I read it as younger, more foolish people believe if they're the best quisling they can be, if they can just throw away their life for the cause better than the next guy is throwing away his life, then the cause will obviously reciprocate and take care of him later, when he needs it. So throw away the kids sports games, work 80 hours, at least the company will take care of me later when I need help. The real world usually does not work like that, and the only really certain outcome of being the best slave you can be, is missing out on being a parent. And/or husband.

As a supposedly honors college grad and well read and all that he surely has heard of the greek concept of moderation in all things etc. May have not made it into the essay for whatever reason.

If he talked back to his boss and "cut back" to 70 hours, he probably would still be in the biz, or maybe he would have been downsized for not being a team player. Who knows. But one certain result would have been being a parent or husband for ten more hours/week.