Marc Randolph’s Post

View profile for Marc Randolph

Netflix Co-Founder, Entrepreneur, Mentor & Investor

I’ve worked hard, for my entire career, to keep my life balanced with my job. In my book, I write about my Tuesday date nights with my wife. For over thirty years, I had a hard cut-off on Tuesdays. Rain or shine, I left at exactly 5 pm and spent the evening with my best friend. We would go to a movie, have dinner, or just go window-shopping downtown together. Nothing got in the way of that. No meeting, no conference call, no last-minute question or request. If you had something to say to me on Tuesday afternoon at 4:55, you had better say it on the way to the parking lot. If there was a crisis, we are going to wrap it up by 5:00. Those Tuesday nights kept me sane. And they put the rest of my work in perspective. I resolved a long time ago to not be one of those entrepreneurs on their 7th startup and their 7th wife. In fact, the thing I'm most proud of in my life is not the companies I started, it’s the fact that I was able to start them while staying married to the same woman; having my kids grow up knowing me and (best as I can tell) liking me, and being able to spend time pursuing the other passions in my life. That’s my definition of success.

  • No alternative text description for this image
Marc Randolph

Netflix Co-Founder, Entrepreneur, Mentor & Investor

1y

Thanks to everyone who saw, shared, re-posted, or liked this post. As i write this, the post has has been viewed more than 20 million times, and it's still going. It's clear that my message of work/life balance has resonated deeply with a lot of people . . . and i couldn't be more delighted. Perhaps best of all, I've heard from so many of you that this has spurred you to act; to start a date night of your own, to re-start a date night habit that you may have let lapse, or simply to be more thoughtful about how you balance your work life with your personal one. If you've been following me for a while, you know that I try very hard to read - and respond to - almost every comment I get . . . but this time ... well, you got me. With more than 6,500 comments there is just no way i can respond to all of you. So for all of you who have shared a comment, I hope you'll accept a blanket "Thank You" for giving me the opportunity to engage with you all - even if, for this post only, it has to be a bit more one-sided. It doesn't mean that it's any less heartfelt. Looking forward to being part of this community. I've learned so much, gotten so much out of it, and eager to continue to interact with all of you for years to come. M

Marc Randolph Great Story! Congratulations to such a happy life! From the viewpoint of a Californian that seems to be well done work-life balancing. But sorry: Califormia is only a small part of the world. And people outside of this bubble live a different life, have many mor real challenges than leaving a meeting in time. But they still manage to be married for 50+ years without public crisis, bringing up great children and work hard, successful and still have a tough time to make ends meet. They did not grow up in a highly educated and probably wealthy family and are still happy. So when you have time please leave the California/Long Island bubble and visit the rest of the world, maybe even outside of the US. Blend in with working people of your age whose retirement age has just been increased, who lost half of their saving in 2009 and who fight inflationall day long. And then please do such a review again!

Raphael Acquah

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION and SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

1y

Awww Lovely story Marc Randolph. I am really impressed about what you consider to be your success. Many people in the world have taken their eyes off relationships that are meant for a lifetime, trample over it and belittle the importance of it, and rather, sadly, gotten married to their jobs and bosses. But I have a question Marc Randolph .... How can a young engineer with stern bosses, who are married to their jobs and find relationship commitments less significant, show ownership and responsibility and still make similar commitment to the people who love and care for him? What would be your advise for those who don't own their businesses, and are not bosses, and are expected to respond to emails at even at midnight? Is it possible to run a successful resilient business withing the window of 8 to 5? While you were doing this, did you have workers down the chain who had to sacrifice 16hrs a day to get your business running?

Anil Bahl

CEO I Entrepreneur I Director l Expert on Industry Growth, Scalability, Transformation, Turnaround l Circular Sustainable Economy, Resilient Supply Chains, Lean Green Manufacturing Systems I Skilling Underprivileged Kids

1y

Totally agree Marc Randolph . My girlfriend-wife of 43 years and I (now my wife of course) have kept up our Date Nights for thirty five years; invested maximum time in our kids (my life’s fruit & reward), and ensured Sundays were family days out till the kids grew to want otherwise 😀 And now my ‘lil girl’ is going to be married end Jan; can’t describe the bursts of joy, heaves of sighs, thoughts of her not around the home, yet proud she made a wonderful decision to marry her love. Thank you Life 💐👍🏼🍷

Amy Dernus Jones

Senior Vice President and Executive Advisor at BigSpeak Speakers Bureau

1y

Love this!

Jennifer L.

Digital & Tech Savvy Senior Executive Assistant | C-Level & Board Support | Administrative Office Management | Achiever

1y

Thank you, Marc. A great reminder that I often forgotten myself, having loved one waiting at home wondering what time I will return while I continued my rat race in the office…something’s gotta change.

Here's one of the many ways to be deliberate about work-life balance...both work and life are the better for it Marc Randolph

Margaret Ben

Marketer & Sales professional / Business Development /Amazon Publisher/HSE

1y

A beautiful definition of success Sir Marc Randolph

Olubukola Ewedairo

Group Head, Developmental Organizations & Partnerships| Business Development| organizational transformation

1y

This is profound… discipline and dedication always yields results 

See more comments

To view or add a comment, sign in

Explore topics