Are you chasing the elusive dream of work-life balance while also aiming for groundbreaking success? A top AI CEO just dropped a truth bomb that might sting: achieving extraordinary things on a 38-hour workweek is, according to him, simply 'mind-boggling.' But here's where it gets controversial...
Andrew Feldman, co-founder and CEO of Cerebras, an $8.1 billion AI chip company, didn't mince words on the 20VC podcast. He stated emphatically that the idea of building something truly great while adhering to a typical workweek and prioritizing work-life balance is unrealistic. "It’s not true in any part of life," he asserted. This statement comes at a time when many are advocating for shorter workweeks, particularly in the U.S., sparking a heated debate about the true cost of success.
Feldman aligns himself with a growing number of business leaders who champion the 'grindset' culture as the key to achieving monumental, even trillion-dollar, success. Think along the lines of Google co-founder Sergey Brin or 'Shark Tank' investor Kevin O’Leary – individuals who consistently emphasize the importance of relentless dedication. They seem to believe that there is a necessary sacrifice to be made to achieve greatness.
Of course, there is no inherent problem with working a standard 40-hour week and prioritizing personal well-being. Feldman himself acknowledges this. But, and this is the part most people miss, according to him, those who choose that path likely won't be the ones launching the next game-changing unicorn company or developing products that redefine an entire generation. He clarifies, "You can have a great life. You can do many really good things, and there are lots of paths to happiness... But the path to build something new out of nothing, and make it great, isn’t part-time work. It isn’t 30, 40, 50 hours a week. It’s every waking minute. And of course, there are costs." This raises the question: what are those costs, and are they worth it?
This perspective challenges the widely promoted myth of work-life balance. Consider Zoom CEO Eric Yuan, who has stated bluntly that achieving true harmony between work and life is “no way” because “work is life, life is work.” Similarly, former U.S. President Barack Obama suggested that achieving excellence in any field demands unwavering focus, often to the exclusion of other pursuits. Even LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman cautioned that launching a successful startup demands sacrifices, like giving up those Netflix binges after work. He famously told a Stanford University class, "If I ever hear a founder talking about, ‘This is how I have a balanced life,’ they’re not committed to winning.”
But, some question whether this is a sustainable or even healthy approach. While the consensus leans towards dedicated effort for rapid growth, some Silicon Valley founders are pushing back against the toxic culture of 100-hour workweeks, citing burnout and decreased productivity. It's a fine line to walk between dedication and self-destruction. Should budding CEOs strive for 24/7 availability, or is there a smarter, more sustainable path to success?
Khozema Shipchandler, CEO of the $17 billion company Twilio, allows himself only eight hours on Saturdays to disconnect from work. He acknowledges that "every one of us has to make certain work-life choices," but also notes that he hasn't encountered a peer who maintains a significantly different schedule. Serena Williams famously said entrepreneurs have to "show up 28 hours out of 24” daily, and Kevin O’Leary has advised founders to "forget about balance…You’re going to work 25 hours a day, seven days a week, forever." While these statements are likely hyperbole, they underscore the perceived necessity of extreme dedication.
Earlier this year, Sergey Brin suggested to Google Gemini staffers that “60 hours a week is the sweet spot of productivity.” Dan Kaplan, co-head of the CHRO practice at ZRG Partners, adds nuance to this idea, stating, "The lesson for most young professionals is if you want to get ahead, you’re not going to get there [with] 40 hours a week... Part of the danger of the comment [about] the 60-hour workweek is it’s actually not about 60. It’s about working extra until the work is done.” This highlights the importance of dedication over simply clocking in hours.
Ultimately, Andrew Feldman argues that there's no magic number of hours. Success, according to him, isn't about the time spent, but rather the passion and dedication invested. "It’s not about logging hours,” Feldman explains. “It’s about being passionate and being consumed by the work. It’s about being driven to change the world, to be the best you can be, and to help your team be the best it can be.”
So, what do you think? Is Feldman right? Is the pursuit of extraordinary success inherently incompatible with a balanced life? Or is there a more nuanced approach that allows for both personal fulfillment and professional achievement? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
