They swim against the tide...

The whole world seems to be talking about Narayan Murthy. Why should I not join the bandwagon??? But let’s try something different.?

But before that let’s read a letter.?

To: Dear All,

?It's half past 8 in the office but the lights are still on... PCs still running, coffee machines still buzzing... and who's at work? Most of them??? Take a closer look...

?All or most specimens are??-something male species of the human race... Look closer... again all or most of them are bachelors...and why are they sitting late? Working hard? No way!!!

?Any guesses???

?Let's ask one of them...

?Here's what he says... "What's there to do after going home... here we get to surf, AC, phone, food, coffee... that is why I am working late...most importantly no bossssssss!! !!!!!!!!!

?This is the scene in most research centres, software companies, and other off-shore offices. Bachelors "time-passing" during late hours in the office just because they say they've nothing else to do... Now what are the consequences??? read on...?

“Working" (for the record only) late hours soon becomes part of the institute or company culture. With bosses more than eager to provide support to those "working" late in the form of taxi vouchers, food vouchers and of course good feedback, (oh, he's a hard worker... goes home only to change..!!). They aren't helping things too... To hell with bosses who don't understand the difference between "sitting" late and "working" late!!! Very soon, the boss starts expecting all employees to put in extra working hours.?

So, My dear Bachelors let me tell you, life changes when you get married and start having a family... office is no longer a priority, family is... and that's when the problem starts... because you start having commitments at home too.

For your boss, the earlier "hardworking" guy suddenly seems to become an "early leaver" even if you leave an hour after regular time... after doing the same amount of work. People leaving on time after doing their tasks for the day are labelled as work-shirkers. ..

Girls who thankfully always (it's changing nowadays... though) leave on time are labelled as "not up to it". All the while, the bachelors pat their own backs and carry on "working" not realizing that they are spoiling the work culture at their own place and never realize that they would have to regret it at one point in time.

So what's the moral of the story??

• Very clear, LEAVE ON TIME!!!
• Never put in extra time unless really needed.
• Don't stay back unnecessarily and spoil your company's work culture, which will in turn cause inconvenience to you and your colleagues.

There are a hundred other things to do in the evenings:

• Learn music.
• Learn a foreign language.
• Try a sport... TT, cricket...
• Importantly, get a girlfriend or gal friend, and take him/her around town.

And for heaven's sake, net cafe rates have dropped to an all-time low, (plus, no fire-walls) and try cooking for a change.

Take a tip from the Smirnoff ad: "Life's calling, where are you??"

Please pass on this message to all those colleagues and please do it before leaving time, don't stay back till midnight to forward this!!!

IT'S A TYPICAL INDIAN MENTALITY THAT WORKING FOR LONG HOURS MEANS VERY HARD WORKING & 100% COMMITMENT ETC. PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY SIT LATE IN THE OFFICE DON'T KNOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME.

?Regards,

Any guesses who had written this letter back in the early 2000s, when this was exactly the culture and terms like work-life balance were not even coined?

Yes, it is the same Mr N. R. Narayana Murthy. The same person, who recently advised that the youth should work 70 hours a week for their own prosperity and that of the country.

But when does he make such a comment? He says this in the era when quality of life is being discussed more than productivity, in the era when the youth say that they are willing to work hard, but only for themselves, and in the era when internet trolls prosper.

Does Mr Murthy care? I do not think so. In support, I will not even showcase the data to prove that an average urban Indian of 15-59 years of age actually works for 68-78.6 hours. These are trivial in the broader context of Mr Murthy’s advice.?

A leader will always challenge the status quo. A leader does not sit back and cry about their rights but takes up the responsibility to carve out the road to prosperity.?

A leader will always swim against the tide because history has time and again proven that the mob mentality is seldom right.

You have two options in mind:

1) Try and fathom the underlined meaning of Mr Murthy’s words.

2) Keep criticizing and trolling him.

The option you choose will determine where you shall be 10 years from now.

Disclaimer: The authenticity of the letter has never been proven. However, Mr Murthy did not oppose its content when asked on multiple occasions.

#worklifebalance #hardwork #careergrowth

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