90 Hours? 70 Hours? Please! My "Work-Life Balance" is a Deliciously Blurred Mess (and I Love It)

Between debates of 90-hour weeks and the mythical 70-hour “balance,” I had an epiphany.

I’m a sales veteran, 20+ years deep in the channels of marketing and closing deals. My base camp? The stunning city of Kochi, Kerala. And that’s a hybrid work culture, a mix of home-office vibes, and the occasional impromptu office pop-in. It’s a system many in sales know all too well. We don’t do 9-to-5. We do “whenever it’s needed to get done.”

And no, we’re not clocking a solid 90 hours weekly. I mean, who even came up with that? (Probably someone who doesn’t work in sales. I am joking. I do read newspapers) Truth is, we’ve merged office life and personal life so seamlessly that even we lose track. Welcome to the sales life, a blissfully chaotic work-life balance that somehow works.

The Life We Chose

A couple of days ago, I was enjoying a quiet night with my wife and kid, binge-watching our favourite OTT series. Cue a late-night call from a distributor needing some documents. Did I get disturbed? Nope. I opened my laptop, sent what was needed, and returned to the popcorn bucket like nothing happened. My family? They get it now.

Now let’s flip the script. I called a teammate on a Sunday to check on a report. Before you judge, this wasn’t one of those calls. We chatted about family, last night’s dinner, and the loud antics of their child in the background. Work? Just a quick, friendly nudge to ensure things were rolling. No pressure, no deadlines, just understanding and solidarity.

This is how we roll in sales. Flexible, connected, and always balancing work and life on a tightrope, often with a smile (and caffeine).

Redefining “Work Beyond Hours”

Sales teams like ours don’t play by the traditional clock. We’ve got an unspoken agreement. No unnecessary calls, no random updates at odd hours, unless absolutely necessary. And when we do slip up, a polite “Let’s chat Monday morning” is our magic phrase to draw the line.

The funny thing is our personal chats on weekends sometimes stray into work. Not in a bad way, though it’s more like trading stories of hilarious client meetings or brainstorming over dinner plans. It’s this blurred boundary that keeps us sane, productive, and, dare I say, happy.

Why Work-Life Balance Isn’t a Number

Forget the 70, 80, or even 100-hour debates. For sales folks, work-life balance isn’t about counting hours, it’s about creating moments. We measure balance by the ease with which we can shift between sending a document at midnight and laughing over a silly meme with our colleagues the next day.

And don’t get me started on the guilt-free “no.” Yes, we’re always connected, but we know when to switch off. Balance doesn’t mean strict schedules; it’s knowing when to lean in and when to pull back.

The Salesperson’s Work-Life Philosophy

For all the noise about burnout and endless hours and the latest debate on 70 and 90 work hours, here’s what we’ve learned in sales: balance is deeply personal. It’s about boundaries, mutual respect, and embracing the fluidity of a hybrid culture.

If a late-night task interrupts my family's movie time, it’s okay because the same flexibility lets me take my kid to school without rushing through traffic the next morning. Work-life balance is a dance, and yes, sometimes we miss a step. But mostly? We nail it.

So, the next time someone throws around numbers like 90-hour workweeks, remember that balance isn’t about hours; it’s about harmony.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to take a stance on the ongoing debate about working hours, nor does it aim to support or disregard any particular perspective. It’s simply a lighthearted write-up meant to share experiences, spark a little thought, and maybe give you a chuckle or two. Let’s keep the conversation fun and insightful! ??

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