Will Work-Life Balance Leave You Mediocre?
I stumbled across something the other day that triggered me. It was an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal titled “Work-Life Balance Will Keep You Mediocre.” Published in August 2025, it was written by Emil Barr, a 22-year-old entrepreneur who, at the time, had already built two companies valued at more than $20 million.
Barr’s argument is simple and unapologetic. He claims that pursuing work-life balance actively holds people back from achieving exceptional success:
“When people ask how I did it,” he writes, “the answer isn’t what they expect or want to hear. I eliminated work-life balance entirely and just worked … in a winner-takes-all economy, extreme efficiency during your peak physical and mental years becomes a baseline for building wealth that lasts a lifetime.”
It’s bold, it’s uncomfortable to read. But is he right? In chasing balance, are we quietly choosing mediocrity? Leaving potential on the table and selling ourselves short? It’s an interesting thought. I believe, however, that there are 3 key flaws in his argument.
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1. His definition of “success” is too narrow
In his own analysis of the op-ed, Cal Newport (author of ‘Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout’) points out that Barr is working from a very specific model of success: the Silicon Valley “start-up exit” model. You build a start-up very quickly, scale aggressively, raise money from demanding investors and sell within a few years for a big return. In that world, grinding is part of the deal and within that narrow context, Barr may well be right. His attempting to maintain anything resembling traditional work-life balance would likely undermine his success and, by his own definition, leave him mediocre.
But, if we step outside of the “start-up exit” bubble and into the professional realms in which most of us operate, true success requires an approach that allows us to perform at our best not just today or this week, but across the long arc of a year, decade and career. Hustling and grinding may produce short-term gains, but it is not sustainable. Eventually, it catches up with you.
The science on this is clear: peak performance does not come from constant grinding, it comes from oscillating between periods of focus followed by genuine rest and recovery. Push too hard for too long and the returns diminish. Energy drops, productivity declines, creativity evaporates, decision-making falters and overall output declines. In this way and in this context, the grind that Barr promotes as promising exceptional performance leads, over time, to mediocrity - or worse.
2. His definition of “wealth” is too narrow
Barr talks of “building wealth that lasts a lifetime”, but is speaking here only of financial wealth. And while money matters, I believe that it is only one dimension of a truly wealthy life, which also includes great health, meaningful relationships, time and the capacity to enjoy life beyond work.
And what was the impact on Barr’s health in his narrow pursuit of material wealth? Told in his own words: “The physical and mental toll was brutal. I gained 80 pounds, lived on Red Bull, and struggled with anxiety.” And what of his relationships? “Every commitment had to justify its place on my calendar, with social events, casual hangouts, and even family gatherings weighed against business priorities.”
Yes, he has an impressive bank balance for a 22 year old, but when we consider wealth from a more holistic perspective, can we really say that he is wealthy?
3. He neglects the importance of who we became in the process
If you were to ask me whether I would like to be in Barr’s shoes with two companies valued at more than $20 million but with my health and relationships in that state, I think I would politely decline. Because I believe that life is also not just about what we achieve. It’s about who we become in pursuit of those achievements.
What type of person did Barr become? By his own account: anxious, overweight, socially isolated and disconnected from his family. As he recounts: “The path I chose was painful. There is no sugarcoating the mental health struggles, the physical deterioration, or the social isolation that came with this intensity.”
And yet so many people today, either consciously or unconsciously, believe in what Barr is promoting. They pursue success in their career, only to wish further down the line that they had allowed themselves to enjoy the journey more. That they had taken better care of their health - mental and physical - and invested more time and energy into their relationships.
So then, how do we achieve “work-life balance”?
First of all, we need to understand what a desirable and achievable “work-life balance” actually looks like. We often imagine it as symmetry across a day or week, but I believe that this view is too short-sighted. Because some days and seasons of our life must be imbalanced, in order to achieve great professional success and live a full, holistic life. One that we can look back on and be proud of. And so, we want to look at achieving balance not across the micro of the day or week, but across the macro of a year, decade and, eventually, a lifetime.
My argument is that we need to re-define success and look at wealth from a more holistic perspective. Because success that demands the sacrifice of your health, your relationships and your inner life is not success. It’s a trade you make while young and hungry, but one you might regret later in life.
The goal, therefore, should not be to eliminate work-life balance entirely, nor to cling to it tightly. But to be deliberate, knowing when and what to push, while remaining cognisant of the overarching goal to achieve balance and fulfillment across all important areas of your life over the long term.
Because for us driven folk, the greatest risk is not failing to achieve what we are capable of - it’s waking up one day having achieved a great deal, only to realise that we forgot to live along the way.
Deepen Your Curiosity:
Emil Barr Interview on Fox & Friends - If you are curious to learn more about Mr Emil Barr, watch this short interview.
Alex Pang's 'Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less' - If you are intrigued to learn how and why adopting a sustainable approach to our work is the key to long-term success, pick up Alex Pang’s excellent book!
