Google CEO Sundar Pichai, now a billionaire, advocates for embracing discomfort as a means to personal and professional development, a lesson he shares with Generation Z to guide them toward success.
Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google and newly inducted billionaire, emphasizes the importance of stepping outside comfort zones as a pathway to progress. This mindset, he suggests, has been instrumental in his journey from an unknown product manager to leading a $2.3 trillion global tech company. Speaking to Generation Z, Pichai advises that while traditional career advancements might seem logical, following one’s heart can often lead to discovering one’s true passion.
Pichai acknowledges that the road to success isn’t devoid of challenges, even for prominent leaders. He admits to moments of self-doubt, sensing others in his surroundings excelled beyond his capabilities. However, he reassures young individuals that such discomfort is an integral part of growth.
“At various points in my life, I’ve worked with people who I felt were better than me,” Pichai shared on Lex Fridman’s podcast. “You want that feeling a few times, trying to get yourself in a position where you’re working with people who you feel are kind of like stretching your abilities, is what helps you grow.
“Putting yourself in uncomfortable situations, and I think often you’ll surprise yourself,” he added.
Having started as a product manager in 2004, Pichai climbed the ranks at Google on the strength of this philosophy and caught the attention of cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, eventually being named CEO in 2015. Although he concedes that an element of luck plays a role in success, he stresses the importance of pursuing what one loves—even if it initially seems irrational.
“You’re thinking about what you want to do, your brain is telling you something. But when you do things, I think it’s important to listen to your heart, and see whether you actually enjoy doing it,” Pichai said.
Success, according to Pichai, also involves surrounding oneself with the right people. He highlights the significance of working with driven individuals on collaborative journeys, which has been crucial in transforming Google into a multitrillion-dollar corporation.
“You find mission-oriented people who are in the shared journey, who have this inner drive to excellence, to do the best, and motivate people, and you can achieve a lot that way,” he said.
The culture of excellence at Google might also entail extended working hours beyond the conventional nine-to-five, as revealed in an internal memo by Sergey Brin. This memo, seen by the New York Times, urged AI-focused employees to be present in the office throughout the week, suggesting 60-hour workweeks as the optimal benchmark for productivity. Although Pichai has expressed support for more flexible work environments, the competitive landscape in AI demands tech giants strive for supremacy.
Despite high-pressure scenarios, Pichai maintains a calm manager demeanor. He believes self-motivated employees usually recognize their errors quickly, and a managerial overreaction could exacerbate the situation.
“At times, you’re working with people who are so committed to achieving, if they’ve done something wrong, they feel it more than you do, so you treat them differently,” Pichai explained. “Occasionally, there are people who you need to clearly let them know, like, ‘That wasn’t okay,’ or whatever it is, but I’ve often found that not to be the case.”
While Pichai has recently joined the billionaires’ circle, his wealth contrasts sharply with that of Google’s cofounders. Larry Page and Sergey Brin rank among the world’s top 10 richest individuals, holding net worths of approximately $174 billion and $163 billion, respectively, compared to Pichai’s $1.1 billion.
In 2009, Larry Page advised college graduates to focus on solving problems that would eventually enable greater efficiency.
“Technology, and especially the internet, can really help you be lazy,” Page told University of Michigan students. “Find the leverage in the world, so you can be more lazy.”
Contemporary challenges, including AI’s impact on the job market, present unique obstacles to today’s youth, much like what graduates faced during the Great Recession. Nevertheless, Page encourages perseverance.
“Overall, I know it seems like the world is crumbling out there, but it is actually a great time in your life to get a little crazy, follow your curiosity, and be ambitious about it,” he said. “Don’t give up on your dreams. The world needs you all.”
According to Fortune, Pichai’s insights offer valuable guidance for Gen Z’s burgeoning workforce.
Source: Original article