Mark Cuban says work-life balance is a luxury ambitious people can’t afford because ‘there’s someone out there working 24/7 to kick your ass’
Billionaire Mark Cuban says the drive to stay ahead means work-life balance isn’t possible for those aiming for true success.
“There is no balance,” Cuban said during an episode of The Playbook, a Sports Illustrated series that features conversations between athletes and business leaders.
“If you want to work nine-to-five, you can have work-life balance,” he told Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.
“But if you want to crush the game—whatever game you’re in—there’s someone out there working 24 hours a day to kick your ass.”
Cuban speaks from experience. When he started his entrepreneurial journey, he didn’t take vacations and shared a place with five roommates.
These days, Cuban begins his mornings by reading and replying to messages on his phone or laptop, a routine he told People takes 8 to 10 hours each day. Even with a net worth of more than $8 billion and investments in hundreds of companies, he shows no sign of slowing down. Recently, the 66-year-old launched a $750 million private equity fund focused on sports.
Cuban credits Warren Buffett as a key inspiration for his relentless drive.
“I want to see what he’s going to do next,” Cuban said. “That’s the way I look at things. I’ve accomplished a lot in my life. I want to change health care, but that’s not the end-all, be-all.”
Buffett, at 94 years old, only recently announced plans to step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, continuing to inspire high-profile leaders like Apple’s Tim Cook and JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon.
Despite his age, Buffett is also known for keeping a surprisingly healthy work-life balance. He avoids overuse of technology, keeps meetings minimal, and prioritizes rest.
“I’ve created a good environment,” Buffett told The Wall Street Journal. “All I have to do is think and not be influenced by others.”
Cuban is hardly alone in his views. Leaders like former President Barack Obama have also said that balance is often incompatible with excellence.
“If you want to be excellent at anything—sports, music, business, politics—there are going to be times when you’re out of balance,” Obama said on The Pivot Podcast. “Where you’re just working and you’re single-minded.”
Zoom CEO Eric Yuan put it even more bluntly:
“There’s no way to balance. Work is life, life is work.”