A bold LinkedIn post by an Indian-origin CEO has set the internet on fire, sharing ideas about productivity, agency and privilege. Stating that he hasn't washed a single dish in four years, the entrepreneur chalks up his stance to cold, hard economics.
“Dishes have not been made in 4 years. Not because I'm lazy. Because my time is worth $5,000 an hour,” the CEO wrote in his now-viral post. Outsourcing tasks like washing dishes for $15 an hour allowed him to focus on high-value work worth $5,000 an hour, he explained. “Simple math,” he says, making his decision “obvious.”
The post caused quite a stir, sparking debates about its practicality and privilege. While some hailed it as a master class in efficiency, others slammed it as tone-deaf and disconnected from everyday realities.
Critics argued that not everyone has the resources to delegate chores, with one user noting, “This advice works if you're already earning at that level. For many it is not a choice. ” Others, however, found value in his approach. “The saying 'be generous with everything but your time' has never been more meaningful,” wrote one commenter.
Another user joked on the post, “Stop sleeping because sleeping makes $0 an hour. Now that's how you scale. ” Meanwhile, some questioned the CEO's broader perspective. “Love your content, Ravi,” wrote one user, “but remember, Jeff Bezos still makes dishes. Let it sit. “
Calling for a reevaluation of top priorities, the CEO concluded his note: “Stop doing $15/hour tasks. Start working at $5,000/hour. That's how you scale. “
Amidst the uproar, another user shared a personal lesson from the post. “I want to support my stores and employees by working with them, but the more I do that, the less time I have for transactions and marketing. Good lesson here! “
The viral post, which has been viewed thousands of times, underscores a larger debate about the value of time, the privilege of outsourcing, and the balancing act between scaling productivity and staying grounded.