More on ridiculous work hours
Here's what I don't get. What compels people to continue working in that environment? My wife was telling me about something she read recently in one of her graduate nutrition classes about the things that motivate people, and chief among them was survival, which relates to food and shelter. Fear is clearly a motivator when considering the possibility you and your family can't "survive" without the job. I remember how upset I was when I got laid-off for the first time, shortly after I bought my house. Talk about living in fear.
But at what cost? At what point do people say, "This is no way to live?" I mean, if we're lucky enough to do something we really like, it's generally OK to spend a lot of time doing it, but if it's your entire life, you're going to miss something. Balance is not an easy trick to pull off, but without that balance you're going to fall down.
Stephanie, my wife, was fortunate enough last year to make a serious realization about what she really wanted out of her professional life, and I had a similar realization earlier this year. Six months ago, I quit working for The Man. Despite taking an 80% pay cut (not counting future income from the book I wrote), I have never been happier in the decade I've been out of school. My financial security falling into my own hands was scary, but things you have more direct control of are a lot easier to deal with than those you can't control.
I'm not trying to brag or pat myself on the back here, I'm just trying to offer some perspective about what constitutes success or security. Don't wait until you're 60 to ask the hard questions. You technies are smart people. You can figure out a way to make it work.