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Have you ever paused to consider what it really takes to build a successful enterprise? Does success always demand sleepless nights, weekend sacrifices, and a life tethered to an email inbox? If your instinctive answer is yes, then you are not alone. From ancient civilisations building pyramids or Indian heritage structures under the burning sun to the breakneck hustle of today’s startups, the debate about work hours has spanned human history. But Rome also was not built in a day.
India’s startup ecosystem is a crucible of ambition, its founders often hailed as the new heroes of economic transformation. And isn’t it strange how these hi-growth companies often seem to grapple with—or outright ignore—issues of toxic work culture? Why does this pattern feel so familiar, and yet so overlooked?
Founders are driven individuals tackling societal or delivery gaps, monetising the surging consumption of a middle class, and creating solutions that influence our daily lives. But beneath the sheen of billion-dollar valuations lies a truth many are reluctant to confront: the increasing prevalence of toxic work cultures. Social media exposes us to tales of founders mocking complaints about 2 a.m. meetings or employees calling out oppressive work environments.
It is easy to point fingers at these new-age entrepreneurs, but can we deny that their predecessors operated no differently? Some of India’s largest and most respected conglomerates of today rose on the backs of midnight strategy meetings and gruelling work schedules to suit their leaders. Some of them still continue with those traits of what constitutes their way of functioning. Success, as they say, often whitewashes even the most troubling histories. As one cynic put it, “Success is the best deodorant.”
The reality is harsh, especially in the Indian context. The job market here operates on a brutal calculus of supply and demand. For every young professional rejecting the idea of becoming a “9-to-5 corporate slave,” there are hundreds, if not thousands, eager to take their place. The CEO of a well-known delivery app recently advertised for a Chief of Staff role that promised no salary for a year and required candidates to pay a deposit of ₹20 lakh. Astonishingly, over 200,000 people applied. Whether driven by desperation, ambition, or the belief that proximity to success guarantees a brighter future, these applicants serve as a sad reminder of the replaceability that haunts employees at every level.
This dispensability creates a troubling dynamic. Employees, fearing irrelevance, push themselves harder. Employers, recognising the abundance of eager replacements, may ignore the toll of their demands. A toxic cycle emerges, one where work becomes not just an expectation but an identity, a badge of honour for those willing to sacrifice the most.
But let us not romanticise exhaustion. The celebrated movie – Wall Street – mantra, “Money never sleeps,” might sound inspiring, but for every Gordon Gekko there are countless unnamed workers whose lives and relationships were consumed by its demands. Entrepreneurs will argue, and not without reason, that the VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) nature of today’s world leaves them no choice. To build something extraordinary requires extraordinary effort. Yet, must we always equate extraordinary effort with unrelenting hours?
Some argue this is the price of progress. They point to the gleaming success stories—both corporate and personal—that have emerged from such environments. They remind us that the conveniences we now take for granted—24-hour deliveries, rides at a moment’s notice—were built on the backs of people who worked far beyond 9 to 5. They pose a difficult question: would you prefer to work for a lacklustre company with sane hours, or for a high-growth enterprise where your efforts, however exhausting, directly contribute to its and their individual success?
And yet, as we glorify this hustle culture, we must ask ourselves at what cost. How many lives, dreams, and relationships have been sacrificed at the altar of ambition? Can we truly call ourselves successful if our achievements leave us physically or emotionally diminished?
History has its answer. Marcus Aurelius once wrote, “Ask yourself at every moment, ‘Is this necessary?’” His words, though ancient, resonate with startling clarity today. Is it necessary to glamorise overwork? Is it necessary to accept toxicity as the price of growth? Is it necessary to build success on foundations of burnout and disillusionment?
In the end, the debate about work hours will persist, just as it has for centuries. As individuals, too, we must confront uncomfortable truths. Do we prioritise short-term gains—whether financial or reputational—over long-term well-being? Do we allow ambition to blind us to the importance of balance, rest, and relationships?
But the question we must answer—individually and collectively—is whether we are willing to challenge the status quo or continue perpetuating a system where success comes at an unbearable cost. Frenzied work may find its pause once the hunger for growth and wealth is satisfied—but the real question is, will that pause ever come, or will greed keep moving the finish line, dragging us deeper into a cycle of endless want?
—The author, Dr. Srinath Sridharan ( @ssmumbai), is a Corporate advisor & Independent Director on Corporate Boards. The views expressed are personal.
Reead his previous articles here
