Now is the most important time: Nvidia boss's work philosophy

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has a unique philosophy on time and recently he shared why he does not wear a watch. Speaking at a tech event, Huang, whose AI chip company Nvidia has seen its valuation soar through the roof in recent years, stressed the importance of living in the moment.

“The reason why I don't wear a watch is that now is the most important time. You'll be surprised; I'm not at all ambitious. I don't aspire to do more. I aspire to do better at what I'm currently doing. I'm not reaching for more; I wait for the world to come to me. People who know me also know Nvidia doesn't have a long-term strategy. We have no long-term plan. Our definition of a long-term plan is What are we doing today?”

Huang has been Nvidia's chief executive for over three decades, a tenure described by The Wall Street Journal as "almost unheard of in fast-moving Silicon Valley". He owns 3.6% of Nvidia's stock. He is one of the highest-paid U.S. CEO. Huang does not keep a fixed office; he roams Nvidia's headquarters and settles temporarily in conference rooms as needed.

Focus on now you will have plenty of time 

He recounts his conversation with a Japanese gardener whose response to Huang's questions shaped his own view on the matter. The billionaire met the gardener who "lovingly cared for a temple in Kyoto (Japan)" and managed to keep the mossy space in perfect condition despite the summer heat, the size of the garden, and comparatively small-sized tools.

When asked how he accomplished this, the gardener told Huang in English: "I have plenty of time".

"This is the best career advice I can give: Now is the most important time, just dedicate yourself to now. I’m rarely chasing things… I’m focused on now. I’m enjoying my job,” he added.

Instagram account entrepreneursonig posted a video of Huang speaking at the event, where he shared the philosophy. “Doing more is easy; doing less is hard. Jensen Huang, CEO and co-founder of NVIDIA, shares how he and his company focus on the present, which ultimately shapes their future,” the account noted.

Jen-Hsun becomes Jensen 

Jen-Hsun "Jensen" Huang, 61, electrical engineer and philanthropist is the founder, president, and CEO of Nvidia.

The son of Taiwanese immigrants, Huang moved from Taiwan to the United States in his childhood. After receiving his master's degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, he co-founded Nvidia in 1993 at the age of 30. In June 2024, Nvidia became the largest company in the world by market capitalisation.  As of November 2024, Forbes estimated Huang's net worth at $130 billion.

Huang's family moved to Thailand when he was 5. When he was 9, he and his older brother were sent to the United States to live with an uncle in Tacoma, Washington. When he was 10, he lived in the boys' dormitory with his brother at Oneida Baptist Institute while attending a separate public school. Huang's roommate at Oneida was illiterate and in exchange for being taught how to read, he taught Huang how to bench press. Several years later, his parents also moved to the United States and settled in Oregon.

Begins his career as restaurant waiter

While growing up in Oregon in the 1980s, Huang got his first job at a local Denny's restaurant, where he worked as a waiter. Huang received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Oregon State University in 1984 and earned his master's degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1992. 

After graduating from university, Huang served as a microprocessor designer at Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). In 1993, he went on to start his own business and he co-founded Nvidia with Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem and became its CEO and president. The three men founded the company in a meeting at a Denny's roadside diner in East San Jose.