Narayana Murthy Endorses 70-Hour Work Week, Shares Personal Experience of 85-90 Hour Weeks at Infosys

In an exclusive interview with The Economic Times, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has reinforced his stance on the value of hard work by revealing his personal dedication to the early days of building Infosys. Murthy disclosed that he worked tirelessly, putting in nearly 90 hours a week during the establishment of the renowned tech company.

The co-founder, who had previously advocated for a 70-hour work week for young professionals in the country, spoke candidly about his own work ethic, emphasizing the significance of dedication in achieving success.

“I used to be in the office at 6:20 am and leave office at 8:30 pm and worked six days a week,” Murthy shared with The Economic Times during the interview. “During my entire 40-plus years of professional life, I worked 70 hours a week.”

Murthy reminisced about the earlier days when a six-day work week was the norm until 1994, revealing, “When we had a six-day week, I used to work at least 85 to 90 hours a week. That has not been a waste.”

The Infosys veteran asserted that hard work is a key factor in the prosperity of nations, stating, “I know every nation that became prosperous did so through hard work.” He attributed his strong work ethic to the teachings of his parents, who emphasized the importance of working “very, very hard” as the only means to escape poverty.

Despite championing the value of long work hours, Murthy also highlighted the importance of productivity, suggesting that true success comes when one maximizes productivity within each work hour.