09/10/2025
When I ran that poll last month on LinkedIn, a lot of you wanted more on work-life balance.
So here’s my take and I know it might be a little controversial…
I didn’t have any work-life balance for the first 10 years of my career. And honestly? I don’t think I should have.
Here’s why 👇
When you’re starting out, your work and life naturally blend. You’re building your skills, your network, your reputation and, often, your friendships. Early in your career, your “work friends” become your real friends because you’re all in the same boat, learning, growing, and pushing together, your not at school anymore just friends because your mums and dads are.
Some of the best friendships I’ve ever had came from workplaces. That’s shifted as I’ve moved into more senior roles and created clearer boundaries partly because home is further from the office, but also because professionalism (and a bit of self-preservation) matter. As much as I’d love to grab beers with the team, I also know how those nights usually end… and sometimes, it’s better not to know 🤣
So yes work-life balance is vital, especially later in your career.
But in your 20s? I genuinely believe in the grind.
The 10,000-hour rule tells us it takes roughly that long to master any skill. And those hours don’t appear by magic, they come from saying yes, putting in the time, and learning faster than you ever thought possible.
Balance can (and should) come later. But mastery doesn’t happen without the messy, all-in years first
This little one is starting her 10,000 hours early ready for her Lioness debut 😉
FIFA Women’s World Cup™
