First, there`s the man who insists on working 78 hours a week-despite three recent heart attacks.
Then, there`s the woman who, while working full time, attended graduate school, and ended up taking her school final exams from a hospital bed.
Both of these members of the working wounded are among the hundreds of candidates nominated for ”America`s Most Overworked Person,” a contest sparked by a recently published book on combating workaholism.
”I thought it might be fun to see if we could get some workaholics to come out of the closet and identify themselves,” says Carol Orsborn, author of ”Inner Excellence” (New World Library, $17.95). ”If you can acknowledge it publicly, and with a sense of humor, you may be on the way to recovery.”
To enter, compose a 100-word essay explaining why you deserve the title and send it by Sept. 15 to: Inner Excellence, Suite C, 1766 Union St., San Francisco, Calif., 94123.
”We won`t be choosing a winner based on hours only,” Orsborn says.
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”It`s a combination of hours, stress, perspective and self-awareness.”
Orsborn, 44, is an apropriate choice to conduct the contest. A self-described former workaholic, the mother of two used to put in 70 hours a week at the company she owns with her husband.
Her book describes how the couple downsized their business and downscaled their lifestyle, but discovered increased fulfillment.
”We started to treat ourselves and our employees as if our human needs mattered,” says Orsborn.
Back to the contest. The winner, to be chosen by Orsborn and her publishers and announced Oct. 16, will get a year`s supply of roses.
”But they`ve got to supply the time to stop and smell them.”