In 2020, upon enrolling at Miami University in Ohio, Emil Barr calculated he had exactly 35.040 hours to build his career during his four years as a student. Instead of entertainment or dating, he isolated himself in his dormitory to establish Step Up Social, a company that supports content development on TikTok and Instagram Reels.

To optimize his time, Barr slept an average of 3,5 hours and worked 12,5 hours daily. As a result, the young man gained 36 kg, relied on energy drinks, and frequently struggled with anxiety.

Emil Barr founded his first company while attending Miami University, Ohio in 2021. *Photo: Emil Barr*

He calls this the "concentrated effort to success" strategy. Barr argues that optimizing time during one's prime helps young people achieve financial freedom by age 30, avoiding years of earning an average salary to make their first USD 1 million.

To achieve wealth this way, Barr adopted strict principles. He hired cleaners and food delivery services to eliminate chores, believing that spending USD 100 to avoid grocery shopping is an obvious decision when earning thousands of USD daily.

He also filtered social relationships. Barr questioned every invitation: "Does this help build the company?" His isolation cost him some friendships, but he accepted prioritizing only those with similar ambitions. Even university studies were treated as a business problem. He favored classes graded by exams over attendance, avoiding courses that prohibited computer use so he could always manage his work online.

All appointments, even with family, took a backseat to business priorities. He once took a helicopter to a meeting instead of driving three hours, to gain more time to close a deal. Barr's goal is to become a billionaire by age 30.

Barr's story sparked a debate about hustle culture.

Eric Schweppe, a reader from Philadelphia, warned about the cost of "waking up with a lot of money but feeling completely empty." Uncontrolled weight gain and social isolation also pose long-term risks of illness and depression.

In contrast to Barr, Greg Dick of Columbus, Ohio, stated he cherished his student years, filled with enjoyment and low-paying jobs. Though not as wealthy as Barr, he is happy with his wife and children, whom he met through simple social connections.

In response to criticism, Emil Barr argued that the younger generation cannot expect high income while desiring an easy workload. He currently maintains a 100-hour work week but dedicates 18h-21h to his family and girlfriend before continuing work until 1h.

"Two years of intense, focused effort transformed an 18-year-old with nothing into a millionaire. It was a worthwhile sacrifice," Barr asserted.

*Minh Phuong (According to WSJ, Insider)*