Billionaire entrepreneur says work-life balance is 'the biggest line of bulls*** that’s ever been created'

Jimmy John Liautaud emphasised that entrepreneurship requires total commitment. 'If you’re going to do this, you better be ready to be a grinder,' he said. (Image credit: jimmyjohnliautaud.com)

Entrepreneurs chasing work-life balance are chasing a myth, according to billionaire Jimmy John Liautaud, who says real success demands full-time grind and zero compromise.

The 61-year-old founder of Jimmy John’s sandwich chain dismissed the idea of balance while building a business. “There’s no such thing as work-life balance,” he said. “When you’re going to squeeze lemonade out of horses---, you’ve got to squeeze really, really hard.” His comments were made in a TikTok video posted by The School of Hardknocks, CNBC Make It reported.

Liautaud launched his first sandwich shop in 1983 at age 19 with a $25,000 (about Rs 20 lakh) loan from his father. Over the next decade, he opened 10 stores in Illinois, all operated personally. The chain now has over 2,600 locations across 45 states.

Franchise struggles led to a lesson in work ethic

In 2002, 70 of the then-200 Jimmy John’s stores were struggling. Liautaud responded by confronting franchisees. “This is 24/7 365,” he said. “Cattle need to get fed on Sunday. They need to get fed on Christmas day.”

He emphasised that entrepreneurship requires total commitment. “If you’re going to do this, you better be ready to be a grinder,” he said.

Other billionaires echo the mindset

Liautaud’s approach mirrors that of other tech leaders. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said he works “from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep.” Elon Musk has slept at the office, and Bill Gates once avoided weekends and vacations during Microsoft’s early years.

Gates later regretted the lifestyle. “Take time to nurture your relationships,” he told graduates at Northern Arizona University in May 2023. “Take a break when you need to.”