Comments on: welcome to the overextended class

By: Overextending yourself « Rooster Made

Overextending yourself « Rooster Made — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:04:39 +0000

[…] In his latest book, Hugh McLeod reemphasized his feeling that overextending yourself is a good […]

By: Labour Day in the 21st century | Broadcasting Brain

Labour Day in the 21st century | Broadcasting Brain — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:14:31 +0000

[…] (or third or…) job or the demands of a profession. Some contend that there is a developing class of overextended people, working long hours in pursuit of goals, dreams, and big […]

By: darrell Morrison

darrell Morrison — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:26:43 +0000

Great post I can attest to this, I am working all the time and always looking to take on more. With time things get more expensive and we all look for the next leap up the ladder. I love what I do and thats what makes it worth all the hard work and dedication, working for yourself has so much freedom in a different way from a 9 to 5.

By: JTH

JTH — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:20:36 +0000

I prefer the term "engaged" As long as I'm enjoying, and/or getting some mental gratification the project ... It ain't "work" if it's fun. The modern world of communication/connectivity allows engagement in a multitude of projects, partnering with those with different skill sets. This also allows enhanced cross fertilization of projects with application of ideas generated from one to another. It also allows business as a non-zero-sum game. You can end up with multiple winners. Even a decade ago, this might be considered "overextended", today, it's only the ability to apply more mental energy, fire more synapses, keep more neurons busy. But just wait till we can "jack in" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromancer

By: Anna

Anna — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:34:26 +0000

Yes, Hugh, you have paid your dues — which is what makes your drive & determination all the more fascinating. It clearly has a different source than to merely prove yourself & succeed. You have already done both. I have not. That is my drive & determination. But, for someone such as yourself, who does not have these stimuli anymore — why “pay the cost” of no life apart from work still?
But then — as you say — anything worth doing has its cost — a cost gladly paid by the person who finds the pursuit of something worth the cost.
Perhaps what has kept me reading your blog all this time is that you remind me, in part, of the idealistic theatre artists of my world. Folks who have bought into the “starving for one’s art” notion. But — only in part do you remind me of them because the other part of you is the pragmatic artist who has gotten past the “starving for art” martyrdom & found a way to be successful without sacrificing your sense of self, what makes you unique as an artist.
In other words, you are not a martyr to your cause. We theatre folk tend to thrive on martyrdom like its our badge of honor. I confess to falling into this category at times!! Valuing the worth of our cause at great cost.
Thanks for responding to my comment and getting me to think about all of this.

By: Nick Smith

Nick Smith — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:42:09 +0000

One man’s cognitive surplus is another man’s meal ticket, and so keeping people in bondage is too good a business model for it change any time soon.
But at what cost? Sell your soul to the Devil or risk poverty, is how most people still view choice.
It takes a brave heart to walk off into the other direction, but IMHO that’s where the real juice lies

By: Gordon

Gordon — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:52:15 +0000

But why are we overextended? I’ve been trying my hardest for years to fight whatever it is that has me working longer just to stay in the same place. So, why is this so?

By: Jessica Meats

Jessica Meats — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:30:31 +0000

Ten jobs? Ten?!
I thought two was hard enough!
I’m feeling exhausted enough from trying to plan the launch events for my novel around a fairly demanding job while still leaving time for my other interests.
If I tried adding another project to the mix, I’d probably collapse from sleep deprivation in a month.
Adding to the discussion about safety & security verses fun & interesting: isn’t it more secure to have options? If one project becomes an absolute flop, your plan B is already in operation so you’re never at the point where you’re so desperate for money that you’ll agree to any job.

By: Mark Griffith

Mark Griffith — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:01:54 +0000

I feel the same way BUT a lot of my over extension is spent on the non work hobby side of things which leads to me creating a lot of freevcontent (pictures & video), but I really love doing it and I always feel like I’m on a mini vacation

By: hugh macleod

hugh macleod — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:00:38 +0000

@ Anna, I find anything worth doing bears tremendous cost. Any parent would know this, as well, of course…
I’m more relaxed about it now, though. I guess I feel I’ve paid my dues, or at least, the vast majority of them.

By: Anna

Anna — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:43:12 +0000

As a single career track mother — I appreciate much of what has been said above.
As for you, Hugh, as a long time reader of this blog I am forever admiring of your individualism, lifestyle/career choices and the incredible energy & focus with which you accomplish all that you do. But I have often been left wondering “at what cost?” I know it’s presumptuous to criticize anyone’s choices in life so I hope I am not doing so. But that is honestly the question that has often lingered in my mind when reading your blog.
But then — we are different people.

By: Jim "Genuine" Turner

Jim "Genuine" Turner — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:29:54 +0000

Cognitive Surplus is such a great phrase its too bad I have none of it. I very much relate. As a stay at home dad of 4 that also has a consulting business and an additional full time job I can completely relate to this. When i explain what I do to people they usually look at me in complete shock and awe or they look at me like I am stupid. Actually that may be the same look I am not sure.

By: hugh macleod

hugh macleod — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:55:56 +0000

@smeade Just to confuse you a little more: The week before Tim Ferris’ “4 Hour Work Week” came out, he emailed out the blue (I had never heard of him up until that point), telling me that my work had inspired him a great deal in the creation of the book
It’s a great read, for sure…

By: smeade

smeade — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:25:25 +0000

I don’t get it. One bestselling author’s telling us to work our buts off 24x7 while another’s touting the “4 Hour Work Week”? It will be interesting to see over time which lifestyle most of us end up following.

By: Tom Obrien

Tom Obrien — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:00:39 +0000

I think the comment about our parents & grandparents spending their cognitive surplus watching TV is a condescending BS and a sweeping generalization. (Do u think TV + web + gaming + texting + FB + Twitter hours now are any less than TV was then? It’s not.)
You are simply describing a life & career choice. Many wear it as a badge of honor (oh the travel, when will I ever get to inbox zero, etc.). That’s all it is. Not better, not worse than other ways ppl organize their lives to get what they want. Just different.
TO’B