When I was in banking, I felt like I could work anytime, anywhere, for as long as needed. Of course, those “100 hour” work weeks really aren’t 100 hours of nonstop productive work (waiting for comments all the time), but I still felt like I had an incredible work ethic. Now that I moved on to growth / venture and have much more autonomy with my work, I feel like my productivity has gone down, especially since I’m working remotely. I love being able to control my schedule, but I’m not grinding for hours on end that same way I would in banking.
In college, I would always work in the study lab / library since I’m most driven by being surrounded by peers - but I don’t have that option during Covid now. I still have that passion to absolutely crush it, but I’m not channeling it correctly and now am working much slower and inefficiently than I used too. Maybe this has something to with my work being more creative and thoughtful compared to the logo moving and comps spreading I was doing in banking. Any one else feel the same way? Maybe this will all change when we go back to the office, but would like some feedback for the near term. I already deleted all social media, did help a bit.
Time put into work as you move up to higher ranks does not correlate with actual value of work output as it relates to clients.
You just need to break up the link between hours and value.
Couldn’t agree more.
Ditto. Suggest thinking about how much value you are adding rather than hours you are putting in.
x2. I also have lost motivation. I’ve had nothing to do for the past 2 days and instead of email my staffer I’ve just been reading about interesting companies, doing interview and b-school prep, etc. I know I should ask for work: I mean, what will I even say when my staffer calls? At this point, part of me is thinking, who cares? Which is crazy as I’ve been a lifelong overachiever. Feels like a mix of The Graduate and Office Space
I ask for work and do not do this. If they call, just say things slowed down but do not ask for work, if will always find you. I did this 2 weeks ago and got staffed 4 times
Ah yes a 1st year analyst in IB telling a 2nd year associate in PE (who probably went through banking) what to do
I did not come from banking but I have had a similar transition. What I realized was that productivity at earlier levels is checking the boxes, e.g. moving the logo in the right place, sending that email, PDFing the excel, etc. As you get to a higher level and hopefully have to think more about the work it takes longer to check any one box which makes you doubt yourself/productivity and then it becomes a cycle. In my case, I also just said F it, bc in PE its never-ending, no matter how much I get ahead of my work or do there is always more to be done with no increase in value (learning, money, etc.) so these days I try to do the bare minimum required and focus on other stuff like b school prep or reading. I have worked in VC before and its the same thing in my experience.
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