“I took a red-eye to New York for a 45-minute meeting.” Absurd, we both agreed. My friend’s a partner at a “Big 3” consulting firm. 22 people flew from across the country for this meeting. He’s 43 with 3 kids under the age of 7 and lives in LA. (So smack in the middle of [the Magic Window]().) I couldn’t help but wonder, what did his kids think? ![Blog post image](/images/blog/image-1024x573.png) ## “20 years from now, the only people who will remember you worked late are your kids.” This [Reddit post]() hit me and a lot of ambitious professionals like a ton of bricks. _AND –_ I don’t think it’s that simple. Instead, let’s look at [a continuum of work](). On one extreme you have: ## 1\. Always work late and never see your kids There may be several reasons to do so. Covering your [family’s basic needs](). Putting a roof over their heads. Food on the table. Building [a rainy day fund](). But most of you reading this post have already accomplished this. And much more. So what else keeps you tethered to your laptop, late at night? Is it: Pure pride in your craft? Earning enough to live a dang good life? [Making an impact]()? Playing [status games](). And winning them. Yet once you cover your basic needs, you’d be foolish to ignore [the costs of your success](). Which takes us to the other end of the spectrum. ## 2\. Never work late and spend tons of time with your kids One shouldn’t assume that this is the best outcome either. Yes, there’s the [Magic Window]() when you are the center of your kids’ world. And they adore every bit of you. (I’m in it. It’s pretty fucking rad. I’m also told it ends around 10 years old.) But work brings more than a paycheck. It brings structure. Purpose. Accolades. Meaning. Impact. Self-worth. And negotiating both ends of this spectrum is a tricky dance for any ambitious parent. ## 3\. But be careful of self-justifying behavior > “I do it for the kids.” I work my butt off – _for the kids_. It’s a common response. “My hard work is how they get the iPads, vacations, summer camps, [529s]() and [this nice house]() we live in.” And while it’s true – “I do it for the kids” often obfuscates a deeper motivation. Ambitious people [like the taste of success](), because it feels good. Damn good. But like a red-eye for a 45-minute meeting, success typically has an associated cost. And cloaking your desire for success with “I do it for the kids” is a brilliant act of psychological jiu-jitsu. So to you, ambitious person, I say: > Why are you truly, working late? ## Here’s how we can help you * [The Life Operating System](): Your home base for personal productivity. It combines tasks, notes, project management and a CRM in one place. * [Supercharge your Productivity](): Learn how our $10K Work method can help you improve your mind, career and relationships. * [Apply for our Group Coaching:]() Are you an executive or founder undergoing a career change? We’ll give you frameworks and accountability for this transition. * [The RadReads Newsletter](): Sign up for 5 actionable insights each Saturday for a life well-lived.