https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nudge_theory
Helps in every facet of life :- )
Super true advice.
For years I was obsessed with the product to point I didn't notice I put my clients so ahead of my own personal quality of life, sacrificing not just weekends but months including Christmas holidays. Half the issue was my own obsession, half the issue was letting be easily manipulated by clients considering everything "important" ( by constantly stressing the point, making up fake deadlines, etc.. )
The fact is, almost never was it that important. It's just the language of today. It pushes you to sacrifice yourself on behalf of others when it absolutely isn't necessary.
I wish I had forced down the need for absolute honesty, reclaim my agency, respect for boundaries and setting realistic expectations and acceptance of reasonable compromise earlier than I did.
But this career is never-ending work-in-progress, learning of past mistakes.
TLDR advice to former self: There is no respect or love to be earned by sacrificing all the personal time to please every request client throws at you. The work will not benefit and result won't be better. With creeping depression it's not like you would be able to do any work at all. Work/Life balance might be cliche and doesn't denote single solution or approach but it's important matter to cater to.
What you say is very much true and always had been. Yet I would like to provide slight counter-argument, or rather, possible alternative :- )
With the rapidness of changes in current times, chasing the 'new thing' can be a vicious circle. There are only so many 'new things' and only so many windows of opportunity to be the first.
Sometimes it's worth to step away and just provide good old-fashioned quality. People who come up with something first will always gain most attention. But those most sought after will be those who will make it best.
With the possibility I will eat my words I would rather illustrate that. Tesla has brought the attention, infrastructure and public availability to electric cars, but it's already becoming clear the company is racing against a wall. The reality just might be, the biggest success will yield someone else (and that your future electric car might rather be Porsche).
Tablet and smartphones predates Apple, but it was Apple who improved upon the concept and made it popular. (Second time this year I use them as example, I swear, I don't own single product and I use Lumia and SurfacePro )
Two years ago, the VR and real-time revolution started haunting me. It had click-bait articles around every corner waiting to give you anxiety, it had cult followers at conferences telling you how you'll be forgotten in ashes if you don't start offering VR today. Yesterday was late, it was VR or die.
At first I laughed at it, then it crawled back in my mind and gave it some consideration, but in end ultimately resorted to focusing on what I was already good at and do that better. Just single simple images.
And I can tell just looking at many of those early adopters what result it brought: attention fracture leading to broader range of mediocre work. It might have worked for select big-sized studios as supplementary service, but for freelancers and small studios, the results look unimpressive.
I am by no means advocating to ignore the changes. But chasing it first is not ultimately what everyone needs to do to be successful and competitive.
TL : DR advice: Have a clear focus early and stick to it. Whether that's being revolutionary pioneer or simply mastering your niche