Being in a position where you lead a group of uber-talented people is a deep privilege. The sacrifice for this privilege is that the only way it is sustainable is if you keep your hustle level to 100%. I remember a decade ago a CEO friend told me he stays at work till 2am every day- he tried once to reduce it to "only" 1am, and within a month his lieutenants effort dropped to 90% and the level below to 70%. Back to 2am he went. I think about this story often. He's compounded this now 20 year effort, and his team have had several historical achievements and are having a profound impact on humanity. Challenges for any business keep coming, especially if the growth mode dial is kept at 'High'. The only way to lead through this is by eating burnout for breakfast. It doesn't mean ignore it, it means hack it. This summer my 'vacation' was playing 12 hours a day of world class poker for 20 days, a grueling task in and of itself if trying to maintain an elite competitive level. Normally I can take a bit of break from work and clear my head during these 20 days, but with markets busy and Selini in growth mode it was impossible. It meant laptop out at the table sometimes around hands or on breaks. It meant getting back to room exhausted from dialed-in day at 2am, and catching up w/ work for another 3 hours. Emotionally and physically this was so intensely grueling, that going straight back into "only" work mode feels almost like a vacation. Its like taking off a weighted vest- you're still running but the mental hack of going at Nightmare Difficulty on the game and dialing back just a bit feels downhill now. Am I sure on choosing this kind of tough life? Actually I feel like there is no choice to make. It is the responsibility I have. Now what am I gonna do with all these 12 hours I've freed up from my day? I think August is gonna be Jordi content month..