For years I resisted the entrepreneurial route because I knew if I did it would become 24/7.  After 9/11 I couldn't find a job so I eventually started my own business -- and I was right. Five years later, I am still powering ahead 24/7.

I am in a service business so my sucess depends on keeping my clients happy. They take vacations and come back refreshed but I can't take vacations because nine other clients are stil working and expect me to be as well.

Why do I check my Blackberry on weekends and at night and when I wake up to pee at 3:00 am?

Because someone has emailed me at a crazy hour and is expecting an answer.  Could I ignore them until the next day? Sure, but there a competitor of mine out there who is hungry and wants my client's business and they are only too happy to answer that email at 3:00 am.

When a client sends me a 50 page document at 9:00 pm on a Saturday night and says 'please get back to me by 8:00 am tomorrow,' I'd better do it. Or someone else will.

Being entrepreneurial is great in many ways. But it is the hardest, most stressful work I have ever done. And it's not for the faint of heart.