Why Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang don’t wear a watch? shares his success mantra

In the realm of career guidance, one might expect insights from renowned CEOs and prominent investors. However, for Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, the most transformative advice he received came from an unexpected source—an elderly gardener in Kyoto, Japan. During his keynote speech at Caltech's 130th Annual Commencement Ceremony in 2024, Huang recounted a pivotal moment from his family visit to a temple celebrated for its lush moss garden. On a scorching summer day, he observed a dedicated gardener meticulously tending to the garden, using only a bamboo tweezer to remove small patches of dead moss and placing them into a nearly empty basket. Intrigued by the gardener's laborious task, Huang approached him to inquire about his work. The gardener explained that he had devoted nearly three decades to caring for the expansive garden. Huang was taken aback by the contrast between the vastness of the garden and the simplicity of the tools at the gardener's disposal. When he asked how one could manage such a large area with such limited tools, the gardener’s response resonated deeply: "I have plenty of time." These four words profoundly impacted Huang's perspective on work and success. He revealed why he chooses not to wear a watch, stating, "Very few people know this, but I don't wear a watch. The reason is that now is the most important time. Just dedicate yourself to now." Huang emphasized his preference for focusing on the present rather than endlessly pursuing future opportunities. "Most of the time, I wait for things to come to me. I'm rarely chasing things. I don't have a watch. I'm focused on now. I'm enjoying my job," he explained. He encouraged graduates to embrace the journey of continuous learning and self-improvement. "I'm not at all ambitious. I don't aspire to do more; I aspire to do better at what I'm currently doing," he shared passionately. In closing, Huang distilled the gardener’s wisdom into a powerful message: "You have plenty of time. Enjoy your work. Do the best you possibly can. Just keep learning every day, and good things will come to you."