> <i>a middle class man goes to work every single day, Monday through Friday, and that days not like that must be celebrations because they’re clearly the exceptions to the rule? Were we ever told that, or did it just seep in, somehow? Here’s a radical notion, let’s try it on: never work Thursdays</i><p>This thinking changed my life.<p>Back in about 2007 I was a young developer working full time, and a new guy started. He didn't work Wednesdays.<p>Why Not? Because he didn't want to. Because he didn't need more money. Because he wanted to ride his bike with his lawyer wife (who also didn't work Wednesdays).<p>I spent many, <i>many</i> hours over lunch chatting about this thinking and how in the world it was even possible - it utterly blew my mind coming from a completely middle-class "go to work everyday" family. I had no idea it was possible in this universe.<p>At my next job I negotiated a "flexible work agreement". If I put in an average of 37 hours per week, nobody really cared how I did it, as long as my work gone done. I sold it to the boss as good for the team because they would have to be able to fix whatever broke without me, and I would have to create good documentation on exactly how to do that.
Over the next four years I basically never worked a Friday, and between leave days, stat holidays and the odd flex day, Mondays were rare too. I still got a full salary.<p>I will never work "full time" again.<p>These days now I run my own business, I will likely never work for someone again.<p>I feel lucky I had a few "Copernican moments" like this when I will still young enough to believe I might be able to pull it off (hint: you can).