24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week. Junior investment bankers regularly work 80-90 hours a week. Many other high profile professions require the same level of commitment. Often those on the outside claim that working 80-90 hours a week is bad/wrong/terrible/silly/etc but we’ve spoken with so many folks who say working that much has been the best decision of their life – it allowed them to develop a deep and strong skill set far faster than would have been possible otherwise. In other words, by working 2x the hours, they were able to generate 5x or more the rewards. And depending on where you are in your career, investing heavily in your skills and competence can pay dividends for a long time.

Zihao Jin | Game Art Director & Senior Concept Artist & Design Instructor

Most of the time, I`m a workaholic, focusing on my work and technical improvement. However, since having my daughter, I’ve started to pay more attention to life. I must say that balancing work and life is always a bit challenging, but I now believe that a good life experience and relaxation can also make the limited work practice more focused.  Read more>>

Michele Wylen | Singer, songwriter, rapper

Balance is the most crucial thing. Nature is always working to stay in balance. Hustle culture has good intentions, but it ignores the importance of balance. Balance is more efficient than brute strength. It might take me a few hours or days to write a hook for a song if I’m stressing and putting undue pressure on myself. Read more>>

Spike Zhao | Action Actor, Martial Artist & Fight Choreographer

I couldn’t imagine having a career that I’m not passionate about. I’ve always believed that choosing a career you love automatically turns all your struggles into something enjoyable. When you’re passionate about your work, even a heavy workload becomes part of your life’s pursuit. Read more>>

K.E. Ogden | Poet, Writer, & Educator

As a writer, it’s always challenging to find that work/life or work/write balance. There will always be other things to get done, so prioritizing my writing time is important. Years ago the Creative Writing program at Pasadena City College where I work brought alumna Reyna Grande to speak to students,  Read more>>

Mary Young | CEO & Founder

When I started my business, MARY YOUNG, I was young and hungry to build something so needless to say, there was very little balance in my life. I truly lived and breathed building a self-financed brand from the ground up as a solopreneur. Read more>>

Andee Liu | Drummer, Arranger, Producer & Composer

Something that’s changed a lot for me is my view on the concept of what “hard work” is and “putting in the hours.” In my first year of Berklee I wasn’t a hermit but I was spending perhaps too much time in the practise rooms, maybe up to 6 hours a day at one point, and the scary thing was that I wasn’t getting that much better. Read more>>