Note to readers: the above individual has made peculiar life and career choices that have led him to “7200 hour work days.” It is NOT in any way indicative of life as a CFI, regional pilot, or major US airline pilot. Even 15 hour work days are not the norm (to say nothing of 30 hour days), until you become a widebody long haul pilot (which will be years into your career if you work for a major US airline).
If you choose to work for questionable companies or have some weird stigma about networking, you may be forced into the kind of career that the above individual had/has, but just be aware that it is NOT the norm. Working as a regional or major airline pilot will give you a greater quality of life than many people in corporate America, especially attorneys (I lived with an attorney that I was dating for a period of time. Her work/life balance was hellacious).
Just some perspective from the other end of the spectrum.