'Work smarter, not..': Dell CEO Michael Dell counters Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour workweek idea

In an open conversation on the podcast In Good Company, Michael Dell, the CEO of Dell Technologies, discussed his approach to maintaining long-term success, emphasising balance over unrelenting work. As the head of a $88 billion business, Dell promotes "working smarter, not harder," emphasising the value of balancing work, play, and leisure. In his statement, Dell CEO urged workers to find balance in their long-term success goals, saying, "I realised long ago that there's a point of diminishing returns to the hours worked in a day."

The 59-year-old billionaire’s approach extends beyond his personal life. Dell is a testament to how successful his strategies are. Dell follows a strict schedule that includes going to bed by 8:30 or 9 p.m. and getting up early to work out. He joked, "You won't find me at the nightcap." "I'll be sleeping."

Dell also values workplace humour. "If you can’t laugh, joke around, or play tricks on people, you’re doing it wrong," he said. Experiment, take risks, fail, find difficult problems, do something valuable, don't be afraid, and be bold," Dell continued, urging young professionals to be daring.

On the other hand, Narayana Murthy, a co-founder of Infosys, promoted a strong work ethic when speaking at the centenary celebrations of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata. Murthy proposed a seventy-hour workday for young professionals to improve India's socioeconomic standing. "We must have high expectations because 800 million Indians receive free rations," he said. 800 million Indians are, therefore, impoverished. Who will put in a lot of effort if we are not able to?

Murthy, who moved from socialism to “compassionate capitalism,” stressed the importance of entrepreneurship in national progress. “The only way a country can fight poverty is by creating jobs that lead to disposable incomes,” he stated, adding that “entrepreneurs build a nation.”

These differing viewpoints from two influential leaders provide valuable insights on a range of approaches to both professional and personal success. While Murthy emphasises the need for hard labour and teamwork for national development, Dell's approach places more emphasis on individual well-being and efficiency.