‘Toughen Up’: Sun Microsystem Co-founder Vinod Khosla Supports Narayan Murthy’s 70-hr Work Week Advice

The debate of youth empowerment has always been a burning topic in India since the turn of the century. In this debate, a recent argument came in from Infosys founder Narayan Murthy, who said that the youth must work around 12 hours a day and 70 hours a week to develop the country economically. His statement has led to various controversies with mostly the youths voicing their opinion against it. But now, they have been supported by Indo-American businessman and Sun Microsystem co-founder Vinod Khosla.

A user on the micro-blogging platform X (formerly Twitter) asked Vinod Khosla about the recent controversial statement made by Narayan Murthy. In response to the question, Vinod Khosla said, “For people who ‘felt attacked’ by this, they need mental health therapy. They should learn to ‘toughen up’ and not feel attacked. OK to not work 70 hours a week and live with the consequences of the choices you make. He is speaking to ‘career-ambitious’ young people, but there are other ways to live with different choices.”

Vinod Khosla, a Silicon Valley veteran, said that people should be internally motivated because big titles and big houses do not make everyone happy. He also added that if someone chooses not to work 70 hours a week, then there is a possibility that they may not get the biggest house or car to show off to the neighbours. But that choice can be easily made. Different things make people happy. He further explained that it is important to be internally motivated rather than do things for others. Sharing his own experience, he said that he happily worked for 70+ hours during his first startup.

Vinod Khosla’s investment career started in 1986 after he became a general partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. After that, in 2004, he started his own VC firm called Khosla Ventures, which supported companies like Instacart, Impossible Foods, and DoorDash.