
? 不僅是TikTok上的Z世代和千禧一代在熱議“下班后五點到九點”從事副業(yè)的觀念,黑眼豆豆成員Will.i.am也是這一效率提升法的推崇者。他認為,這既是激發(fā)創(chuàng)作靈感的秘訣,也是擺脫“工作生活平衡”迷思的關鍵。
Will.i.am的日程異常緊湊。除了寫歌(比如為Usher創(chuàng)作《OMG》這樣的熱門單曲),他還在《英國好聲音》(The Voice UK)節(jié)目中尋找下一位流行巨星,同時運營自己新創(chuàng)立的人工智能公司FYI。那么,他究竟是如何平衡這一切的?
這位格萊美獎得主、跨界科技創(chuàng)業(yè)者在接受《財富》雜志采訪時透露,他會在每天“朝九晚五”的常規(guī)工作之后,極致利用“五點到九點”這一時段。他建議Z世代,若想像他一樣成功,就該忘掉“工作生活平衡”這回事。
他表示:“若要開創(chuàng)前所未有的事業(yè),關鍵在于夢想與現(xiàn)實的平衡。所謂工作與生活的平衡,意味著你是在為別人的夢想打工。你只是有一份工作,在支持他人的夢想,所以才需要平衡工作和生活。”
“但若是追求夢想與現(xiàn)實的平衡,那便不再是工作。這是你正全力實現(xiàn)的夢想,為此你甚至能超越眼前的現(xiàn)實束縛。”
Will.i.am表示,在每天上午9點到下午5點處理完自己科技公司的事務之后,他還會繼續(xù)進行音樂創(chuàng)作,直到晚上9點。不過,在他的AI公司尚未真正落地之前,他的時間安排正好相反——先進行音樂創(chuàng)作,夜里再抽時間推進科技副業(yè)。
正因如此,他建議年輕人重新審視自己對“業(yè)余時間”和“朝九晚五現(xiàn)實”的理解。
他解釋說:“我并不太關注當下的現(xiàn)實。我正在努力把一個新的事業(yè)或想法變?yōu)楝F(xiàn)實,專注于尋找相信這個夢想的人來幫我實現(xiàn)它。為此,你就必須做出某種犧牲,讓原本不存在的事物落地生根。”
“從這個角度看,工作生活平衡并不適用于那些把愿景變?yōu)楝F(xiàn)實的締造者。工作生活平衡,對實干家來說毫無意義。”
Will.i.am甚至連生日都不休息,節(jié)禮日當天照樣飛去中國工作
當然,很多年輕人早已在下班后投入大量時間發(fā)展副業(yè)和自我提升。數(shù)以百萬計的Z世代和千禧一代正在TikTok上關注他人“五點到九點”的晚間日程。
但在Will.i.am看來,追夢者不僅在別人下班后堅持努力,還會在周末、生日和節(jié)假日繼續(xù)為夢想付出。
“我從不參加派對。我一直都是個‘老古板’。別人總說,‘你工作太拼了,走吧,出去玩。’但我不想出去,我只想工作。” 這位說唱歌手說道,“‘今天你生日,打算干嘛?’——工作。‘難道不慶祝一下嗎?’”

這位身家不菲的音樂人表示,他始終把慶祝留給舞臺,在那里他才能真正享受奮斗的果實。
“沒有什么比站在音樂節(jié)的舞臺上更讓人感到榮耀。但你怎么才能成為音樂節(jié)的壓軸主角?你得拼命工作。朋友們出去派對、泡妞、嗑藥、喝酒,而我只是在錄音室里寫歌、創(chuàng)作。”
他透露至今未專門慶祝過生日,包括最近一次3月15日的生日。
“就像過去12年的每一個圣誕節(jié),我會先陪家人過節(jié),然后26號就飛去中國,因為那里是‘造夢者的天堂’,你想做的任何事情,幾乎都能在那里實現(xiàn)。”
Will.i.am是在羅馬接受的《財富》雜志采訪,當時他正在為梅賽德斯-奔馳(Mercedes-Benz)汽車搭載Raidio.FYI電臺系統(tǒng)進行推廣。
Will.i.am的日常工作安排
早上7點:Will.i.am并未追隨CEO們推崇的“早上5點起床法則”。他向《財富》雜志透露,自己通常在早上7點左右起床,無論身在洛杉磯還是倫敦,這個作息基本不變。
早上8點:他表示自己會先散步、接打電話,然后開始著手工作,力求9點投入工作狀態(tài)。
上午9點至下午5點:“我從9點到中午12點效率最高;簡單吃個午飯后,從1點工作到5點。這些時間完全聚焦于科技創(chuàng)業(yè)相關的事務。”
下午5點至晚上9點:他形容這段時間為“創(chuàng)作黃金期”,尤其晚上7點到9點是靈感最旺盛的時段。“那是最精華的時刻,我整個人沉浸在情緒里,然后把噴涌的思緒用手機全部記錄下來。”
晚上9點后:Will.i.am二十多歲時,經(jīng)常熬夜到凌晨4點,正午才起床。但如今50歲的他需要同時兼顧科技事業(yè)和音樂創(chuàng)作。晚上9點后,他便進入舒緩狀態(tài),并在11點左右入睡。
本文最初在2025年3月23日發(fā)表于Fortune.com。(財富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:郝秀
審校:汪皓
? 不僅是TikTok上的Z世代和千禧一代在熱議“下班后五點到九點”從事副業(yè)的觀念,黑眼豆豆成員Will.i.am也是這一效率提升法的推崇者。他認為,這既是激發(fā)創(chuàng)作靈感的秘訣,也是擺脫“工作生活平衡”迷思的關鍵。
Will.i.am的日程異常緊湊。除了寫歌(比如為Usher創(chuàng)作《OMG》這樣的熱門單曲),他還在《英國好聲音》(The Voice UK)節(jié)目中尋找下一位流行巨星,同時運營自己新創(chuàng)立的人工智能公司FYI。那么,他究竟是如何平衡這一切的?
這位格萊美獎得主、跨界科技創(chuàng)業(yè)者在接受《財富》雜志采訪時透露,他會在每天“朝九晚五”的常規(guī)工作之后,極致利用“五點到九點”這一時段。他建議Z世代,若想像他一樣成功,就該忘掉“工作生活平衡”這回事。
他表示:“若要開創(chuàng)前所未有的事業(yè),關鍵在于夢想與現(xiàn)實的平衡。所謂工作與生活的平衡,意味著你是在為別人的夢想打工。你只是有一份工作,在支持他人的夢想,所以才需要平衡工作和生活。”
“但若是追求夢想與現(xiàn)實的平衡,那便不再是工作。這是你正全力實現(xiàn)的夢想,為此你甚至能超越眼前的現(xiàn)實束縛。”
Will.i.am表示,在每天上午9點到下午5點處理完自己科技公司的事務之后,他還會繼續(xù)進行音樂創(chuàng)作,直到晚上9點。不過,在他的AI公司尚未真正落地之前,他的時間安排正好相反——先進行音樂創(chuàng)作,夜里再抽時間推進科技副業(yè)。
正因如此,他建議年輕人重新審視自己對“業(yè)余時間”和“朝九晚五現(xiàn)實”的理解。
他解釋說:“我并不太關注當下的現(xiàn)實。我正在努力把一個新的事業(yè)或想法變?yōu)楝F(xiàn)實,專注于尋找相信這個夢想的人來幫我實現(xiàn)它。為此,你就必須做出某種犧牲,讓原本不存在的事物落地生根。”
“從這個角度看,工作生活平衡并不適用于那些把愿景變?yōu)楝F(xiàn)實的締造者。工作生活平衡,對實干家來說毫無意義。”
Will.i.am甚至連生日都不休息,節(jié)禮日當天照樣飛去中國工作
當然,很多年輕人早已在下班后投入大量時間發(fā)展副業(yè)和自我提升。數(shù)以百萬計的Z世代和千禧一代正在TikTok上關注他人“五點到九點”的晚間日程。
但在Will.i.am看來,追夢者不僅在別人下班后堅持努力,還會在周末、生日和節(jié)假日繼續(xù)為夢想付出。
“我從不參加派對。我一直都是個‘老古板’。別人總說,‘你工作太拼了,走吧,出去玩。’但我不想出去,我只想工作。” 這位說唱歌手說道,“‘今天你生日,打算干嘛?’——工作。‘難道不慶祝一下嗎?’”
這位身家不菲的音樂人表示,他始終把慶祝留給舞臺,在那里他才能真正享受奮斗的果實。
“沒有什么比站在音樂節(jié)的舞臺上更讓人感到榮耀。但你怎么才能成為音樂節(jié)的壓軸主角?你得拼命工作。朋友們出去派對、泡妞、嗑藥、喝酒,而我只是在錄音室里寫歌、創(chuàng)作。”
他透露至今未專門慶祝過生日,包括最近一次3月15日的生日。
“就像過去12年的每一個圣誕節(jié),我會先陪家人過節(jié),然后26號就飛去中國,因為那里是‘造夢者的天堂’,你想做的任何事情,幾乎都能在那里實現(xiàn)。”
Will.i.am是在羅馬接受的《財富》雜志采訪,當時他正在為梅賽德斯-奔馳(Mercedes-Benz)汽車搭載Raidio.FYI電臺系統(tǒng)進行推廣。
Will.i.am的日常工作安排
早上7點:Will.i.am并未追隨CEO們推崇的“早上5點起床法則”。他向《財富》雜志透露,自己通常在早上7點左右起床,無論身在洛杉磯還是倫敦,這個作息基本不變。
早上8點:他表示自己會先散步、接打電話,然后開始著手工作,力求9點投入工作狀態(tài)。
上午9點至下午5點:“我從9點到中午12點效率最高;簡單吃個午飯后,從1點工作到5點。這些時間完全聚焦于科技創(chuàng)業(yè)相關的事務。”
下午5點至晚上9點:他形容這段時間為“創(chuàng)作黃金期”,尤其晚上7點到9點是靈感最旺盛的時段。“那是最精華的時刻,我整個人沉浸在情緒里,然后把噴涌的思緒用手機全部記錄下來。”
晚上9點后:Will.i.am二十多歲時,經(jīng)常熬夜到凌晨4點,正午才起床。但如今50歲的他需要同時兼顧科技事業(yè)和音樂創(chuàng)作。晚上9點后,他便進入舒緩狀態(tài),并在11點左右入睡。
本文最初在2025年3月23日發(fā)表于Fortune.com。(財富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:郝秀
審校:汪皓
? It’s not just Gen Z and millennials on TikTok who are raving about the five-to-nine after their nine-to-five. Black Eyed Peas’ Will.i.am is also a fan of the productivity hack. He says it’s the secret to getting his creative juices flowing, as well as ditching work-life balance.
Will.i.am is busy. When he’s not writing hit songs like “OMG” for Usher, he’s looking for the next big pop star on The Voice UK, or running his new AI company, FYI. So how exactly does he balance it all?
The Grammy Award–winning artist turned tech entrepreneur revealed to Fortune that he maxes out the five-to-nine after the daily grind of his nine-to-five, and he advises Gen Zers to forget about work-life balance if they want to emulate his success.
“If you’re trying to build something that doesn’t exist, it’s about dream-reality balance,” he says. “Work-life balance means that you’re working for somebody else’s dream. You just have a job supporting somebody else’s dream, and you want to balance your work and your life.
“But if it’s dream-reality balance, then it’s not work. It’s a dream that you’re trying to put into reality, and you’re ignoring your current reality.”
For example, after working on his tech venture from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Will.i.am says that he goes back to work on his creative business until 9 p.m. But before his AI company was a reality, his day was flipped. He’d work on music first before dipping into his tech side hustle well into the evening.
It’s why he advises young people to reframe how they think of their time off work and their current nine-to-five reality.
“I’m not really paying attention to this reality,” he explains. “I’m trying to bring that one [a new business venture or idea] here and focusing on how do I get people who believe in this dream to help me materialize it? So for that, you have to make some type of sacrifice to bring this thing that doesn’t exist here.
“From that perspective, work-life balance is not for the architects that are pulling visions into reality. Those words don’t compute to the mindset of the materializers.”
Will.i.am doesn’t even take time out for his birthday—and goes to work in China on Boxing Day
Of course, many young people already devote hours to their side hustles and personal development after work. Millions of Gen Zers and millennials are tuning into people’s five-to-nine evening routines on TikTok.
But Will.i.am says chipping away at your dream when most people are off work extends to weekends, birthdays, and holidays.
“I didn’t party. I was always a square, meaning, ‘You work too much, man, let’s go out.’ Like what? Go out. I don’t want to go out. I just always worked,” the rapper says. “It’s your birthday what are you gonna do? Work. You ain’t gonna celebrate?”
The multimillionaire says he’s always saved the celebrating for the stage, where he can finally enjoy the fruits of his labor.
“There’s nothing that’s ever gonna feel that glorious than when you’re actually at a festival. But how do you get to headline a festival? You’ve got to work. My friends would go out and party, hanging out with chicks, doing drugs, drinking. I was just in the studio working, writing songs.”
To this day, he says that he hasn’t gone out and celebrated a birthday—including his most recent one, which was on March 15.
“Like on Christmas for the past 12 years: I could celebrate Christmas with my family, and then on the 26th, I fly to China because that’s dream maker heaven. Anything you want to make is there.”
Will.i.am was speaking to Fortune in Rome for the rollout of Raidio.FYI radios in Mercedes-Benz cars.
Will.i.am’s daily work routine
7 a.m.: Will.i.am is not a part of the CEO-approved 5 a.m. club. Instead, he told Fortune he wakes up at around 7 a.m., and he sticks to this routine whether he’s living in L.A. or London.
8 a.m.: “I walk, do my calls, and get to work,” he says, with the aim to start work at 9 a.m.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: “I get a lot done from nine to 12, do my little lunch, then back to work at one, finish at five, and that’s all my tech, like entrepreneurial activities.”
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.: “The night hours are creativity,” he says, adding that specifically between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. is when he gets the best ideas. “That’s the juicy bits, [when] I’m freaking soaking in emotion, to where I just rinse it out in the phone.”
9 p.m. onward: When Will.i.am was in his late twenties, he says going to sleep at 4 a.m. (and waking up at noon) was the norm. But now, at 50 and balancing both his tech and music ventures, he starts unwinding for bed after 9 p.m. and is asleep by 11 p.m.
A version of this story originally published on Fortune.com on March 23, 2025.