'We don't believe in work-life balance': Indian CEO reveals Chinese founder's 'brutally practical' remark

Alongside the cultural observation,Shubham Mishra also shared an update regarding his company’s product.

An Indian technology entrepreneur has drawn attention online after recounting a conversation with a prospective Chinese distribution partner about differences in business culture between the two countries.

Shubham Mishra, founder and chief executive of Energy AI Labs, described the exchange in a post on social media. He stated that the Chinese entrepreneur is set to become an official channel partner for the company’s product in China, marking a distribution arrangement for an Indian-developed offering in the Chinese market.

“Had a word with a Chinese entrepreneur today, he’s soon becoming our official channel partner there. Yes, a distribution partner for an Indian product in China. Just before wrapping up the call, I asked him a simple question: ‘What’s the biggest difference between Indian and Chinese entrepreneurs?’”

Mishra said he anticipated a reflective or philosophical response. Instead, he received what he described as a direct and pragmatic answer.

“I expected something philosophical. Instead, he paused for a few seconds and said in his broken English: ‘We don’t believe in work-life balance and its online debates. There's only two things: work time or personal time.’”

Reflecting on the remark, Mishra wrote: “It hit me. Simple, raw, and brutally practical. While we’re often busy romanticizing ‘balance,’ they’re busy executing with clarity.”

Had a word with a Chinese entrepreneur today he’s soon becoming our official channel partner there.

Yes, a distribution partner for an Indian product in China. Just before wrapping up the call, I asked him a simple question: “What’s the biggest difference between Indian… pic.twitter.com/JMT4J6wf5L — Shubham Mishra (@brahma_4u) February 10, 2026

The post generated discussion among users, particularly around the idea of work-life balance. One individual commented, “Sometimes balance isn’t dividing time; it’s deciding what deserves your full attention in each moment.”

Meanwhile, a user wasn't very impressed with the absence of work-life balance in China and wrote, "They have lost birth rates for that and no country has been able to reverse it, security and economics both depend on birth rates."

Alongside the cultural observation, Mishra also shared an update regarding his company’s product.

“And on a brighter note, one small news: Some Chinese EV businesses will soon start using an Indian battery tester. Global trust is shifting, one battery test at a time.”

He added that the image accompanying the post showed “an EV workshop from India, using EV DOCTOR for flash test (15 min) of an EV battery.”