[NY10]

I work on Wall Street and even though it closes at 4 Mon - Fri I usually don't leave my office until after 9.

Work is usually 15-16 hour days at least 5 days a week sometimes weekends too.

Finding the balance between working hard and still having a life. I put in for my vacation this week for Dec and I have to make sure my dates are even approved first.

I know my job is stressful and there's a lot of running around, staring at computers, talking on the phone. When I get home I shower eat a little something and want to be in peace. My friends complain cause I never hang out my girl is impossible because we never see each other and she feels that she always has to call me.

I'm on the phone all day I don't want to do the same at night. I love my job and what I do so slowing down and switching paths now isn't an option.

I do know I'm exhausted by the time I leave. It's 11:40 now and I'm on the train heading home to sleep for a few hours before I go back into the office tomorrow (Saturday) to finish a deadline.

[M_Six]

Oy. I don't envy you and you probably make 2 or 3 times what I do. But I get just over 5 weeks of vacation time each year and can take those days whenever I wish. I can even bank them up to 9+ weeks. My freedom to take time off means more to me than a bigger salary.

Working like you do, you may end up in the 1% or better and laugh at me. But I love my free time. I wouldn't trade it for twice my salary.

[fareast1]

Venting?
Been on both sides of this and can tell you it is not worth the price. You will wake up one day and take stock in what is really important.
Im guessing you have been at it for less than three years, and are probably right out of college. Start looking for your exit, a gig where you can throttle back with but still progress professionally.

[kscarrol]

I was in investment banking for 15+ years and finally walked away. The money can be hard to leave behind but the work-life balance improvement has MORE than made up for the lower income. When you're young without a family, it may be palatable but it will grind on you. Put away as much as you can and when you've got a cushion, move on. When you're older and looking back on your life you'll wish you'd spent more time enjoying life rather than just earning money. Easier for me to say now but I'm glad I made the move...

[bimmette]

We ALWAYS have a choice.
Bust your ass while you're young. Once you can afford to relax a bit, then slow down.

[vsix]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Oy. I don't envy you and you probably make 2 or 3 times what I do. But I get just over 5 weeks of vacation time each year and can take those days whenever I wish. I can even bank them up to 9+ weeks. My freedom to take time off means more to me than a bigger salary.

Working like you do, you may end up in the 1% or better and laugh at me. But I love my free time. I wouldn't trade it for twice my salary.

But thats probably the result of it. I know alot of, not even just wealthy but filthy rich people, that are now struggeling with poor health
Right because of that fact of overdoing it in their youth.
One guy did the same as OP and had like 6 heart attacs in a row, when he got in his late 30's. Now he is in a wheel chair, he is having his sexy wife, bodyguards and drivers, housemates and sitters but still a shitty way to end up.
He, when you talk with him, blames everything on the extreme anount of rush that he experienced during his short but very intense period of working. This caused so much stress for him, that finally made him ill.

[vsix]

Originally Posted by bimmette

We ALWAYS have a choice.
Bust your ass while you're young. Once you can afford to relax a bit, then slow down.

Not the whole truth, you forgot something:

Bust your ass for your ideas, before others do it for their ideas, when you're young.

When I was young, so much people ( jobs ) took advantage of me...
I was betrayed, lied and money was taken away on every paycheck.
My ideas had been stolen from me, sold and others lived the life in the "lime light" instead of me.
You, OP just have to realise, that not everyone that surrounds you, means you good. There are alot of jobs outthere, that won't take you that much of your life time but still give you the money you deserve.
Youth = learning period, understanding the work system, getting to realize soon enough, bad blood sucking vampire jobs.

Young brother I wish you ALOT of health AND success from tte bottom of my heart, just don't get dragged away buy a bad and ( to much ) life wasting job.

[Sidewinderpb]

With those hours I'd assume you're probably in IB, maybe PE. I love working more than anything. Make me your intern for the summer and I will alleviate as much as I can. Current finance/Econ undergrad with a nauseating work ethic.

[M3 Number 86]

What?! Make your money and get out. You should be making at least 400k/year by now right? Save and make investments then get a Cush job.

[hellokitty]

How old are you?

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by fareast1

Venting?
Been on both sides of this and can tell you it is not worth the price. You will wake up one day and take stock in what is really important.
Im guessing you have been at it for less than three years, and are probably right out of college. Start looking for your exit, a gig where you can throttle back with but still progress professionally.

This is the truth. I hope OP listens to what you are telling him.

[jtodd_fl]

I'm on a literary kick today, so I'll give you Hunter S. Thompson, all the more apropos since this is a car forum:

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!?

[PoorLurker]

Originally Posted by hellokitty

?

Nominated for best new poster. BRB ... Making DearDaniel username.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by jtodd_fl

I'm on a literary kick today, so I'll give you Hunter S. Thompson, all the more apropos since this is a car forum:

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!?

I'm sideways in smoke all the time. I'm winning. Lol

[cprx7]

some people are just wired to operate and live their lives the way you are. However, the simple fact that you are writing about on this forum tells me that it's not the life you want. Do it for some time, save as much as you can and then try to find the best possible way out without making drastic financial sacrifices. You don't have to make a half million a year to be happy. You only live once

[smoosh]

Make money, save it, get out. Simple.

You're (likely) young. 13, 16, 18 hour work days, doesn't matter. Make money, save it, get out.

[TheHouseWon]

I would rather work less and spend more time with friends and family. The trick is to get paid A LOT for the 35 hours per week you work. There is no point in being a workaholic if you're not going to enjoy the spoils at a relatively young age; you can't comfortably fly all over the world and hike mountains at age 65.

[kprocivic]

I work in business banking and I bust my ass while I'm still young. Once I get 10 years in I'll transition to working smarter not harder. I do understand what Investment bankers go through, but after seeing those bonuses, suck that shit up.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

What?! Make your money and get out. You should be making at least 400k/year by now right? Save and make investments then get a Cush job.

Lucky you're able to be there. I wanted to do this out of college but per the DoD I wasn't allowed to

10 years has passed now and technically I could pass the have you ever been convicted of blah blah in the last ten years but I'm pretty sure no one would still hire me. It's all good I make decent money now in Corp fp&a but I would have definitely worked my ass off and have no time to enjoy for an amount of years to do exactly what I suggested and be enjoying life later.

[Lucky John]

Make and bank all the money you can while your young. Shelter and invest that money and plan your exit. I assure you from experience, you cannot work 70 hour work weeks and have a family.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by bimmette

Bust your ass while you're young. Once you can afford to relax a bit, then slow down.

Are you sure?
You can never have so much fun as when you were young, and now you're throwing that time away for some company.

[kprocivic]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Are you sure?
You can never have so much fun as when you were young, and now you're throwing that time away for some company.

that my friend is opportunity cost