Rendell, Napolitano, and the Exaltation of Exhaustion

This morning on the CBS Early Show I was asked about Ed Rendell's off-mic assessment that Janet Napolitano is a "perfect" choice for Homeland Security Secretary because she has "no life," "no family" and "can devote, literally, 19-20 hours a day" to the job. Did I think his comment was sexist?

I didn't. But I do think it is emblematic of a pervasive misperception in America: the idea that to be a success you have to drive yourself into the ground, and that making work the be-all and end-all of your life is a good thing.

I've touched on this before: The prevailing culture tells us that nothing succeeds like excess, that working 80 hours a week is better than working 70, that being plugged in 24/7 is expected, and that sleeping less and multi-tasking more are an express elevator to the top.

Rendell's paean to workaholism epitomizes this wrong-headed approach to achievement. Indeed, the truth is the exact opposite. It turns out people are not only happier -- they are also much more productive if they are able to get away from work, and renew their passion and focus.

The alternative approach is what has led to America being awash in heart disease, high blood pressure, and other stress-related ailments.

In truth, Napolitano is a voracious reader (devouring one fiction and one non-fiction book at a time) and an avid tennis player (she plays twice a week, and her staff knows not to schedule anything during her "tennis time"). She also loves going to the movies and the opera, hikes and river rafts, and describes climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro as "one of the most memorable experiences of my life."

But that's not the messaging that go-getting Americans think they need to hype in their bios and CVs. What would their hard-charging bosses think?

After his comments became public, Rendell apologized to anyone who may have been offended and, in his defense, said that he too "has no life." And this is supposed to make us feel better about him rather than motivating us to enlist him in Workaholics Anonymous?

"To be Governor and to do your job well," said Rendell, "you can't have a life."

I beg to differ. To be Governor and do your job well, you have to bring more balance to your life -- learn to unplug and recharge. Judgment and wisdom are more than ever what is needed in our leaders, and round-the-clock stress and exhaustion is conducive to neither.

I will appear on PBS' "Charlie Rose" this evening, Thursday, December 4th. Check your local listings.

PS Many of you have been asking us to expand our coverage to encompass more of the world -- and, as the Mumbai attacks made so painfully clear, we are more interconnected than ever. We heard you and have launched a new World section, featuring news and blog posts from across the globe. We are delighted to be adding these international stories and voices to the HuffPost mix. Check it out.

PPS On Monday, I announced the start of our Blogging the Meltdown series, and asked you to send in your stories about how the economic downturn is affecting you, your family, your friends, and your community. The response has been overwhelming. We've collected some of your most moving -- and troubling -- stories here. This is just a first installment -- we intend to regularly feature your first-hand reports from the front lines of this economic battlefield. Thanks to all who shared their stories. And if you haven't yet, please do so by clicking here and filling out a simple form.

PPPS I was on The Daily Show last night. Here is behind-the-scenes video of Jon Stewart stopping by before the show to visit with me and some of our HuffPost editors in the green room. And here is the actual segment from the show. And here video of my appearance this week on Charlie Rose.

Comments

[indy100]

I couldn't agree more Arianna. People who work constantly are some of the most out of touch with reality, and generally the most unhappy. They tend to spread their discontent around to those they work with and live with; hence they often end up alone. Life itself is what matters, the rest is all transient nonsense. We have to work to live, but living to work is completely wrong.

[VTya]

Thank God for Arianna and HPost. The only media outlet where truth and integrity still counts for something! Gov. Rendell made an unfortunate, embarassing remark AGAIN! During the Democratic primaries he said whites in Pennsylvania were not ready to elect an African American for president. Obama won that state on Nov. 4th! Now he makes a disparaging remark about Napolitano's appointment. I think the man is jealous of other people's success! He is probably mad that O has not offered him a position.

[Amina]

As a mental health professional ...I so agree with you Ms. Huffington. Many of my clients are from the
Employee Assistance Programs at various firms and companies. Career/job stressors have a negative impact on family and social relationships which stem from the attitude many have about
good work ethics and how they respond to them.. Balance is the key and you've said it better than most. Thank you for re-visiting this issue as I missed your previous article on the subject.

[girlwild]

I was once a "wage slave." I am now an independent contractor. As an employee, I regularly worked 50-60 hour weeks, weekends and holidays for a low salary. Now I do the same work, often working the same hours per week, but I can choose to take off for a few months, I buy my own insurance and yes I have to pay all FICA (no employer contribution). I am happier, earn more money and have better benefits that I buy.

A lot of people don't have the flexibility of becoming independent contractors, they have to work for someone else. Because of the nature of "health insurance" and its portability limits like pre-existing conditions, people are tied to jobs they hate, managers they don't get along with, and don't have a good quality working life.

I hope the new health care system promised by Obama will help with this situation.

[rabiddog6708]

Americans work too many hours and sometimes two jobs because wages are low and cost of living is high. Also, employers, in general, do not care about their workers....they are just another piece of equipment like The fact that they family, health issues, lives....this means little to the "bottom line" mentality of our society. I (the employer) will cut their hours...cut their benefits....demand perfection....demand they work when ever I need them.....burden them with an unreasonable work load.....Chasing the dollar, companies have lost all compassion for those who make their profits possible.....how much sales will be made or work would get done if there were no workers and the managers and supervisors (and CEOs) had to run everything.

[SeanOcali]

Most people are workaholics because it is expected of them by their employer and/or co-workers. The root of this problem is that there are no white-collar unions. The workforce has changed dramatically, and we're in the midst of a period where the majority of the workforce is slowly being taken advantage of to an increasing degree.

Great timing on this. The small company I work for just moved offices, and I just spent my weekend hooking up computers and such while my boss complained that he may have to sell his Porche because of the hit he took in the stock market.

[Saifi]

In France for example they work no more than 35 hours weekly and they live better than their fellow americans when it comes to limiting stress at work and enjoying life with their family members. It's true that working more for less is an abject fact, but if some changes were to be brought about, it would be to think of ameliorating things in the way that pemit the sense of family to be clearly felt.

[vegasobserver]

In the United States over the past 25 years, we have developed a distinctly American work ethic which says:

"If you're a CEO or top executive, there is no upper limit on your salary, and a bigger salary means you're a better CEO, not the other way around. If you're an employee, there is no upper limit on your work hours, and working more hours means you're a better employee, not the other way around."

[Saifi]

Some politicians try to put forward an argument according to which they ''don't have life'' only because they're so busy caring about the people they serve; in my judgement, it is not a sound reasoning in the sense that they must live their lives and enjoy them as much as they can. Look at President-elect Obama he managed to raise a family, pursue his studies at Harvard and get the highest job in the world. Isn't this the kind of life everyone of should aim at?

By the way I watched the appearance of Arianna on Charlie Rose show, and I liked her simplicity. Thank you

[dharma89]

Arianna,
As always you are on target. However, as a physician (occupational medicine/public health and internal medicine), I take exception to your statement, "The alternative approach is what has led to America being awash in heart disease, high blood pressure, and other stress-related ailments."

These conditions are largely caused by the unhealthy American diet, laden with animal products, oil, and processesd foods. These are the same factors that cause the USA to consume more disease-care (aka "health care") than any nation on the planet. Stress is a confounder for an unhealthy lifestyle.

When politics settles down, perhaps you'll take an in-depth look at why the people of this land are so unhealthy--workaholics or sloths, union and non-union--and why this lifestyle is unsustainable, environmentally and economically.

[BlueTigress]

I worked for a workaholic boss. After 2 1/2 years of arguing with her to have a work/life balance I quit. I was unhappy, sick or miserable in all my off hours and had no quality of life. I believe it damaged my marriage.

She worked all the time because it was all she could do. She had no hobbies and minimal interest in the active social life her husband craved. She was extremely unpopular with all the other managers at the company because she had poor manners. She also lied to me about the amount of vacation time I was allowed.

I took a 25% pay cut, but after a couple of months I woke up on weekdays looking forward to what the day would bring.

If you work long hours because you love what you do, more power to you.

[Pushmepullu]

Arianna, those "hard charging" bosses are sick people. As marginal human beings themselves, they know nobody can live like that but their hatred of humanity is so great, they demand it of their minions.

[WeAreTheBorg]

(Cont) As the rich and powerful continue to skew the system more in their favor, the steep climb to prosperity for the average person has become a deliberately slippery, vertical wall. The term "wage slave" is becoming true. Ask anyone in our "service economy." More workers are getting less for more effort. Worker's health and welfare is going by the wayside and if something doesn't change soon, there's going to be an explosion of anger that will make the outcry over the Wall Street Bailout pale in comparison.

[WeAreTheBorg]

There is a myth that many work these long hours because they want a bigger house or TV, and that they can simply choose not to do so. Not so in my experience.
Many work these hours because their employer demands it. Many employers view their workers as "Human = Resources as Natural = Resources; something to be used up and discarded." If you work long hours; you burn out and lose your job as your performance falls off from exhaustion. If you don't work them; you'll lose your job to someone that will. Welcome to the world of the disposable worker - and there's no recycling center for you! You're screwed either way.
Worker's are viewed as disposable because employers can get away with it. Worker's Compensation, employment law, OSHA? All jokes. I know, because I am partially permanently disabled by my work and had to sue my employer to get what I did from them; < a year's salary. I had to pay my own legal and health insurance bills out of the "settlement," which left me little. That was the best deal I could get. As my lawyer put it, "It's so hard to win a disability case against an employer that you practically need to have the presiding judge witness your boss hit you with a company-owned car. And even then, you may still lose." (cont)

[Sunshine11]

Mr. Rendell's comment is pretty much right on target. Gov. Napolitano is a very "hands-on" person in everthing she does - and she does it well. And it seems to me that the job she is taking on is very much a 24/7 type of job that needs her expertise. I see nothing wrong in devoting one's life to the job, if that is what one wants to do. I have seen Gov. Napolitano devote herself to her job, both as Attorney General for the State of Arizona, and as Gov. for this great state as well. I am absolutely confident that she will do the same as Secretary of Homeland security with the same expertise she always brings to the job at hand and with singleness of heart. She is one fantastic lady, and a great role model for career women. Go Janet!

[KJusko]

Ed Rendell sounds like one of these annoying people who have to know what everyone did on their weekend, like it's a competition. If all you did was read or watch TV or, ahem, blogged, while he fell off a barstool getting shitfaced at the local Holiday Inn, well, that's it, he won.

As far as having a life, well, everyone has a life, but is it on your own terms, or is it one that's been shoved down your throat.

[ConnecticutEG]

I would like to revise the perspective of Rendell's off-beat comment:

Janet Napolitano is a popular Democratic politician who will fit in with the Obama camp.
I would like to offer the suggestion that perhaps this fresh and energetic Governor from Arizona can acheive something important at the Department of Homeland Security.

Although it seems like a brash comment: Since Homeland Security was established the department has cost billions of dollars, Why not devise a plan to spin-off the department with the government budget as a primary reason, force it into extinction and reallocate employees "BACK" or other extant government departments. Is the Homeland Security department truly necessary and does it truly protect the nation?

If Obama is truly a change-agent for the Democracy and a global peacemaker, we just may not need the Homeland Security Department at all. Bringing back the National Guard troops from Iraq and other areas of the world to do their original, assigned job within the United States should be sufficient, along with reestablishing America's important position in international diplomacy scene which existed prior to 2000