Rewriting the Rules of Success
Multimillionaire rapper, producer, and tech entrepreneur Will.i.am is clear on one thing: work-life balance is not for dreamers.
The Grammy-winning artist, best known as a founding member of Black Eyed Peas, told Fortune and other publications that anyone hoping to build something groundbreaking needs to rethink the traditional 9-to-5. His mantra? “5-to-9 after the 9-to-5”.
“Work-life balance means you’re working for somebody else’s dream,” he explained.
“Dream-reality balance is about turning your vision into existence.”
Will.i.am, who also runs his AI company FYI, maintains this demanding routine daily. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., he handles tech and business matters. Then from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., it’s back to music, creativity, and innovation.
A Typical Day in Will.i.am’s Life
Will.i.am doesn’t follow the hustle culture of waking up at dawn. Instead, he:
- Wakes up around 7 a.m.
- Starts walking and making calls by 8 a.m.
- Works on his tech ventures between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Focuses on music and creative work from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Begins winding down around 9 p.m., heading to bed by 11 p.m.
He revealed his most inspired creative moments often happen between 7 and 9 p.m., when he’s fully immersed in emotion and expression.
No Time for Birthdays or Holidays
Even celebrations take a backseat. Will.i.am says he hasn’t celebrated his birthday in years—including his most recent one on March 15, 2025.
“It’s your birthday, what are you gonna do? Work.”
The artist claims he prefers to reserve celebration for monumental achievements, like headlining festivals. For instance, he typically spends Boxing Day (Dec 26) working in China—calling it “dream maker heaven.”
He recalls his early years:
“My friends would go out partying, drinking, doing drugs. I was in the studio writing songs.”
Gen Z, Take Notes
With millions of Gen Zers sharing their evening routines on TikTok, Will.i.am’s philosophy resonates with many. But he encourages them to push further—replacing downtime with dedicated hustle.
“You have to make some type of sacrifice to bring this thing that doesn’t exist here.”He stresses the need for aligning one’s time, energy, and community toward a shared vision.
