[ymolodtsov]

Because the antonym is stagnation.

Work takes all the volume you give it.

The best managers I worked with had at least one common feature: always giving deadlines to move things forward.

Because you don't live on an empty planet. Other companies and people also run forward.

Being slow means you will get behind. In some markets, like software, this means you won't get anything at all.

[goatlover]

Surely there is a middle ground between speed being the overriding concern and stagnation. Also there is a question of what makes for better life/work balance and healthier working environment. I guess those things don't matter so much to the ambitious. You can sleep when you die and other mantras guaranteed to cause serious health concerns on down the line.

[ymolodtsov]

Work-life balance is more about work hours and purpose vs how quickly you're targeting to finish things, at least in my view.