Work-Life Balance - A Big Con: Part 1

For decades, society has sold us the dream of "work-life balance”, a perfect split of eight hours for work, eight for personal life, and eight for sleep. It’s an alluring promise: master this formula, and happiness awaits. I bought into it once, too. Who wouldn’t want a life that’s tidy, predictable, and perfectly proportioned?

But after a life shaped by unpredictability, I’ve reached a different truth: work-life balance is a myth. It’s a seductive idea that collapses under real-world demands. As a serial entrepreneur, para-athlete, disability rights advocate, and someone who rebuilt his life after a spinal cord injury, I’ve learned that chasing balance breeds frustration and limits potential. My journey—building fintech companies, winning medals in para-rowing and para-triathlons, and fighting for accessibility—shows there’s a better way: a life of harmony, where purpose and passion create a messy, meaningful whole.

In this two-part series, I’ll dismantle the myth of work-life balance and share the framework that’s guided me through decades of failures, triumphs and sacrifices. Part 1 explores why balance is an unattainable fantasy and why it fails people. In Part 2, I’ll introduce my alternative: the Four Pillars of Harmony, with practical steps to build a vibrant, purpose-driven life. This isn’t theory, it’s a philosophy forged through grit, loss, and hard-won success.

The Myth of Work-Life Balance

The idea of work-life balance hinges on two flawed assumptions: that work, and life can be neatly separated and that equal time for each leads to fulfilment. It sounds reasonable on paper, but in reality, it’s unsustainable.

Take my story. When I launched my first fintech business in Hong Kong, work wasn’t a tidy segment of my day—it consumed me. I’d rise before dawn, tackling technical issues, meeting clients, and racing against deadlines. There was no capping it at eight hours; it demanded 90% of my energy. As a para-rower for Hong Kong, training wasn’t a hobby—it was my obsession. I’d be on the water before sunrise, pushing my body to its limits for hours. And when I quit opioids in 2003 to manage chronic pain, recovery wasn’t a task I could schedule—it was an all-consuming fight for survival.

If I had tried to "balance" these phases—dividing my time equally between work, training, recovery, and personal life—I did fail, at the cost of my relationships and at the expense of giving up many of my hobbies and social life. I became a successful entrepreneur because I sacrificed this myth about work-life balance. Look at those who reach the top—CEOs, innovators, elite athletes, they’ve all made the same choice. They know there’s no such thing as work-life balance when you’re chasing greatness. The problem with balance is that it assumes every aspect of your life always deserves equal attention. But life doesn’t work that way. Some seasons demand that one pursuit—whether a passion, a crisis, or a dream—takes precedence, often at a personal cost.

Why Balance Fails People

For those with big goals, balance isn’t just impractical, it’s a trap. It dilutes your focus, spreading you thin across competing priorities. Here are a few examples from my journey that show why:

• Entrepreneurship defies schedules. Building my business demanded relentless commitment. There were nights I didn’t sleep, as systems crashed, or clients needed solutions. You don’t create something groundbreaking by clocking out at 5 p.m., and I paid the price with strained relationships.

  
  

• Elite sports require obsession. My success in para-rowing came from hours on the water, refining technique, and pushing through pain. Moderation wouldn’t have earned me medals, and hobbies like painting or casual socialising fell by the wayside.

  
  

• Advocacy demands urgency. When I campaigned for HSBC to install accessible ATMs or to include disabled athletes in the Hong Kong Marathon, I couldn’t relegate it to "after hours." The work was immediate and non-negotiable, often leaving little room for personal connections.

Balance is rigid, like a tightrope walker frozen in fear of falling. But life is fluid, with ebbs and flows that demand flexibility. If you chase balance, you risk missing the moments defining success—and you may still lose what you hold dear.

What’s Next?

Work-life balance is a distraction, pulling you away from what makes life extraordinary. Those who reach the top know this and embrace the sacrifices required. In Part 2, I’ll share how I’ve built a life of harmony in chaos, using my Four Pillars of Harmony to weave purpose, passion, and energy into a cohesive whole. I’ll also offer practical steps to help you ditch the balancing act and create your own legacy.

Call to Action

Reflect on your own life:

• Entrepreneurs: Are you holding back by trying to balance everything? What could you achieve by letting go of that myth?

  
  

• Athletes: What sacrifices have you made for your goals, and how have they shaped your success?

  
  

• Advocates: Want to join the fight for inclusivity? Check out the Ajmal Samuel Foundation at https://www.ajmalsamuelfoundation.com or get in touch with me.

Follow my journey on my website, X, Facebook or LinkedIn for more insights. Stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll show you how to embrace harmony over balance. This is my life, built through pain, grit, and purpose—join me in rethinking what’s possible.

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