Quote of the Day by Sundar Pichai: When you have the choice to work on something hard...
“So when you have the choice to work on something hard — say yes.”
These words by Sundar Pichai, chief executive officer of Google and its parent company Alphabet, offer a simple message about taking on challenges. Pichai shared this advice during his commencement address to Stanford University’s Class of 2026, drawing from his own experiences in education and the technology industry.
His message was not about choosing the easiest route to success. Instead, he encouraged graduates to consider opportunities that challenge them, even when the outcome is uncertain.FROM CHENNAI TO GOOGLE’S TOP JOB
Born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Pichai grew up in Chennai. He studied metallurgical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur before pursuing further studies at Stanford University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
He joined Google in 2004 and went on to lead several major products, including Google Chrome. He became Google’s chief executive in 2015 and took over as Alphabet’s CEO in 2019.WHY HARD THINGS MATTER
In his Stanford address, Pichai explained that difficult work often brings talented and optimistic people together. Even when people fall short of their original goals, the experience can still lead to meaningful achievements.
He used Google Chrome as an example. When the team began developing the browser, many believed the project would require hundreds of engineers. Pichai recalled that his team had only about ten people.
The project was challenging, but the team continued working on it. Chrome was launched in 2008.SUCCESS IS NOT ALWAYS THE POINT
Pichai’s message is about looking beyond immediate results. Taking on difficult work can help people learn new skills, discover their strengths and work with others who share their ambitions.
His advice also offers a different way to view setbacks. Not reaching a particular target does not necessarily mean the effort was wasted.
As he told Stanford graduates, working on difficult things can lead to achievements even when people do not meet every goal they set.
Pichai also shared another lesson in his Stanford address: “We don’t get to choose the world we graduate into, but we do get to choose how we frame our circumstances.”
He encouraged graduates to choose optimism and pursue work that excites them.- EndsRead | Quote of the day by Sundar Pichai: Let yourself feel insecure from time to time. It will...Read | Quote of the day by Sundar Pichai: It is important to follow your dreams and...