In the ongoing debate over work-life balance and hustle culture, Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com and one of the sharks on the Shark Tank India show, has shared his perspective, emphasizing the importance of outcomes over hours spent working. In a LinkedIn post on Tuesday, reflecting on his early career at MicroStrategy in Boston, Mittal recalled accepting a $55K salary—significantly below the market rate of $80K—but choosing to focus on growth rather than grievances.
A year later, his efforts paid off when he moved to the company’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., to help build a new startup division. Within two years, he became Director of Strategic Partnerships, earning $200K along with stock options. His career trajectory underscored a key principle: results matter more than time spent at work, something which he also echoed in his post.
“Look, burnout is real. Balance matters. But let’s get one thing straight → The best people don’t count hours. They align to outcomes,” Mittal said.
Every few months, the discussion around the ideal workweek resurfaces on social media, with opinions ranging from advocating shorter hours to pushing for intense hustle. While critics have argued that excessive work leads to burnout, proponents of long hours have claimed that success requires dedication beyond a standard 40-hour week.
However, Mittal’s take here is that the best professionals do not track their hours but align their work with meaningful outcomes. He attributed his career growth to three core principles, first, taking on responsibilities beyond the job description, ensuring tasks got done regardless of whose role they fall under; second, constantly questioning processes and seeking better ways to accomplish tasks; and third, taking ownership rather than waiting to start your own business to adopt a high-performance attitude.
Mittal acknowledged the realities of burnout and the importance of balance. However, he argues that career growth is about more than just working smarter and requires dedication and a results-driven approach.
Towards the end of his post, he also offers a ‘cheat code’ for growth. “Manifest like a baba. Work like a beast. Party like an animal.”