Emil Barr, a 22-year-old entrepreneur, argues that scrapping work-life balance is the key to massive success when you’re young. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, he shared how he built two companies worth over $20 million by working relentlessly, while his peers were out partying. Barr believes that grinding hard in your 20s—your “peak physical and cognitive years”—can set you up for financial freedom by 30, giving you the freedom to choose how you live later.
To achieve this, Barr made some serious sacrifices. While launching Step Up Social from his dorm room at Miami University, he slept just 3.5 hours a night and worked 12.5-hour days. He gained 80 pounds, battled anxiety, and chugged Red Bulls to keep going. But he says this intense focus was the only way to build a multimillion-dollar business.
Barr thinks there’s a short window to create something big, especially with today’s access to information, global markets, and productivity tools. He points out that the average U.S. college grad earns $55,000 a year, meaning it could take decades to hit a million. But by going all-in early, you can fast-track wealth and options for life.
He shared five ways he stayed “ruthless”:
1. Outsourced chores like cleaning, cooking, and grocery shopping to save time.
2. Cut back on socializing, even if it meant losing friends and feeling isolated.
3. Chose college courses that aligned with his business goals and avoided ones that limited his ability to work (like laptop-free classes).
4. Used a “zero-base calendar,” where every commitment, even family time, was weighed against business priorities.
5. Spent extra on faster travel, like taking a 20-minute flight instead of a three-hour drive.
Barr’s not saying everyone should ditch balance, but he believes that for ambitious young people chasing wealth, the traditional work-life balance can trap you in “comfortable mediocrity.” He plans to keep this pace until he’s a billionaire by 30, then shift focus to causes like climate change, species extinction, and economic inequality.
He’s not alone in this debate. Former President Barack Obama has said that excellence in anything—sports, music, business—requires periods of imbalance and single-minded focus. Zoom CEO Eric Yuan agrees, saying he’s dropped hobbies entirely to focus on his $20 billion company, though he still prioritizes family when conflicts arise. On the flip side, JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon encourages employees to care for their mind, body, and soul, saying efficient work leaves room for exercise, vacations, and personal time—just not always all at once.
What would I sacrifice to become a billionaire by 30? Honestly, it’s a tough call. I’d probably give up some social time and hobbies, like Barr did, to focus on building something big. But I’d draw a line at family—those relationships are non-negotiable for me, like Yuan said. Health is another sticking point; grinding is one thing, but wrecking your body with 3.5 hours of sleep and energy drinks feels like a recipe for burnout. I’d aim for smarter efficiency—maybe outsourcing and optimizing like Barr, but with enough rest to keep my head clear. The idea of “front-loading” success to buy freedom later makes sense, but I’d want to come out of it with my health and close relationships intact.