In Silicon Valley, working 9 to 5 is for losers

San Francisco

SILICON Valley prides itself on "thinking different", so maybe it makes sense that just as industries have begun paying more attention to work-life balance, the Valley is doing the opposite - and branding workaholism as a desirable lifestyle choice.

A cottage industry has sprung up there, selling an Internet-centric prosperity gospel that preaches that there is no higher calling than to start your own company, and that to succeed, you must be willing to give up everything.

"Hustle" is the word that tech people use to describe this nerd-commando lifestyle. You hear it everywhere. You can buy hustle-themed T-shirts and coffee mugs with slogans like "Dream, hustle, profit, repeat" and "Outgrind, outhustle, outwork everyone"…