The post was originally published in Polish on Artur’s LinkedIn profile. Artur kindly agreed that we repost what we think is of great value to our readers.
In your twenties, you’re chasing money and a career. When you’re 67, you look back at what you’ll never get back and settle your life…
‘Bill Gates has joined the ranks of those who emphasize the benefits of achieving a better work-life balance,’ reports Fortune. In his speech to graduates of Northern Arizona University, the founder of Microsoft advised them to remember that ‘life is more than work.’
One of the richest people in the world says openly that you should not work too much and focus on family and friends.
Reading such confessions of a billionaire, you can shrug your shoulders and say ‘well, everyone knows that.’ On the other hand, in the face of aging and passing, we are all equal – each of us will die at some point.
The question is what we leave behind and how we use our time. Looking back, will we regret (like Gates) or will we be satisfied with our choices?
It’s a beautiful sunny day. So how about not sitting and reading this and going for a walk with family or friends instead?
The billionaire rubbed the comment section somewhat the wrong way:
Ok, ok. This comes from a man who has such a fortune that he has not had to work for a long time, while for the vast majority of people work (also overtime) is a necessity and not a choice.
Why does anyone even think that it is worth quoting billionaires detached from our reality?
Let’s remember that he talks from the USA, where there is virtually no public health service, the protection of tenants’ rights boils down to the fact that if you do not have rent it is a matter of a week before you become homeless with your whole family, and the ‘elite’ graduating from higher education enters professional life with a student loan.
– Łukasz Kurzawa, Technical Manager at ZestaPRO
When I heard about it on the radio, I almost spat on myself… It seems to me that making news out of something like this is nonsense. If it wasn’t Gates, would it be as loud? Probably not. In general, it is like a mockery of ordinary people for whom work is often not a choice but a duty…
As for Gates, his authority builds on the fact that he didn’t waste the ‘headstart’ that his parents gave him, and that he had talent and used his skills, while constantly developing them. But would he have achieved the same if he hadn’t come from a less wealthy family? Honestly, I doubt it. A lot of people could make a huge fortune, but they had a worse start or didn’t bump into the right headhunter.
– Żaneta Jakubowska, Advisor on Energetics at Energia Pomorze Sp. z o.o.
If Bill understood that, then I think there is still hope for all those achievers, competitors and maximizers focused solely on their professional / financial goals. On the other hand, research shows that Generation Z already understood what Bill is talking about. And then you read about how the mentioned workaholics can’t get along with young people.
– Dr Jakub Bis, Professor at Lublin University of Technology
Very interesting in the context of how he watched through the window, which of his employees left the parking lot and when.
– Jan Miedzik, Group Leader at Sonova Group
Such wise words from the rich are the same as when beautiful people say that beauty is not important. It’s easy to be a sage in a warm armchair…
– Sebastian Staniszewski, CMO at CB S.A.
Creator, entrepreneur and investor – I write about my experiences with startups, technology and business.
