Why Work-Life Balance Is a Lie

In partnership with

HSR20 for 20% off your first order

♡ This Week’s Episode ♡

In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie Sellers sits down with her sister and co-founder Katie Sellers to talk about the myth of balance, the reality of modern ambition, and what women really give up to build businesses, families, and brands at the same time.

From the truth behind “having it all” to what social media doesn’t show about life after kids, Maggie and Katie get into the trade-offs no one warns you about — including how ambition evolves through different seasons of life. They also break down the power of being offline, the limits of personal brand transparency, and why it’s okay to not want to monetize every part of your identity.

Whether you’re single and building, deep in your mom era, or trying to find the line between ambition and burnout, this one’s for you.

You can connect with Katie on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@katiesellers_.

It’s getting Haute in here. De Soi is launching Haute Margarita (!!!) a bold, spicy non-alc marg that joins their cult-fave lineup of functional apéritifs like Tres Rosé and Spritz Italiano.

To celebrate, I’m hosting an exclusive rooftop event in Los Angeles on Monday, May 19 at the stunning Proper Hotel’s new Luxury Wellness Club in Santa Monica. It sold out instantly but I’ve opened a waitlist for both the pilates class and the networking hang, so make sure you sign up because spots do tend to open last minute!

And if you can’t make it in person use code HSR20 at checkout for 20% off your first De Soi order of regular cans! (Excludes subscriptions.)

For brand partnerships, email us at [email protected]

♡ Thought You Loved WFH? ♡

It Might Be Messing With Your Head

Remote work sounds like a dream. Sweatpants, no commute, freedom to work from anywhere. But if you’ve been feeling off lately, this might be why.

When I’m home for too long, my anxiety creeps up. I feel stuck. Like I can’t get into a flow no matter how many matchas I drink. The day-to-day gets heavy. But the second I switch up my environment, even just change the room I’m working in, something clicks. I feel sharper. More like myself.

And the data backs it up. Gallup found that remote workers are actually more engaged than hybrid or in-office workers. So technically, they’re doing great. But emotionally? Not so much.

45% of remote workers report feeling angry, sad, or lonely. More than those going into the office. Here’s what’s making it worse:

No work wife. No spontaneous banter. More time with your dog. Less time with the people who get your weird Slack humor.

No separation. Your kitchen table is your desk. Your laptop is your third limb. You never really clock out.

Zoom fatigue is real. Creative work through lag and glitchy screens just doesn’t hit the same.

And still, we’re clinging to it. LinkedIn says 40% of Gen Z and millennials would take a pay cut just to keep the freedom to WFH. Because flexibility feels like control. And right now, that’s gold.

But if you’re feeling drained or uninspired, it might not be you. It might be your setup. Sometimes you don’t need a new job. You just need a new backdrop.

♡ Brands, Products & Things ♡
Mentioned in This Episode

• Sir the Label dress⁠ – I wore this dress to F1 and loved it!

• Stanley Cup⁠ – The viral 40oz Quencher cup that moms made famous.

• Frida Mom⁠ – The snot sucker (from Frida Baby).

• Cakes⁠ – Highlighted for offering $36K/year in child support benefits and building brand loyalty through values.

• ⁠Locker⁠ – An HSR portfolio company working to democratize affiliate tools for creators.

• ⁠Diary of a CEO⁠ – Emma Grede’s episode sparked the deeper discussion around ambition, motherhood, and the myth of work-life balance.