Anupam Mittal Reveals Having ‘No Backup Plan’ After Getting Fired From US Job

In a recent post on LinkedIn, Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal shared how his life was shattered in 2001, right after getting laid off from his US-based job. He revealed having no backup plan, and he felt like losing his identity.

“And, I still remember that walk back from the office,” he shared. “It wasn’t long, but it felt like a free fall.”

Anupam Mittal shares losing identity after losing job

Losing a lot of money during the dot-com crash and then getting fired by his employer, he blamed the economy and cursed his luck before searching for a new job.

“I spent a few weeks doing what most people do > Blaming the economy, cursing my luck, refreshing job boards like they were going to fix my life,” the Shark Tank India judge wrote.

“And then, I had this moment. It wasn’t some motivational quote or Steve Jobs video (those came later 😅) It was just a question I scribbled in my diary -

“What would I build if I had nothing left to lose?””

Miital says this question changed the course of his life.

Though he was not confident at the time, he was excited at the prospect of building something on his own.

“So I stopped applying and started building,” he said. “One rough website. One tiny step at a time,” he added.

“A couple of years later, that blurry little project became Shaadi.com - a brand that changed how India and the world thought about marriage,” the entrepreneur wrote followed by an emoji of a wedding ring. 

After that, there was no looking back. 

“Then came makaan.com & Mauj,” he remarked. 

He cautioned his followers by saying he was not suggesting anyone romanticize failure. He said that at the time it felt “brutal” to him.

Then he gave one life advice: “Action is the lead domino.”

“You take one step in a direction that excites you – Even if you’re scared. And life starts moving again.” the Shark shared.

He further explained how people overestimate strategy and underestimate momentum. 

Most people stay stuck waiting for clarity or for funding or for the perfect timing, he said.

And then the Shaadi.com founder concluded: “But what I’ve learned over the years is that clarity doesn’t come before action. It comes from action.”

Also read: 'Don't Fund The Next Food Delivery Company': Hotmail’s Sabeer Bhatia Claims India Lacks Real Innovation (startuppedia.in)