39-year-old startup founder works 11 hours daily but still finds time for family and fitness: His secret will change how you see work-life balance

Balancing the intense demands of entrepreneurship with personal life often feels impossible, but for Desmond Lim, it’s a daily reality he has learned to master. The 39-year-old CEO and founder of Workstream, an HR and payroll platform for hourly workers, juggles an average of 11-hour workdays without letting go of his health or family time. His secret lies in rhythm, routine, and relentless discipline.

While most founders dismiss “work-life balance” as a myth, Lim insists it’s essential for survival. Speaking to CNBC Make It, he admitted that running a startup can be emotionally draining. “The emotional ups and downs are always very challenging. The highs are very high, the lows are very low,” he said.

Yet, despite the chaos, Lim has found his calm in consistency. “Every year, you still think the company could die. And then I just try to remind myself… you are still alive, healthy, everything is good,” he shared, adding that even in his sleep, work rarely leaves his mind.

Finding His Own Rhythm
Lim’s philosophy is simple: Find your own rhythm and protect your energy. His daily schedule is designed around that belief. “My advice is, find your own rhythm,” he said. For him, that means starting each day with exercise before diving into meetings and deep work.

His weekday begins at 6:30 a.m. and stretches until 8:30 p.m., with time blocked out for sports, meetings, team lunches, and focused project hours. Evenings are often spent in discussions with partners across time zones, while weekends are strictly for family — his work phone locked away in a cupboard.

The ‘Dual Schedule’ Approach
Lim draws inspiration from Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham’s essay on time management, where Graham distinguishes between a “manager’s schedule” packed with meetings and a “maker’s schedule” built for uninterrupted creativity.

Rather than choosing one, Lim combines both. “I like to have calls, deep work, calls, deep work,” he told CNBC Make It. This hybrid approach allows him to switch between strategic discussions and hands-on problem-solving, keeping both his mind and company agile.

The Non-Negotiable
For Lim, physical fitness isn’t a hobby — it’s a cornerstone of success. “I try to get the non-negotiables out of the way early in the morning. For me, it’s sports,” he said.

His mornings are dedicated to 75 to 90 minutes of basketball, swimming, or gym workouts. Having captained basketball teams through school and even representing Singapore’s National Youth Team, his passion for sports runs deep. “I really believe in being able to move well, especially as you grow old,” he explained.

Lim encourages every founder to pursue one passion outside their business. “Go very deep on one passion you have that is not work-related,” he advised. For him, that passion continues to be sports — a source of focus, energy, and renewal.