<p>I never worked that many long nights–at school, in the famous offices, in my own office. I did have a partner in a famous office ring me and ask me to give the appearance of working long hours since I was able to complete all tasks by 5:30 pm for 40 weeks of the year. I asked him if my work was on time and he said it was usually ahead of schedule. I refused to stay at the office for appearances. They didn’t fire me. I don’t remember any children in any New York office except on Saturdays.</p>
<p>I certainly had a far easier lifestyle than any 20-something lawyer, doctor, investment banker I knew.</p>
<p>The long hours of architecture? What a lot of hooey. Architects get into the habit of time-wasting and procrastinating at school and then they bring that to the office. Charettes are an essential part of the business but offices that use non-stop charettes to do business are not well run. I never worked in such an office. I worked for architects who were workaholics but they never imposed that on the staff.</p>
<p>At this point, I probably work 30 hours a week for 25 weeks of the year and 50 hours a week for 20 weeks–with 5 or 6 weeks holiday.</p>