Even as AI chip bellwether Nvidia is in the spotlight for becoming the world’s most valued company with $3.34 trillion, its CEO Jensen Huang has shared a stunning career lesson. Speaking at the California Institute of Technology recently, Huang said he learnt a profound career lesson not from a fellow CEO, but from an unexpected source: a gardener. As reported by CNBC, this insightful moment occurred during an international trip to Kyoto, Japan.
While visiting the Silver Temple on a particularly hot and humid day, Huang noticed a gardener diligently tending to the moss. Intrigued by the gardener’s dedication despite the challenging weather, Huang approached him and asked, “What are you doing?” The gardener replied, “I’m picking dead moss. I’m taking care of my garden.”
When Huang remarked on the garden’s vastness, the gardener responded, “I have cared for my garden for 25 years. I have plenty of time.”
This simple yet profound exchange had a lasting impact on Huang, shaping his perspective on dedication and commitment to one’s craft. Reflecting on the conversation, Huang realised the importance of prioritising one’s work and dedicating oneself fully to it.
“It taught me something. This gardener has devoted himself to his craft and life’s work. When you do that, you have plenty of time,” Huang said. He explained how this lesson influenced his daily routine. “I start each morning by completing my highest priority tasks. By the time I arrive at work, my day is already a success. This allows me to focus on helping others. When people apologise for interrupting me, I always say: ‘I have plenty of time.'”
Nvidia recently ascended to become the world’s most valuable public company, driven by a surge in artificial intelligence advancements. This milestone added over $4 billion to Huang’s net worth in a single day, propelling him to the 11th spot on Forbes’ real-time billionaire list.
Huang, who co-founded Nvidia with Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem in 1993, has served as the company’s CEO and president since its inception. Nvidia went public in 1999 and has experienced significant growth in recent years. Last month, it became the first computer chip company to achieve a market capitalization of $3 trillion, surpassing even Apple Inc.
With a market value of $3.334 trillion, Nvidia is now worth more than the GDP of all but six of the world’s biggest economies. Only the US, China, Germany, Japan, India and the UK are ahead of Nvidia.
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