“There’s no such thing as balance,” Mark Cuban once said. “If you’re trying to be great, someone out there is working harder than you are.”
In 2025, that sentiment still echoes across boardrooms, podcasts, and late-night founder group chats. But not everyone agrees anymore.
The Hustle Still Has a Hold
Let’s be honest, work-life balance has never been simple, especially if you’re building something from scratch.
For leaders like Mark Cuban, the idea of balance almost feels like a luxury. He’s said that if you want to truly win, you have to outwork everyone else. It’s not about clocking in and clocking out, it’s about obsession.
The same goes for Elon Musk, who once admitted to working 100+ hour weeks and even sleeping on the Tesla factory floor.
And in some parts of the world, this grind culture is celebrated. Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, famously called the “996” work schedule, 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week, a “blessing.” To him, it’s a sign of passion.
For people with something to prove, work often comes first. But even among high achievers, the conversation is starting to shift.
What Jeff Bezos Does Differently
Jeff Bezos doesn’t talk about balance. He talks about harmony.
He once described it like this: when things are good at home, it gives him energy at work, and when things are good at work, he’s a better partner, father, and person.
Instead of imagining a scale, you have to constantly keep even. Bezos thinks of life as a circle, where one part feeds the other. And he’s not alone in that.
Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, has echoed similar beliefs. He emphasizes empathy, flexibility, and building a company culture that supports people, not burns them out.
Then there’s Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of TIAA, who puts it beautifully. She doesn’t chase “balance”, she manages her life like an investment portfolio. Some days she puts more into work. On other days, the family takes the lead. But it’s all intentional.
The New Version of “Balance”
A few years ago, burnout was just part of the job. Now, it’s being taken seriously.
Leaders like Arianna Huffington, who once collapsed from exhaustion, are now pushing for a new version of productivity, one that includes sleep, mental clarity, and time away from screens. Not just because it feels good, but because it improves decision-making and creativity.
Today’s smartest executives are starting to design their companies differently:
- Remote or hybrid work isn’t a perk; it’s normal.
- Mental health days aren’t awkward; they’re encouraged.
- Teams are more focused on outcomes, not hours.
Why the Old Model Doesn’t Work Anymore
Working around the clock might still get you ahead, but it often comes with a cost.
You miss birthdays. You burn out. You show up to meetings physically present but mentally elsewhere. And in the long run, that’s not sustainable—not for the people you lead, and not for yourself.
More leaders are realizing this. They’re asking:
- What’s my personal energy worth?
- Am I building something I actually want to wake up to every day?
It’s no longer just about scaling your business. It’s about building a life you don’t need to escape from.
So What Does Leadership Look Like in 2025?
Leadership styles vary widely, but this is how things are evolving today:
| Style | What It Looks Like | The Trade-Off |
| All-In Grind | 12-hour days, 6-day weeks, full-speed mode | Burnout, strained relationships |
| Harmony Model | Flexible work, integrated personal goals | Requires strong boundaries and trust |
| Portfolio Approach | Intentional shifts between life’s priorities | Needs honest self-assessment often |
Conclusion
Some people still thrive on the hustle and bustle. Mark Cuban isn’t slowing down, and plenty of founders still live and breathe their startups.
But Jeff Bezos, Satya Nadella, and others are proving something else: you can lead powerfully without burning out. You can run big companies and stay connected to the people and things that matter.
In the end, it’s not really about finding “balance.” It’s about knowing what kind of life you want and building a career that supports it.
And if you’re a leader in 2025, that might be the most important work you do.
