Alphas Of The Corner Room

What differentiates business leaders who display high octane stamina and productivity from lesser mortals who also work long hours.

- E. Kumar Sharma

THINK ELON MUSK, Satya Nadella, Sergey Brin, Mukesh Ambani, N. Chandrasekaran, Anand Mahindra. They, and a few other top honchos of India Inc., have all redefined stamina, which reflects in the long hours that they manage to put at work, hours that show up in their productivity and success of companies that they head. While their entire focus is on the businesses they run, they all are conscious about the need to maintain good health. So, what differentiates these leaders from, shall we say, the lesser mortals who, too, log in long hours at work?

Consider Dr. B.S. Ajaikumar, Founder-CEO of HealthCare Global, who spends most of his time treating cancer patients and whose thin frame and quick strides on stairs (he avoids the elevator) belie the 13-plus hours that he puts in at the workplace. The 67-year-old marathon runner and prospective black belt in karate has taken part in seven gruelling runs and trudges 40 km a week on an average. “To remain fit, ensure a good dose of physical activity and under-eat, as a little bit of starvation stimulates your brain,” he says.