Music mogul Simon Cowell built his multimillion-dollar brand as a ruthless judge with an eye for a hit and an obsession with minor details that would send his schedule into the early hours. If that man could see the “new” welfare-oriented Cowell, he’d be shocked.
The creator Britain has talent and The X factor described a radical change in the way he thought about work after discovering last year that he had effectively stopped working Fridays.
Cowell, who is worth 450 million pounds ($572 million). Sunday Times A rich list, discovered Director’s diary podcast how he became a workaholic after the death of his mother in 2015.
He says it would involve working until 7am, which would lead to success but little luck.
Speaking with Director’s diary hosted by Steven Bartlett, Cowell, 64, says he learned the error of his workaholic habits. The British multimillionaire has taken several steps to rebalance and renew his creativity. A key part of that was simply getting more sleep.
The new Simon
“Good sleep is key,” Cowell told Bartlett.
“You hear about these people who survive on four hours of sleep a night and I wonder, how? I need 10 hours if possible.”
Cowell’s comments mark an exception to the sleeping schedule of top CEOs. A 2022 survey of Fortune 500 CEOs found that the average boss got about 6.3 hours sleeping at night.
Other wellness-focused business leaders, including an anti-aging guru Bryan Johnsonthey called out the “mythology” surrounding tech giants who pride themselves on how little sleep they can get.
“I really believe that sleep is the best medicine your body can have,” Cowell said, admitting that if “old Simon” heard him say that, his answer would be ‘yeah, right’.”
Cowell said Sun last November he had stopped working on Fridays for he felt that he could accomplish the same amount in a four-day week as he could in five.
“I’m not kidding about Friday,” Cowell said The Sun. “I don’t think anyone should work five days a week. It’s just pointless.”
He doubled down on that sentiment in a podcast released in June.
“Does the fifth day really make a difference if you do better on four days?” Cowell asked rhetorically, adding that a three-day weekend is more fun.
Although Cowell has previously said that this four-day week rule should apply to everyone, there are obviously exceptions.
The America has talent the judge still thinks it’s important for people to work harder and longer while they’re younger.
“When I was younger, I honestly didn’t think about weekends,” Cowell said, describing the 16-hour shifts he enjoyed as a runner.
Cowell said that if a 21-year-old comes to work for him but signs out at 5.30pm and tells him not to call at the weekend, then “I’m not going to bet the house on you”. He admits that eventually there comes a time when workers can take their foot off the gas.
“There is a moment when you realize that you have your rhythm, that you are successful, that you have a good team around you, and then don’t kill yourself in the process.”
Cowell leaves his smartphone behind
It’s not just Fridays that Cowell has avoided in search of a more balanced life.
Although he expects otherwise from his Gen Z employees, Cowell confirmed to Bartlett that he doesn’t check his email after 6pm in a dramatic shift to a work-life balance that heated up after he had son Eric in 2014.
Cowell also revealed that he doesn’t have a smartphone, except for the one in his car. He compared his smartphone to a “toaster” because it was so little useful to him and caused him so much stress.
“I realized if I didn’t do it for three to four months a year, I was happier during that time,” Cowell said.
His message is simple for anyone trying to find Cowell without a phone in the meantime.
“If you need to catch me, and you know me… you will.”
Cowell’s new laissez-faire attitude left him with few regrets.
One obvious frustration, however, not having naming rights to One Direction, the boy band formed by The X factor in 2010.
“I could have made an animation or whatever, but when you give an artist a name, it’s not yours and that’s my only regret,” Cowell said, adding that if Harry Styles and Zayn Malik were listening, he’d buy the name back from them.
Editor’s note: This article was first published on June 10, 2024.
