A 2015 video comedian Steve Harvey made as part of his Morning Inspiration series has resurfaced and is causing a stir online.
In it, the TV host discusses how wealthy people managed to attain their success by making the most of their days — even sacrificing sleep in the process.
“Rich people don’t sleep eight hours a day,” Harvey states before his studio audience. “That’s a third of your life. It ain’t but 24 hours in a day! You cannot be sleep eight hours a day! You can’t live in L.A. and wake up at 8 o’clock in the morning. It’s 11 o’clock on the east coast. The stock market been open two hours. They already making decisions about your life and yo’ ass was sleep! The Bible says, ‘he who loves to sleep and the folding of hands, poverty will set upon you like a thief in the night.'”
The clip was shared by various users across Twitter Tuesday, May 7 and launched a platform-wide discussion debating the merits of Harvey’s hot take.
Several essentially said his view was hooey.
“I don’t believe in this at all, 8 hours can be a lot but no.. lol.. you can die quicker from lack of sleep than lack of food.. we gotta stop this ‘I’ll sleep when I die’ grind mentality.. so American and so unhealthy.”
“And there are seasons too. Some seasons require a little grinding it out, but I don’t believe it’s an entire way of life. Especially as a woman!!! He doing all this talking, but I’m sure him, his sons and friends don’t date haggard looking women. I NEED MY BEAUTY REST!”
“Terrible advice. This is sending the wrong message! Especially when it comes to maintaining our health.”
But others pointed out that there’s a certain point in one’s career trajectory where sleep has to be sacrificed to achieve goals.
“I get what he is saying on a broader scale. If you plan to excel physically,mentally and still be sociable more than likely your not going to be getting 8 hours.”
“I get his point because he hustled his way into that position . most people on twitter just complain all day and post cash app in their bios so it’s a different mentality .”
“It’s a rather simple point really… the early bird gets the worm. Folks complain about everything though nowadays.”
Harvey has long discussed his drive and how his relentless work ethic has gotten him to where he is today. The star quit his job in the ’80s and only earned $50 on his way to making a career out of comedy. He lived out of his Ford Tempo due to homelessness. Soon things changed and he landed a gig on “Showtime at the Apollo” in 1993. A sitcom and “Kings of Comedy Tour” run followed, and he’s now had two talk shows and several hosting stints with the Miss Universe pageant and game shows like “Family Feud.” People magazine reported he has a more than $100 million fortune.
Even still, the comic feels he can’t stop grinding.
“I’m running from homelessness,” he told the publication in 2016. “I can’t ever be in that position again. If my show gets canceled, I’ve got three more. I don’t have any free time, but I have 12 jobs.”