CEO of $49 billion AI company says it’s ‘mind-boggling’ people think you can work 38 hours a week, have work-life balance, and be successful

Despite a push for shorter workweeks by many U.S. workers, the founders behind some of the world's most successful companies are standing firm on the "grindset" culture. Andrew Feldman, CEO of AI chip company Cerebras, which has a valuation of $49.5 billion, recently expressed his disbelief that anyone could believe achieving greatness is possible through a 38-hour workweek and a healthy work-life balance.

He insisted that such a notion is "mind-boggling to me," as it simply does not hold true in any aspect of life. This sentiment echoes that of other influential business leaders, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary, and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, all of whom emphasize that intense schedules are essential for those who aspire to build something truly groundbreaking.

Feldman and others argue that while people can maintain a 40-hour workweek and still enjoy a fulfilling life, the path to creating something new and transformative demands a commitment to working every waking minute. The myth of achieving a work-life balance with a 60-hour workweek has been debunked by leaders at the top of their game.

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan stated that "work is life, life is work," and former President Barack Obama suggested that excelling at anything requires a singular focus at times. Even LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman warned that founders who talk about maintaining a balanced life are not truly committed to success. The consensus seems to be that traditional nine-to-five schedules are no longer sufficient for rapid career growth, and many entrepreneurs are questioning where to draw the line on their work hours.