I became a multi-millionaire💰in my early 20s. And then lost it all in the dot com bubble of the 2000s.
Back then, I was riding high as part of MicroStrategy that skyrocketed to a $40 billion valuation. Life in the US felt like a dream. So much so I even ordered a Ferrari 🤑
But as quickly as it came, it all vanished. The dot com bubble burst, and with it, the money disappeared. In fact, I got into heavy debt.
By 2003, I was back in 🇮🇳 with nothing but the memory of winning – and losing big.
But I wasn’t done yet 😅
With the kind of audacity that only comes from losing it all, I set out to build another dot-com venture— Shaadi.com (amongst others such as makaan.com & Mauj Mobile)
The domain cost $25,000, and we had only $30,000 left. It was an all-or-nothing move. People thought I was crazy. They questioned my business sense too.
But I went all-in because I felt this could the game-changer. I turned out to be right.
Somehow I found the courage to take that bold bet and that leap of faith, despite the criticism & naysayers, changed our fortunes.
To me, It was never about the money—it was about proving to myself that I could rise from the ashes, that my spirit of entrepreneurship wasn’t tied to a single success or failure.
Today, I try to carry that same mindset to everything I do. Success isn’t about going along with the popular opinion – It’s about walking in the other direction of the crowd and hopefully being right 🍀
So, to the risk-taking professionals & founders out there – keep backing yourself. The game isn’t over until you win 💪🏼
– This article is written by Anupam Mittal
