In my view, the concept of work-life balance, often romanticised today, is a product of nations that have achieved economic stability, robust social security systems, and a high quality of life. Recently, Infosys founder Mr. Narayana Murthy sparked a national debate when he suggested that Indians should work 70 hours a week. While the statement attracted widespread criticism, the core message was about fostering a culture of diligence and dedication - traits so essential for national progress. History offers lessons. Consider Japan’s remarkable ascent after World War II. Despite being a war-torn country with no natural resources, it emerged as one of the world’s richest nations, driven by sheer determination, hard work of its people, discipline, and innovation. Our journey from a fledgling startup to the enterprise we are today was built on the back of unrelenting hard work. At Star Global, the nature of our operations demands relentless commitment. We handle multiple aspects of trade such as commercial negotiations, counterparty due diligence, contracts, shipping arrangements, trade finance operations, insurance, all without any margin of error. A single misstep or an oversight could lead to losses running in millions of dollars. So, we can’t afford to stick to a strict “off-the-clock” policy when the trades are live. Our team understands this responsibility and is eager to work whenever necessary to ensure everything runs smoothly, without being asked. This culture of shared accountability and high performance has fostered a unique positive work environment that transcends the ideas of work-life balance. We are consistently certified as ‘Best Place to Work’. I have often seen people work hard in India to build their career, but when they move to countries like the UAE, where the challenges are fewer and the quality of life is better, they often lose sight of their roots. I have come across people, many of them Indians, who refuse to take work calls after 5 PM or on weekends. I recall, one unemployed Indian candidate who applied for a job at our company, and when my HR head called him on a Saturday, he bluntly asked if the interview could be scheduled on a weekday, as he doesn’t take work-related calls on weekends. This kind of a shift in mindset and priorities is unfortunate . As Indians, whether we are in India or abroad, we must never forget where we come from and the hard work it took us to get here. In my firm belief, there is no substitute for hard work. And remember, even if we achieve success through hard work once, it is never guaranteed to last. The hard work must be continued at least in our generation and maybe in the next few too. So, let us first earn a life worth balancing. The rest will follow.
Work-life balance, often romanticized in stable economies, was debated recently when Infosys founder Narayana Murthy suggested a 70-hour work week for Indians, emphasizing diligence and dedication. Drawing parallels to Japan's post-WWII recovery, it underscores the necessity of relentless commitment to national progress. Government freebies in India, such as subsidies and welfare schemes, have led to concerns about fostering dependency and reducing the incentive to work hard. In contrast, countries like China, Japan, and Vietnam emphasize hard work, discipline, and innovation, contributing to economic growth and stability. These nations focus on creating a culture of diligence and self-reliance, which has been key to their success.
Hirdesh Gupta I agree to some extent, but it is important to acknowledge that many young professionals are working exceptionally hard, striving for that one opportunity to prove themselves and establish a stable, successful career. For instance, I work tirelessly throughout the week—coordinating with suppliers in South America during their morning hours, handling buyers in Hong Kong, and managing my Indian clients even over weekends. On Saturdays and Sundays, I conduct meetings with clients from Bangladesh and Pakistan. At the end of the day, an individual’s dedication and passion for their work determine their success. When employees genuinely care about their role and see the company’s growth as a reflection of their own, success becomes a mutual goal. While finding committed individuals is challenging, it is ultimately a two-way street—employers must foster an environment that nurtures and recognizes such dedication.
I agree everyone need to be Diligent and focus on Quality but disagree with Mr. NM on many fronts 1 Hard work is NOT EQUAL to better Productivity Many corporates exploit employees and add unnecessary stress based on Attendance and long hours and underpay (they still cannot figure out how to measure productivity based on Outcome and Contributions and hence contracts still follow draconian rules of 8 hours and 6 days a week (unofficially 12-14 hours and 7 days a week). I was shocked to see a contract to my mentee verbally 2 hours for pity salary but on paper 8hrs 6 days a week. 2 It is NOT the number of hours you spent, it is the Outcome that matters Only 74% projects are completed on time . 3 Work From Home is a BOON for many - especially for Person with Disabilities, Women (Who need to Care for small children or older adults or sick) but still can contribute to economy working less hours but productive. His own wife gave-up her job. 4 Wage gaps are too high and Mass Layoffs are 'Normal'. though this was 2013 (but still so much for Ethics) - settled paying USD34millon https://www.employmentlawworldview.com/the-infosys-settlement-34-million-reasons-for-employers-to-take-head/ Continued in reply...
Well said Extra hours are also because of productivity not so.much arising of of competence but not loving what you do. Except that it's a human defined designation even on weekend sun rises in east only
Very well put Hirdesh ……each one of us must decide our work life balance quotient …you will have rewards also following the similar trajectory
As traders we must be available 7 days a week
MD & CEO, Indicaa Group, Dubai
3dI couldn't agree with you more, Hirdesh. You spoke my heart and mind. Younger and the upcoming generation is illusioned by QGR..Quickly Get Rich....mindset. There's no substitute to hard work.