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A LinkedIn post by a professional from Delhi has sparked a lot of discussion online. In the post, the person said that in the early years of a career, being available all the time can help people get more chances at work.
According to the post, those who are always reachable may move ahead faster than those who are not.The idea did not sit well with everyone. Some people agreed and called it practical career advice. Others felt it sent the wrong message and could push young workers towards burnout.The debate points to a common question many young professionals face today: how much of your personal time should you give to your job, and at what point does working too much start doing more harm than good?
The incident that started it all
Aryan Anurag shared a personal experience to make his point.
He said he contacted a very young founder on a Friday for an “exciting and important” project. The founder responded, “Let’s connect on Monday.” Instead of waiting, Anurag reached out to another professional that same night. They discussed the project immediately, and the work was assigned.“When the first guy reached out on Monday, I told him the opportunity was gone,” he said. He clarified that his post was not meant as a rant but as a lesson about the importance of availability early in a career.
Early career and the role of availability
Anurag explained that while work-life balance matters, responsiveness can play a crucial role for newcomers.“Successful people can afford to say ‘let’s talk next week’ because opportunities chase them. But if you’re new, you chase opportunities,” he said.He also added that this might require taking calls late at night or even on weekends.“The person who got the work wasn’t more talented. He was just more available,” Anurag said.
He emphasised that professional boundaries should ideally be set only after credibility is established. “The market doesn’t care about your schedule. It only cares about your hustle,” he wrote, urging young professionals not to “act successful” before actually becoming successful.
The reactions from LinkedIn
The post sparked strong criticism from LinkedIn users, many of whom felt it unfairly presented availability and weekends as measures of dedication.“That’s your personal preference, not an inevitable law of success,” one user commented.Others highlighted that being unavailable does not automatically mean lack of commitment. “What if ‘let’s talk Monday’ was because he was already delivering another project or dealing with a family emergency,” a user asked.Several professionals also expressed concern that glorifying constant availability could promote a toxic work culture.
Balancing hustle and personal boundaries
Many users warned about the risks of burnout.“Taking your career seriously should not mean being on call at all hours or sacrificing life outside work,” one user said. They added that responding on Monday is not laziness but basic boundary-setting.While some agreed that responsiveness can matter in urgent situations, many stressed that ambition, hustle, and availability are not the same.
Anurag’s clarification
After the backlash, Anurag clarified that his advice was aimed only at those who want to be “extraordinarily successful,” which he believes requires “extraordinary input.”He also mentioned that his organisation works remotely and offers an unlimited, no-questions-asked leave policy.The post continues to spark discussion about work culture, personal boundaries, and how success is defined in the early stages of a career.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are based on a LinkedIn post and user reactions shared on social media. They do not reflect the views of The Times of India. The publication does not independently verify every claim made in the post or comments and presents the content for informational purposes only.Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)
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