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.

Ariel Black | Licensed Psychotherapist

I first began my career as a therapist in 2014. I started off working for several non profits agencies and treatment facilities in the local Los Angeles and Orange County surrounding areas. I learned a lot during this period of time and I am grateful for these experiences. I enjoyed the clientele and clinical work that I was doing, however I knew deep down inside that I had a burning desire to open my own practice someday. It wasn’t until 2019 when I decided to branch out and take the steps to start my own private practice. During this period of time I didn’t have any business experience. Read more>>

Dr. Nicole Fallah-Helo | Executive Director of Meadowglade

Honestly, I would have to say that while my responsibilities, job scope and, in turn, workload have grown as I have advanced in my career, I have also moved closer to my life purpose and passion for serving the community. As a result, this has created a more manageable work-life balance for me as I truly love what I do. Additionally, with more meaningful work, it doesn’t always feel like I am working. I can be far more productive without any real feeling of burnout or imbalance between work and my personal life. For that reason, while my work-life ratio is not always perfect, I feel so grateful for everything I have, from my amazing role to my wonderful family, which, at the end of the day, is what truly matters to me. Read more>>

Michael Amira | Performance Artist, Director, Maker

Navigating today’s work-life balance amidst hustle culture and workers’ rights movements is intriguing. Over the last year, my I transitioned from full-time community health work and college to becoming a full-time artist and graduate. Despite the financial challenges of being a young artist, finding fulfillment in joy, community, and creation has been paramount. To me, these intangibles hold a value beyond money. Embracing the principle of reciprocity, I’ve achieved a balance, channeling work experiences to enrich my personal life and the lives’ of others. Read more>>