Def Jam cofounder Rick Rubin, 63, says his success came from being a 'lazy workaholic'

Def Jam co-founder Rick Rubin calls himself a "lazy workaholic": discipline, not passion, drove 25 years of 16-hour studio days — he forces himself to show up even when he'd rather not. Talent and work ethic are independent variables; his framework offers team leaders a cleaner lens for evaluating high-output contributors beyond raw skill or enthusiasm.