--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I worked 120 hours a week for eight…" description: "\"I worked 120 hours a week for eight years. That's 20 to 22 hours a day every day and one week I only got 15 hours sleep.\" — Heston Blumenthal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fd/heston-blumenthal-18308_eight_i-worked-120-hours-a-week-for-eight-year_2416886.jpg" --- # I worked 120 hours a week for eight years. That's 20 to 22… ![“I worked 120 hours a week for eight years. That's 20 to 22 hours a day every day and one week I only got 15 hours sleep.” quote by Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fd/heston-blumenthal-18308_eight_i-worked-120-hours-a-week-for-eight-year_2416886.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fd/heston-blumenthal-18308_eight_i-worked-120-hours-a-week-for-eight-year_2416886.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fd/heston-blumenthal-18308_eight_i-worked-120-hours-a-week-for-eight-year_2416886.jpg) > “I worked 120 hours a week for eight years. That's 20 to 22 hours a day every day and one week I only got 15 hours sleep.” [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He endured extreme work hours, sacrificing sleep, to achieve mastery, highlighting the cost of relentless dedication. **In simple terms:** Extreme work sacrifices sleep. Key Takeaway Consider the health cost of overwork. Themes dedication hard work trade‑off Mood intense cautionary Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career advancement - skill mastery - entrepreneurship - personal health management Key Concepts work ethic burnout sustainability Questions to Reflect On - Is the outcome worth the personal cost? - How can one maintain balance while pursuing excellence? A Different Perspective Such intensity can lead to burnout and health issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [ I was staying on \[writer/director/actor\] Eric Schaeffer's couch in New York, and he said, "I've got this movie \[If Lucy Fell\]. Can you do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-was-staying-on-writer-director-actor-eric-schaeffer-s-couch-in-new/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I went to New Zealand this year, and, whew man, I know a lot of people want to go there. But let me just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/i-went-to-new-zealand-this-year-and-whew-man-i-know-a-lot-of-people/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [You want to know what it's like to be on a plane for 22 hours? Sit in a chair, squeeze your head as hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/you-want-to-know-what-it-s-like-to-be-on-a-plane-for-22-hours-sit-in/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [Writing books is fun because after I do a show for a couple hours, I'm in a bus for 22 hours. It's not hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/writing-books-is-fun-because-after-i-do-a-show-for-a-couple-hours-i-m/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [Playing a concert for 2 hours is pie. I would do that every minute of every day if I could. I love to perform.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/playing-a-concert-for-2-hours-is-pie-i-would-do-that-every-minute-of/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [Now, they say that New Zealand is beautiful and I do not know -- because after 22 hours on a plane any landmass would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/now-they-say-that-new-zealand-is-beautiful-and-i-do-not-know-because/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [My skin burned for 22 hours after I was pepper-sprayed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/my-skin-burned-for-22-hours-after-i-was-pepper-sprayed/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [Work eight hours and sleep eight hours, and make sure that they are not the same eight hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-boone-pickens/work-eight-hours-and-sleep-eight-hours-and-make-sure-that-they-are/) [T. Boone Pickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-boone-pickens/) > [Whether I get four hours of sleep or eight, I always feel well-rested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lindell/whether-i-get-four-hours-of-sleep-or-eight-i-always-feel-well-rested/) [Mike Lindell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lindell/) > [Eight hours of work, eight hours of play, eight hours of sleep - eight hours a day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-haywood/eight-hours-of-work-eight-hours-of-play-eight-hours-of-sleep-eight/) [Bill Haywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-haywood/) > [I always try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. It's the best thing I can do for my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-cameron/i-always-try-to-get-at-least-eight-hours-of-sleep-each-night-it-s-the/) [Candace Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-cameron/) > [I love sleeping, I can sleep for 15 hours a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-mandhana/i-love-sleeping-i-can-sleep-for-15-hours-a-day/) [Smriti Mandhana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-mandhana/) > [At the end of the day, you want to work with people you want to work with - regardless of what they've done. Being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dane/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-want-to-work-with-people-you-want-to-work/) [Eric Dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dane/) > [I work 15 hours a day and still go to the gym. Most people work eight hours a day and say, 'I haven't got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-work-15-hours-a-day-and-still-go-to-the-gym-most-people-work-eight/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [I'm a person who sometimes tends to worry too much about cricket. Previously I would think about the game for probably 15 hours, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-karthik/i-m-a-person-who-sometimes-tends-to-worry-too-much-about-cricket/) [Dinesh Karthik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-karthik/) ## More by Heston Blumenthal > [I'm not scared of anything in particular, but I am motivated by a fear of failure as opposed to a need to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/i-m-not-scared-of-anything-in-particular-but-i-am-motivated-by-a-fear/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [We sunk everything into it. It came close to going under several times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/we-sunk-everything-into-it-it-came-close-to-going-under-several-times/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [You think about some of the most memorable meals you've ever had; the food will be good but it will often be about locating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/you-think-about-some-of-the-most-memorable-meals-you-ve-ever-had-the/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [I am not the world's most confident person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/i-am-not-the-world-s-most-confident-person/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [If it doesn't taste good it doesn't go on the menu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/if-it-doesn-t-taste-good-it-doesn-t-go-on-the-menu/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [It was quite a challenge to make people eat crab ice cream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/it-was-quite-a-challenge-to-make-people-eat-crab-ice-cream/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [This kitchen is completely calm. Some of the old-fashioned chefs - they become kings in their kitchen, they've got to be called chef. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/this-kitchen-is-completely-calm-some-of-the-old-fashioned-chefs-they/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [I have this desire to keep improving, so I find fault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/i-have-this-desire-to-keep-improving-so-i-find-fault/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [Take note of what's around you and maximise sensory pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/take-note-of-what-s-around-you-and-maximise-sensory-pleasure/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [As we get older, we tend to become more risk averse because we tend to find reasons why things won't work. 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She was a nurse and had never experienced fine dining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/we-were-saving-saving-saving-then-going-to-france-and-blowing-the/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [And I like asking questions, to keep learning; people with big egos might not want to look unsure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/and-i-like-asking-questions-to-keep-learning-people-with-big-egos/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [Now my complaint is there are only 18 hours to work in a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/now-my-complaint-is-there-are-only-18-hours-to-work-in-a-day/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [I tend to take negative comments to heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/i-tend-to-take-negative-comments-to-heart/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [I haven't raised my voice for eight to 10 years in the kitchen. And I won't have anybody shouting. If I hear of anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/i-haven-t-raised-my-voice-for-eight-to-10-years-in-the-kitchen-and-i/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) [Explore all 35 Heston Blumenthal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) ## More Eight quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [The minute you step onstage, you get eight feet taller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/the-minute-you-step-onstage-you-get-eight-feet-taller/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. 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They're not ever intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-things-that-come-out-of-my-mouth-are/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The first draft is usually junk. You have to work on it seven to eight times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/the-first-draft-is-usually-junk-you-have-to-work-on-it-seven-to-eight/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [I realised I owned eight pink suits, which I did not need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-odudu/i-realised-i-owned-eight-pink-suits-which-i-did-not-need/) [A. J. 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The first one is, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-roth-eisenberg/i-started-a-list-of-things-i-want-to-teach-my-children-and-that-list/) Tina Roth-Eisenberg > [There could be some compromise, but I think we have to stick to the provisions of the treaty, and the provisions of the treaty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-santer/there-could-be-some-compromise-but-i-think-we-have-to-stick-to-the/) [Jacques Santer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-santer/) > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. 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