Igor Lysenko

Yesterday, I came across a job posting from a specific SF company that offered Yesterday I came across a job posting from a specific SF company that offered a salary of 250k 1M (including equity), but realistically, I don't think they have that money; they're just grinding to satisfy investors and succumb to too much hustle culture.

Requirement: be available on-site from 9 AM to 9 PM 6 days a week in the office (and I bet even Sunday would be dedicated to meeting some team members in "free time"). In addition, they were willing to hire those who would relocate to SF.

For me, productivity means getting (more) results faster in less time. My goals for 2026 are closely linked to the fact that I want to learn a lot of things, which will require a lot of concentration.

Therefore, I think that a large part of what I want to gain will be ensured by:

I ve been watching the discussions here over the holidays, and it s inspiring to see so much passion. But it also got me thinking. After 35 years in the entrepreneurial world, I ve realised that my biggest mistakes didn't happen because I wasn't working hard enough they happened because I was running on an empty battery.

As founders, we are obsessed with "optimisation." We optimize our code, our funnels, and our growth. But this week, I m trying something different: I m optimising for rest.

I ve spent the last few days intentionally stepping away from the screen. Not to plan the next pivot or to "reflect on KPIs," but to actually let my mind go quiet. I m finding that the better I use this week to truly recharge my own energy, the more excited I feel about 2026.

It s a strange feeling to not be "productive" for a few days, but I m learning that my energy levels are the most important asset I have. If that battery isn't green, nothing else I build will be sustainable.