Entrepreneur Ryan Serhant Embraces Intense Work Ethic

The real estate mogul says most people don't achieve their dreams because 'what they really want is just to be lazy'

Jan. 31, 2026 at 8:23am

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Ryan Serhant, the founder of real estate firm SERHANT, has built a reputation for his intense work ethic. He wakes up at 4:30 a.m. each morning, spends the first hour answering emails, then works out for 90 minutes before starting a packed schedule of meetings and client work that can run as late as 11 p.m. Serhant believes many people struggle to achieve their goals because they "lie to themselves" and "what they really want is just to be lazy." He treats his time like money, planning his days on a scale where one minute equals $1, which he says helps him stay focused on his goals.

Why it matters

Serhant's approach to work-life balance challenges the traditional notion that a healthy work-life balance is essential for success. His beliefs are echoed by other prominent business leaders like Jeff Bezos and Reid Hoffman, who argue that true entrepreneurial success often requires single-minded dedication and a willingness to prioritize work over life at times. This perspective provides an alternative view on the work-life balance debate, which has become increasingly important for talent in recent years.

The details

Serhant's daily routine involves waking up at 4:30 a.m., spending the first hour answering emails, then working out for 90 minutes before starting a packed schedule of meetings and client work that can run as late as 11 p.m. He treats his time like money, planning his days on a scale where one minute equals $1, which he says helps him stay focused on his goals. In 2026, those goals include scaling SERHANT as an AI-first brokerage and continuing to expand its footprint across new states.

  • Serhant wakes up at 4:30 a.m. each morning.

The players

Ryan Serhant

The founder of real estate firm SERHANT, known for his intense work ethic and belief that many people don't achieve their dreams because "what they really want is just to be lazy."

Jeff Bezos

The Amazon co-founder who has said that work-life balance is not a reality for success, and that "work-life harmony" is a better way to think about it.

Reid Hoffman

The LinkedIn co-founder who has said that anyone wanting to pursue entrepreneurship will have to dedicate themselves to their idea to get it off the ground, and that "the only really great founders are [the ones who are] like, 'I am going to put literally everything into doing this.''

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What they’re saying

“I definitely have a problem, like I definitely live to work. Even when I'm traveling, I get so excited to come back to my command station.”

— Ryan Serhant

“People are not honest with their goals. They think they want to get married, they think they want X, they think they want Y, but what they really want is to do nothing. What they really want is just to be lazy. What they really want is just to win the lottery.”

— Ryan Serhant

“If I ever hear a founder talking about, 'This is how I have a balanced life,' they're not committed to winning. The only really great founders are [the ones who are] like, 'I am going to put literally everything into doing this.'”

— Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder

“I don't love the word 'balance' because it implies a tradeoff. I've often had people ask me, 'How do you deal with work-life balance?' And I'll say 'I like work-life harmony because if you're happy at home, you'll be better at work. If you're better at work, you'll be better at home.' These things go together. It's not a strict tradeoff.”

— Jeff Bezos, Amazon co-founder

What’s next

In 2026, Serhant plans to scale SERHANT as an AI-first brokerage and continue expanding its footprint across new states.

The takeaway

Serhant's intense work ethic and belief that true success often requires prioritizing work over life challenges the traditional notion of work-life balance. His perspective, shared by other prominent business leaders, suggests that for those aspiring to entrepreneurial or executive success, a singular focus and willingness to sacrifice personal time may be necessary, even if it comes at the expense of a healthy work-life balance.