Mumbai Founder, Harvard Alumnus, Shares Harsh Truth About Success: ‘Lost Rs 30 Crore, Earned It Back But Health...’

Grind culture is often glorified as the fast track to success. Sleep less, work harder, sacrifice everything, that is the narrative we hear from entrepreneurs and startup founders. But what happens when

the cost of that grind isn’t just money but your health?

A recent post on LinkedIn from Mumbai-based entrepreneur Prashant Desai, Managing Director of Everstone Group, sheds light on this harsh reality. He revealed that while he eventually recovered financially from a failed business venture where he lost Rs 30 crore, the toll on his body was far more severe.

Mumbai Founder Loses Rs 30 Crore During Business Venture

Prashant shared his story about the consequences of relentless grind: “I lost 30 crores, but at the same time, I also lost something even more important.”

He explained how the call came at 3:47 AM, “another store was bleeding cash.” He shared how, after already being awake for hours, overseeing 17 stores across seven cities, his savings of 30 months vanished.

“Everyone was interested in how I lost 30 crores. Nobody asked about what happened to my body during those 30 months.”

Prashant detailed the lifestyle that contributed to the decline of his health:

• Sleeping less than six hours every night
• Stress-eating without realising it
• Exercising four days a week, but seeing no results
• Rising stress levels that elevated cortisol, which resulted in his “face kept getting fatter.”

“I couldn’t understand it. I was training hard. Why wasn’t my health recovering? The answer was under sleep AND chronic stress,” he added.

Prashant further explained the science behind the damage:

• Less than six hours of sleep destroys insulin sensitivity and testosterone
• Elevated cortisol blocks fat loss, even with regular exercise
• No amount of training can compensate for sleep deprivation

While it took seven years to recover most of the financial loss, his health remains a work in progress.

The Dark Side Of Entrepreneurial Culture

Prashant warned against the glorification of the grind in the entrepreneurial world: “The entrepreneurial world celebrates the grind. We worship founders who sleep four hours. A 90-hour work week is celebrated. Nobody talks about the decade they lose of life, and health.”

He also highlighted real-life examples of successful entrepreneurs whose health suffered:

• Rohan Mirchandani, co-founder of Epigamia, passed away from cardiac arrest at 42
• Ambareesh Murthy, Siddhartha Bhaiya, and Nithin Kamath suffered strokes

“Create wealth. Grind. Give away some health. But be cognizant of:

• Sleep > 6 hours. Take a nap on flights
• Eating better. Reduce alcohol and sugar
• Manage stress. Laugh more

Money can always be regained, but it’s almost impossible to recover lost health,” he concluded.

See The Post Here

Internet Speaks About Health vs Hustle

Prashant’s post resonated with many who shared the reality behind the grind.

One user commented, “Very well written. This is one reason I opted out of rat race and now growing a business on my own terms. 8 hours of sleep is non-negotiable and if there is less than 8 for some reasons then I don’t make up by going to gym or playing squash. Thanks for putting the importance of sleep in public domain.”

Another said, “Success built on sleep deprivation isn’t success. It’s a slow surrender. Your story is a reminder that the biggest losses aren’t always visible on a balance sheet.”

“We often talk about sweat equity, but we rarely discuss biological debt. Chronic sleep deprivation (under 6 hours) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 48 per cent,” someone else pointed out.

“This hit hard. The real cost of the grind is rarely on the balance sheet. Sleep, stress, and hormones don’t negotiate—no matter how disciplined or driven you are,” read another comment.

A person shared how one of his training participants asked him, “Is there a way we can get rid of sleep. It’s such a waste of time to sleep.” He further stated that “this is the madness we have reached” where people are labelling sleep as a “waste of time.”