Forget the Hustle, James Bond Told Me to Embrace the Lazy A funny chat with Daniel Craig about the long-lost pastime of chilling out.

By Dan Bova

Entrepreneur

Working here at Entrepreneur, I get to interview all kinds of successful people who are either "killing it!" or "crushing it!" or "smushing it!" (Actually, scratch that, I don't think anyone has told me that they are smushing it.)

But the point is that they are doing quite well and generally speaking, credit their success to a non-stop desire to grind, tackle new challenges and keep, you know, doing stuff. I like to ask these relentless men and women, "Um, why?"

Meaning, how do you stay motivated to work until your eyes are bleeding after you've already found fame and, more importantly, a gigantic pile of money?

I've asked this question a number of times and have gotten a variety of replies, but recently I got the very best answer from James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, who I spoke with as he walked the red carpet at a gala for The Opportunity Network.

In case you missed it, he said, "Oh, I'm just terribly not motivated. I'd give up tomorrow if I could. If I didn't have to work again for the rest of my life I'd be very happy about it. I'm probably the wrong person to talk to Entrepreneur!"

No sir, you are exactly the right person to talk to Entrepreneur! I wanted to drop the mic, leap over the velvet rope and hug him, but figured it wasn't the best thing to do to a guy who became famous embodying a character who can kill an entire army with his pinky toe.

Related: 11 Habits of Truly Happy People

See, we always hear about people who live for the challenge of tackling the next big challenge. (My particular challenge at this moment appears to be thinking of another word for "challenge.") I'm going to be honest here for a minute and admit that I just don't relate. Who are these people who are actively looking for extra problems to cram into their lives? I have plenty of problems, thank you. Too many. I'm stuffed, actually! Any innovators out there need some crises to solve? Come to my house in the morning and figure out how to get my children out the door for school without me having to threaten their lives, and fix the clanking radiator while you're at it. And no, the ceiling isn't supposed to be dripping water.

I type these words as I watch Mark Zuckerberg voluntarily sitting before members of Congress answering questions ranging from high-tech data issues to "What is a 'facebook'?" and "Can you help me get my VCR to stop blinking 12:00?" Part of me admires him accepting the invitation to sit before this committee, but a bigger part of me wonders why he didn't just say, "Nah, I'm gonna take my $40 billion and go on vacation forever instead. Peace out, y'all!"

Related: 22 Qualities That Make a Great Leader

It's the same thing I think when I see a 150-pound dumbbell on the rack at the gym. You know what? If you can lift that, you're done. You're done working out. Great job, now go to the beach and play some volleyball, champ. What more can you possibly want from your biceps?

I guess this is what separates me from great founders. Or maybe I'm just extra cranky because it is the middle of April and it is still 30 degrees outside. It's probably mostly the latter, but I think we could all do well to remember James Bond's words and just chill when the opportunity arises. Except for you, Mother Nature, you need to stop chilling immediately.

Dan Bova

Entrepreneur Staff

VP of Special Projects

Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim, and Spy magazine. His latest books for kids include This Day in History, Car and Driver's Trivia ZoneRoad & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, The Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff, and Wendell the Werewolf

Read his humor column This Should Be Fun if you want to feel better about yourself.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Growing a Business

How Meta Generated $32 Billion in Ad Revenue Last Quarter — and How You Can Create Million-Dollar Weekends Using the Same Strategies

Meta's staggering $32 billion quarterly ad revenue isn't just about size; it's about strategy, systems and execution as well.

Business News

'I Want the Best People on Our Teams': Meta Is Laying Off More Than 3,000, CEO Mark Zuckerberg Calls for 'Extensive Performance-Based Cuts' — Read the Memo

In an internal memo shared on Tuesday, Zuckerberg said it's "going to be an intense year" at the company.

Leadership

From Elite Athletes to Tech Titans — Discover the Surprising $100-Million Habit That Leads to Extraordinary Success

Success comes from mastering focus, eliminating distractions and prioritizing what truly matters.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Is TikTok Considering Selling Its U.S. Business to Elon Musk? Here's What TikTok Says.

Reports have emerged that Chinese officials are considering selling TikTok to Elon Musk.