{
  "id": 1706102,
  "title": "The Myth of Owning Your Time",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/the-myth-of-owning-your-time",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-18T11:45:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Of Dollars and Data",
    "slug": "of-dollars-and-data",
    "url": "https://ofdollarsanddata.com/the-myth-of-owning-your-time/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For many, the idea of owning your time appeals to the dream of working when and where you please. However, this notion is often an illusion. Despite the appeal, the reality is that owning your time is seldom as simple as it sounds. While being your own boss may sound liberating, it does not necessarily translate into the freedom you anticipate. The demands imposed by clients and vendors often take precedence, replacing the need to answer to a single boss. These demands can be as urgent as those from your previous employer, if not more so. While you might no longer have to report to a traditional boss, you'll likely encounter other urgent matters demanding your attention. In turn, these might force you to adjust your schedule to accommodate others' needs. As you rise in success, you'll find that everyone wants a piece of your time, making it increasingly challenging to say no. Even billionaires like Kim Kardashian, tech moguls like Mark Zuckerberg, and financial titans like Jamie Dimon are not immune to this pressure. They are constantly answering to various entities, including sponsors, regulators, or shareholders. While they have some control over their time, they also have to meet immense demand. Historically, those who earned the highest worked fewer hours compared to those with lower incomes. However, this trend has reversed in recent decades. According to research, the top 20% earners were twice as likely to work long hours by 2002 compared to the bottom 20% who were more likely to work long hours in 1983. The 'leisure class' of the past, who worked fewer hours, has been replaced by a more industrious group. Even the top 1% of earners work 4 to 5 hours more per week than they did midcentury. The study also revealed that CEOs often work long hours, including weekends and vacation days. Despite the allure of owning your time, it seems that many successful individuals may exaggerate the reality of their schedules.",
  "summary": "You've probably heard it all before. Be your own boss. Control your schedule. Own your time. As attractive as it sounds, it's a lie. Many people believe that working for yourself means unlimited flexibility. You can work where you want, when you want, and with whom you want for the rest of your life. What's not to like? Unfortunately, things are rarely so simple. Going out on your own seldom…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}