred to me. Has it helped me to progress faster? Undoubtedly, yes. Have I sacrificed much in the process? Possibly. I’ve chosen to do it. I do not resent the idea of working on the weekend, and I take breaks when I can, or it would not be sustainable. But I was self-employed and building my own career from scratch, on my own terms. It’s not a badge of honor. It doesn’t matter if you’re working weekends if your output is crap. I would not shame or compel anyone else to do the same. And I do not think employers should shame or compel their young employees to do the same under the guise of career progress. It is not a practice I seek to normalize, nor would I require anyone who works with me to do the same. But sometimes, with nothing else to carry you along a difficult path, you have no option but to outwork everyone else. Especially if you’re a founder, self-employed, or some other flavor of person whose trajectory is largely self-determined. You have to work smart AND hard. I wish it weren’t so. I truly do. But you must do it on your own terms. The question is - how much are you willing to sacrifice? #music #creativity #career #personaldevelopment