There is a major difference between being alone and being lonely. Being alone means that you are quietly working on your goals without regretting leaving your comfort zone. Being lonely literally means that you are alone even being in the surrounding of others. What makes a difference in both is the mindset of your soul, mind, the value you give to your goals, and the sacrifice you make to get things right. Why am I telling you this?
It’s because I believe that every little thing is dependent on the “Art of Dependency.” Maybe you are an introvert who loves to be lonely and is also working on your goals. On the other hand, you might feel jealous watching other introverts converting themselves into extroverts for their dreams. In both cases, you are hustling, but still, there is a difference in your mindset, and it matters a lot.
In November, Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy made a controversial statement criticizing the lack of discipline in the youth of our country. “India’s work productivity is one of the lowest in the world […] so, therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say, ‘This is my country. I’d like to work 70 hours a week,” Mr. Murthy said. Despite the criticism and comments, I would like to say that working for 70 hours a week is totally relevant for our youth and even important for the betterment of society.
Let me make it easier for you to understand: humans cannot work for 24 hours straight, as we are not machines. However, working for 10 hours a day for self-development is no big deal, and that is what Mr. Murthy’s 70-hour work recommendation is stating. A week of seven days and ten hours of self-improvement is what our youth want. Now, some might argue that we have just started our lives and why would we waste our time now? Well, okay! But tell me one thing, why do you waste your time sleeping and eating then? For survival, I guess. Exactly my point.
Survival is not a need to be fulfilled but a want to be maintained and fulfilled as well. Wasting your time on any nonsense will lead to the destruction of your own species. I truly support this idea, which Mr. Murthy has proposed because it can be used as a tool to motivate those who are waiting for it. Now, this question arises: why is this recommendation suitable for me? It was my dream to serve in the Indian Army. My dream was to become a part of the Border Security Force (BSF), but unfortunately, I was unable to join due to some personal reasons.
I had started my training a few years ago before I came to this conclusion that I would not be able to join BSF. But that did not stop me from following the same routine of an Army officer. My daily routine includes waking up at 4 a.m., working out for one hour straight, cooking meals for myself, avoiding sugar and salt, maintaining a clean deficit of 500 Kcal in my diet, and going to bed at 7 p.m. after reading a non-fictional book. I have been following this routine since I was fourteen years old and still following it even after facing failure in my career.
Why? Because I respect my standard of living, and I respect my discipline. These are some ways that make me go brutal in my life and aim to win no matter what the circumstances. I am 19 years old now and still in the same discipline I used to be, not because of the failure I experienced but because of the perception of my mindset, which does not allow me to give up and quit. A wise man has said, “A man is no failure if he fails, but a failure when he quits.”
And I will consider myself as a failure only when I give up on my routine. Maybe I was not able to join the Army, but that does not mean that I cannot be a soldier in my life. The discipline of the Army is its roots, and I have implemented them in my roots. Mixing them together has given me another chance to present myself in this world, and that is how this 70-hour work week is relevant to me.
Our youth have to decide what principles they should follow to grow, those which are useless or those which are urging you to contribute towards our country. In conclusion, I would like to appreciate the ideas of great influencers like Mr. Narayana Murthy Ji, who are still working to change our country’s standard of living and encouraging our youth to improve their lives. Jai Hind!