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working more than 80 hours a week isn't sustainable over long periods of time, if anything it will just hasten a huge burnout. anyone can work 80-100 hours a week - it doesn't mean they're going to get more done. work in bursts when you are most efficient, that seems to work best for me.

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Maybe for you, but some people can pull it off.

Jeff Immelt, CEO of GEO (http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/02_04/b3767079....) boasted that he worked 100 hour weeks for two decades.

I've heard plenty of stories of people working crazy hours (the Mint.com guy built his prototype doing 100 hour weeks I believe) and then pulling back to something more reasonable (or not.) Sure, it might not be sustainable in the long run - but hell, life in general isn't sustainable in the long run. Sometimes you gotta chase those dreams, regardless of the cost.

Working for 80+ hours a week may not be sustainable, but doing something interesting, challenging and enjoyable for 80 hours a week certainly is.

I consider working on my start-up to be something I do because I enjoy it, not because of external pressures. Building a tech business is just a very enjoyable way to pass the time. I'd be doing that even if I had $100m in the bank.

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