Work 70 hours a week? I agree.

My perspective on what defines work.

Lately, my LinkedIn feed has been flooded with posts discussing the controversial topic of working 70 hours a week. I figured it was my time to add my perspective to this conversation. In short, I AGREE with the idea, but before you raise your pitchforks, give this post a full read to get my complete view.

In the ongoing debate, there are a handful of leaders expressing their support while many are denouncing Mr. Narayana Murthy's statement, which goes like this:

“Therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say, This is my country; I’d like to work 70 hours a week,”

Honestly, I don't know the context in which he made that statement. Often, quotes like these are yanked out of context and connected to all sorts of interpretations. So, this post is only about my take and views. Let start from beginning.

What exactly does work mean (to me)?

It seems we've confined our understanding of work to the realm of office setups and reporting to a manager, all in pursuit of the salary and wealth, which we need for food, clothing, shelter, and then some.

But where did this notion come from? I firmly believe that what we do, or our work, defines who we are. It's an expression of our true selves. So, if you're passionate about music, that's your work. Right now, I'm learning about human psychology out of passion, and happy to spend few hours every day on it. If a programmer is studying a new framework outside of their job, that's work too. Even going for a run, cycling, playing tennis, or spending quality time with your kids contributes to your productivity and part of your work to stay healthy and productive in future. I consider this time of me writing this post as work.

My father, at the age of 70, still works six days a week, from 9 to 9, to what he does. He doesn't view it as work but as an extension of himself. If at all, he gets bored if he does not work and asked to stay idle at home. My wife has started her entrepreneurial journey in a small way recently and has been working more than 15 hours every day since a month juggling between her job and her interests.

In short, upskilling, acquiring new knowledge, investing in your family, or focusing on your health all contribute to your current or future productivity and are considered as some form of your work.

Nowadays, most people clock in 8 hours a day, working five or six days a week. I know many friends and colleagues who put in an extra 40-50 hours each week preparing for exams like CAT, GRE, or IAS. So, in total, they're easily hitting that 70-80 hours mark already.

Given the current advancements in AI, I'm convinced that staying relevant requires us to keep learning and adapting. In my view, AI can be a threat unless we learn to harness it. Thus, even if someone is watching YouTube videos to upskill and learn new concepts, they could easily spend 60-70 hour mark.

So, what's the fuss all about, and why is everyone up in arms?

It all boils down to choice. No one, including me, wants to be coerced into working 70 hours a week. It's about having the freedom to choose. If you examine Mr. Murthy's statement closely, he's not demanding that people work those hours; he's suggesting that they make the choice. I see it as advice from a pioneer who played a pivotal role in shaping the Indian software industry and turning Bengaluru into the tech hub it is today. The country does not grow if we work for 70 hours in a job but learn to do things better and do with passion. So find your passion and invest.

In my case, there are weeks when I push beyond 80 hours, and then there are weeks when I barely hit 40. It all comes down to choice, self-motivation, and priorities. Our motivations and priorities varies so find your own things to do in 70 hours every week.

I'm not here to advocate that you should work a 70-hour week for your employer. Instead, I'm encouraging you to spend that time on your passions, hobbies, learning, upskilling plus your job. Anyone who has worked with me or on my team knows what I mean. If you don't grow, you risk becoming irrelevant in a few short years. So, invest in yourself—not just for your job or money, but for your personal fulfillment. In the grand scheme of things, when you enhance your skills, delve into the arts, or refine your communication or a hobby, you're elevating the entire nation. In the end, we all are the country and happy, productive, positive and passionate people makes better country. Time to get back to work 🤓