Will.i.am on ‘Dream-Reality Balance’: Why Gen Z Should Forget Work-Life Balance

Musician and entrepreneur Will.i.am has been raving about his 5-to-9 work routine, claiming it’s the secret to getting his creative juices flowing and achieving success. The Grammy award-winning artist-turned-tech entrepreneur reveals that he advises young people to forget about traditional “work-life balance” if they want to emulate his success.

Instead, Will.i.am recommends reframing time off from work as an opportunity to focus on pursuing their passions and bringing new ideas into reality. He believes that for those who are passionate about creating something new, sacrifice is necessary to materialize it.

Will.i.am’s daily routine involves working a traditional 9-to-5 job in the morning, followed by focused creative time in the evening. The rapper says he gets his best ideas between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and often works late into the night, even on weekends and holidays.

The musician’s priorities are clear: work is not just a means to an end but a necessary step towards realizing one’s dreams. For Will.i.am, this mindset has been key to his success as both a music star and tech entrepreneur.

Source: https://fortune.com/2025/03/23/multimillionaire-musician-will-i-am-work-life-balance-visionarie-5-to-9