I will work until the grave. But not in the way I did at 30
I am convinced that one should work for a long time, but the approach to the work must change along with us. In this article, I will explain why one day off is no longer enough for a mature entrepreneur, how I formulate my ideal vacation schedule, and why I believe that trying to run a business at 70 the same way one did at 30 is a path to disappointment.
The Math of Rest: Why Two Days Off Are a Necessity
From my perspective, an entrepreneur should have two full days off per week. If we are talking about a student, perhaps one day is enough for them: to tidy up their affairs, rest, and meet friends. But for an adult burdened with business and family, this is categorically insufficient.
When you have a family, you are obligated to invest time in it. This includes household matters, shopping, and, most importantly, joint leisure time with children and your spouse. An adult also needs time for friends and loved ones.
Two days off is the ideal format. This time allows you not only to handle family matters but also to be emotionally recharged: to listen to something interesting, watch something inspiring, and get new impressions. One day is not enough for a family person. If you neglect this rule, life will fly by unnoticed. There is a risk of looking back one day and seeing only how I built a business, solved problems, and earned money. Such a retrospective will contain too little genuine pleasure and real emotions.
The Formula for the Ideal Vacation
My approach to extended rest is two vacations per year, each lasting about two weeks, plus perhaps smaller trips.
Snowboarding is mandatory for me. This is a family format: riding takes up only part of the time, and over 50% of the trip is dedicated to spending time with family and friends. But I can also go snowboarding with an all-male company. This is a completely different vibe, a different energy, when you actively conquer various slopes for an entire week.
I believe that the "twice for two weeks" format is optimal. I do not understand what one would do on vacation for a whole month. I would probably go crazy from a month of idleness; it’s unrealistic for me. And two weeks allow for a quality reboot.
Plans for the Future: Real Estate "Test Drive" and Family Logistics
Life circumstances are changing. With the birth of my son Mark, issues of logistics and choosing locations for vacations require review. Taking a small child to the sea in the heat might be uncomfortable for them. Therefore, I am currently considering a different scenario for summer holidays: instead of hot Miami, living in New York State, in the Upstate New York region.
There are many beautiful lakes and a milder climate there. I have an idea to purchase a house there in the future that would be about an hour's drive from a ski resort. This would allow us to spend the summer there and come to ride in the winter.
However, I approach this issue pragmatically. For buying a house to truly bring pleasure, one must first get to know the location. So, we will first rent accommodation, live there, and assess the lifestyle. And only if we like the place and the rhythm of life will we consider purchasing our own property.
The Evolution of the Entrepreneur: From "Physical Exercise" to Strategy
Undoubtedly, the foundation of everything is physical condition. Therefore, I engage in physical exercise, monitor my nutrition, and take care of my health. But upon this foundation must be built the continuous development of intelligence — learning, spiritual growth, and mastering new technologies. This is what provides true energy.
I am a realist and understand that no matter how much I take care of myself, age takes its toll, and the dynamic changes. The way I worked at 30 will be absolutely unacceptable for me at 70. Sometimes you look at older entrepreneurs who, at 70, try to "dance" behind the counter of their hardware store as if they were still 30. This sight evokes more pity and a desire to say: "Damn it, you are not 30 anymore; you must work differently."
I plan to work until the grave, but the nature of my work will continue to transform. With age, we accumulate experience, wisdom, and precision in decision-making.
Warren Buffett is a classic example of an entrepreneur who radically changes his approach to work with age. In his youth, he analyzed every company himself and worked as a "manual operator" of investments. But after 60, he completely shifted his focus: he stopped dealing with operations, handed over management to the leaders of the acquired companies, and began to concentrate on strategic decisions, the principles of asset selection, and the ideology of Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett emphasizes that the mature entrepreneur wins not with speed but with precision. His productivity after 70 increased precisely because he gave up operational burdens and kept only those tasks where his experience and thinking created value. The natural trajectory for an entrepreneur's development is a shift from operative and tactical management toward strategy and ideology. One must manage a team through meanings, transmitting one's ideas so that they are embodied by the hands of other people.
Fortunately, I chose a profession that allows me to age productively. Creating quality content, writing books, and articles is possible at 70, 80, and 90. These products do not get worse with years — on the contrary, thanks to experience, they only get better. And in this, I see the main advantage of my activity.
