More Time at the Office

I was listening the other night to the Mixergy podcast, where he was talking with Bridget Harris about how they grew their company. At one point, Andrew (I guess I’m ok referencing podcast hosts by their first name), brought up the age-old saying that basically says something like: “On your deathbed, are you going to wish that you had spent more time at the office?” The expected answer is no, but Andrew responded that he is probably one of the few in the world who probably will wish that he had.

I’m with him. I’m sure we’re not alone.

I’m pretty sure on my deathbed, I won’t have any regrets of those times that I spent pursuing my work. In fact, just looking over the past several years, I deeply wish that I had more time to devote to those things that I’m passionate about (aka: work).

Throughout history, there have been people who loved what they did, and worked right up until the end of their lives. I doubt any of them regretted their time spent working on projects and business that they cared deeply about. Frank Lloyd Wright, perhaps America’s greatest architect designed a full third of his total portfolio of buildings in the last decade of his life. Steve Jobs, who knew his time to live was extremely limited, was working on the day before he died. There are countless examples of people who loved the work they did so much, that they worked until the end. I doubt any of them regretted it.

In fact, I hope that’s how I’ll go out — so passionate and interested in my work that I keep doing it until the end.

Some of us are just passionate about what we do. For us, working is enjoyable and brings satisfaction and fulfillment to our lives. We love the act of exploration and creation. We love potentially changing the world, and making it a better place. Why wouldn’t I want to spend as much time as possible doing that?