‘I Love Staring at My Wife’: Anand Mahindra Highlights Work-Life Balance, Advocates ‘Quality Over Quantity’ Amid 90-Hour Work Week Debate (Watch Video)

‘I Love Staring at My Wife’: Anand Mahindra Highlights Work-Life Balance, Advocates ‘Quality Over Quantity’ Amid 90-Hour Work Week Debate (Watch Video)
Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra Group, has humorously and thoughtfully rejected the idea of a 90-hour workweek, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance and the value of quality over quantity in work. Speaking at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 to journalist Palki Sharma, Mahindra shared his perspective on productivity and life priorities, while taking a subtle jab at L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s controversial remarks on work hours.
“This debate is of quantity of work, my point is we have to focus on the quality of work,” Mahindra Group Chairman @anandmahindra tells Firstpost Managing Editor @palkisu at Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.#VBYLD2025 pic.twitter.com/0cKv06mBB3
— Firstpost (@firstpost) January 11, 2025
“Focus on Quality, Not Quantity”
When asked about his weekly working hours, Mahindra said, “I don’t want it to be about time or quantity. Ask me about the quality of my work. Don’t ask me how many hours I have worked.” Highlighting the futility of fixating on long work hours, he urged the youth to focus on the impact of their efforts, adding, “What output are you delivering? You can change the world in 10 hours if you focus on quality.”
A Sharp Yet Humorous Rebuttal
Mahindra also addressed Subrahmanyan’s controversial question, “How long can you stare at your wife?” with a witty counter. “My wife is wonderful; I love staring at her. So, I am not on social media because I am lonely—I’m here because it’s an amazing business tool,” he quipped, using humor to advocate for a healthy work-life balance.
This was in response to Subrahmanyan’s suggestion that employees should work even on Sundays and embrace a grueling 90-hour work schedule, sparking widespread criticism online.
The Case for Balance
Mahindra elaborated on why balance is critical for good decision-making. “If you’re not spending time at home, with friends, or reading—if you don’t reflect—you won’t bring the right inputs into decision-making,” he explained. He also emphasized the importance of exposure to diverse fields like art and culture, which he believes contribute to holistic thinking and informed leadership.
“Even if you’re an engineer or an MBA, you must study art and culture,” he said, adding that understanding people’s preferences is essential for businesses like auto manufacturing. “If we are always in the office and not with families or other communities, how will we understand what kind of car people want to buy?”
Debate on Work Hours
Mahindra’s comments come in the wake of a broader debate on work hours triggered by statements from industry leaders like Subrahmanyan and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, who recently advocated for 70-hour workweeks. Both statements have faced significant backlash, with critics arguing they promote an unhealthy and unsustainable work culture.
Mahindra’s nuanced perspective offers a refreshing counter-narrative—championing balance, reflection, and the power of impactful work over relentless hours.