> It is frequently a good thing to work yourself to burnout for a year or three if it means you can work at 20% for the following 20 years.

Burnout is never a good thing. Go slower. Go well. Thank yourself later.

I disagree. The year or two that ended with me burning out was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

I couldn’t work for two years after it and it was still worth it.

> I disagree. The year or two that ended with me burning out was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

> I couldn’t work for two years after it and it was still worth it.

That sums up kind of the problem I have with that type of survivor's bias.

Question to you:

Was it worth because of the burnout or because of other variables in that specific part of your life?

If the other variables were not the same, would you still recommend it, just for the sake of "recommending the experience of a burnout"?