I used to believe it too. Maybe you have as well.

That sneaky little story that goes like this:

“Grind now. Sacrifice everything. Just wait — someday it’ll all be worth it.”

A few weeks ago, I met a friend. This guy is crushing it by every metric. His SaaS business just hit $5 million ARR, he’s got a team of ten, press mentions in Fast Company, and a board that’s over the moon.

Sounds like the dream, right?

But halfway through our coffee, amidst a crowded cafe, his composure cracked.

“I’ve been saying ‘someday’ for seven years,” he confessed.
“Someday I’ll take that trip with my wife. Someday I’ll show up at my kid’s events. Someday I’ll get my health back.”

But here’s the hard truth: his somedays are broken promises.

His marriage is strained, he’s disconnected from his kids, and his doctor just put him on blood pressure meds.

Yet, business? It’s booming.

Grinding for “someday” is a cruel math.

Because every “someday” means trading real, precious time today for some imaginary future.

• The time you could spend with your kids tonight? Real.
• The walks you skip with your dog? Real.
• The dinners without distractions with your partner? Real.

And those moments? They don’t come back.

No milestone will magically heal the cracks you’re ignoring now.
No bank balance will fix broken relationships.
No achievement will suddenly make you present or happy.

The free time you chase on “someday” doesn’t exist now — and it probably never will.

Why? Because the goalposts keep sprinting forward.

“Someday” is an endless treadmill that runs your life — not the other way around.

What “Success” Really Looks Like

We idolize people who “made it” — but what we don’t see is the toll it takes behind the scenes:

• Business owners who can’t sleep without pills.
• Founders who miss every important moment with their kids.
• Leaders who haven’t had a real unplugged day off in years.
• Couples who haven’t talked for months.

But their Instagram? Filled with humblebrags and polished success stories.

Here’s the brutal truth: Success without balance is a trap.

It destroys the very things that make life worth living.

I Lived the “Someday” Lie — And I Broke Free

For years, I was on that same hamster wheel:

• Working long hours
• Ignoring my wife and friendships
• Believing “someday” would bring the payoff

When I hit that first big revenue goal — guess what? Nothing changed.
I just found new reasons to sacrifice more.

Then I made a decision:

No more “someday.”

Now I say yes to fewer commitments, limit my work hours, and protect my personal time fiercely.
Friday afternoons off? Check.
Dinner with my wife, no phones? Absolutely.
Real vacations, real conversations, real life? Every day.

The result? More creativity, more passion, and the freedom to enjoy both my business and my life.

How You Break the “Someday” Cycle — Starting Today

If you’re trapped in the “someday” lie, here’s how to flip the script:

• Define your “enough.” What’s the exact number that lets you live on your terms — not society’s fantasy?

   

• Put your life on the calendar first. Book vacations, date nights, downtime before loading your schedule with work. Prioritize living, then business.

   

• Create a “not someday” list. Write down the experiences and moments you refuse to postpone. Then block out time to live at least one every month — no excuses.

The Bottom Line: Today Is All You’re Guaranteed

“Someday” is a moving target and an excuse to avoid showing up for yourself and those who matter.

You don’t have to quit or stop working hard. Sacrifices will happen. But your ambition needs to fuel your whole life — not burn it down.

Because no amount of “someday” is worth losing today.

The most expensive thing in life is regret.

Own today. Live it fully. Build your business and your life with equal fire.

This is the mindset we champion at The AI Accelerator by Nidhima Kohli:
 

Not just growing your business with AI and strategy — but owning your time, your relationships, and your life while doing it.

Because success without balance isn’t success at all.