There’s an ongoing debate in today’s professional ecosystem: Should we embrace the 70-hour workweek, push for 100-hour weeks, or settle into the comforts of work-from-home and generous employee perks? But this conversation often borrows from Western norms, failing to recognize that India—and much of Asia—operates within a fundamentally different context.
Our country’s work culture and socio-economic challenges cannot be copied and pasted from Europe or the United States. We are a nation striving to move millions out of poverty and a middle-class mindset, with aspirations of wealth and opportunity. But here’s the truth: wealth creation isn’t easy, and it was never meant to be.
The Hard Truth About Wealth Creation
If becoming rich were simple, wouldn’t everyone be wealthy? Yet the reality remains: the top 1% of any country controls a disproportionate share of wealth. For instance, in India, the top 1% holds about 33% of the wealth, while in the United States, the top 1% holds approximately 35% of the income.
What separates the top 1% from the rest isn’t luck or shortcuts. It’s excellence, built on a relentless commitment to laying a strong foundation. This journey to excellence is empowering, as it is the bridge from mediocrity to mastery. Mastery requires discipline, focus, and, most importantly, hours—thousands of them.
The Journey to Mastery
As you climb the professional ladder—from worker to manager to owner—the nature of your work changes. Early in my career as an angel investor, I spent 90% of my time meeting founders, analyzing businesses, and conducting research. Now, less than 25% of my time is spent investing.
The rest? My hours are consumed by HR, payroll, compliance, legal, fundraising, and future planning—none resembling the work I loved when I began. And yet, this transition was possible only because my foundation was solid. The countless hours I spent on the basics—learning, reading, and refining—now pay dividends as I manage higher-stakes responsibilities efficiently.
For instance, I used to spend 11 hours poring over a 100-page document. Today, I can get through it in under 2 hours. That’s not because I read faster but because I’ve sharpened my ability to spot errors and inconsistencies quickly. This sense of accomplishment is a direct result of discipline and effort.
This isn’t unique to me. Legends like India’s star cricket, Sachin Tendulkar spent thousands of hours perfecting their craft, long before the spotlight found them. As a schoolboy, Sachin played 55 games in 55 days without a break, practising for hours daily, which showcases his dedication and discipline. This level of mastery is something to be proud of.
Why 100-Hour Weeks Matter
For the last two decades, I’ve worked 100-hour weeks. That’s over 125,000 hours of experience. Compare that to someone working a 40-hour week—over 20 years, they’d have accumulated just 40,000 hours. That gap isn’t just a number; it’s the difference between competence and expertise, between staying average and becoming extraordinary.
Mastery isn’t downloadable. The equity, respect, and wealth you want don’t come from clocking in and out. They come from becoming indispensable, from sharpening your skills to a point where your value is undeniable.
Discipline Outweighs Regret
There are two kinds of pain in life: the pain of discipline and the pain of regret; it is clear that the latter weighs tons.
Meanwhile, the more difficult discipline demands effort, time, and sacrifice, but that pain pales in comparison to the pain of regret, which only increases exponentially over time. While the difference may not seem obvious early in your career, it becomes glaring as the years pass. By your 15th or 20th year, those who’ve put in the hours stand leagues ahead of those who haven’t.
Founders and the Myth of the 40-Hour Week
Here’s the harsh truth: no founder builds a thriving business by working 30-40 hours a week. In a rapidly changing world, taking your eyes off the ball can lead to disaster. Customers demand maximum value, investors expect high returns, and stakeholders won’t accept mediocrity.
Building something significant requires relentless effort. It’s not for everyone, but the financial and other rewards are immense for those willing to put in the work.
I Empathize, But I Disagree
I empathize with employees who seek work-life balance or a less intense lifestyle, but I disagree.
Success demands a price. It stems from excellence, which requires thousands of hours of foundational work and repetition. The ability to move up and create what looks like magic—or even luck—comes from relentless effort and discipline.
The Choice Is Yours
If you’re starting out, remember this: the 100-hour week isn’t about grinding endlessly for the sake of it. It’s about using those hours to sharpen your skills, deepen your expertise, and build the foundation for a successful career.
You can either work hard now and reap the rewards later or take the easy path and face regret later. The choice is yours.
