LinkedIn Co-Founder Reid Hoffman’s Straight Talk : If you want to succeed in the startup world, forget about work-life balance—that’s the message from LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. In a recent podcast, Hoffman emphasized that building a successful startup requires full dedication and sacrifice.
“Have Dinner with Family, Then Open Your Laptop Again”
In a 2024 podcast interview, Hoffman shared that during LinkedIn’s early days, many team members had families. Yet, the expectation was clear: “Go home, have dinner with your family, then open your laptop and get back to work.”
“If a Founder Talks About Work-Life Balance, They’re Not Committed to Winning”
At Stanford University’s ‘How to Start a Startup’ talk in 2014, Hoffman famously said: “If I ever hear a founder talking about, ‘this is how I have a balanced life’—they’re not committed to winning.”
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Responding to Critics: “They Don’t Understand the Startup Game”
When Hoffman’s views were criticized on social media for promoting a “toxic” work culture, he responded directly: “People who think that’s toxic don’t understand the startup game, and they’re just wrong. The game is intense. And by the way, if you don’t do that, eventually you’re out of a job.”
Hard Work Paid Off: Early Employees Don’t Need to Work Anymore
Hoffman also revealed that over 100 early LinkedIn employees no longer need to work thanks to the company’s massive success. Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in 2016, creating significant wealth for the founding team.
Is There Ever Room for Balance in a Startup?
According to Hoffman, work-life balance in startups is only possible in two situations:
- The startup operates in a non-competitive space.
- The company has already achieved market dominance.
In most cases, though, startups function in high-pressure environments where only relentless effort leads to success.
