14-hour shifts, weekend work but still not 'good enough'. Bengaluru CA reveals how boss's harassment led her to build Rs 1 crore company

Workplace stress and long working hours are often spoken about, but what happens when the pressure is not about performance at all? A Bengaluru-based chartered accountant has shared how months of constant criticism at work, despite putting in extra hours, eventually led her to quit; only to later discover there was a different reason behind it. Meenal Goel, in a LinkedIn post, opened up about her experience with what she described as targeted harassment and how it pushed her to build her own business, now worth ₹1 crore.

In her post, Meenal described a pattern that continued for months, where the feedback never seemed to improve no matter how much she worked on it. “For 6 months, my boss told me I wasn't good enough. Then I found out why.”

She explained how the criticism showed up everywhere in her day-to-day work. “Every meeting: 'Your work is subpar.' Every review: 'You're not meeting expectations.' Every project: 'This needs improvement.'”


Over time, the repeated comments began to affect her confidence, making her believe she needed to keep improving.

Long hours, weekends, but no recognition

Meenal said she tried to fix things by putting in more time and effort, thinking it would change how her work was seen. “I worked 14-hour days trying to prove myself. Redid presentations five times. Came in on weekends.”

Even after stretching herself, the response from her boss stayed the same. “Nothing was ever good enough.”

She described this period as draining, where the more she worked, the more she questioned herself.

The real reason behind the criticism

Things became clearer when she eventually found out what was happening behind the scenes. “Then I found out: He wanted me to quit so his friend could take my position.”

According to her, the feedback she was receiving had little to do with her actual work. “The harassment wasn't about my performance. It was a strategy. Break me down. Make me doubt myself. Force me to resign.”

In the end, the pressure led to the outcome that was intended. “It worked. I quit.”

From quitting to building a ₹1 crore company

However, what followed after she left her job was unexpected. “But here's what he didn't expect: That broken, 'not good enough' version of me? She built a ₹1 Cr company.”

Instead of returning to another job, Meenal said she decided to take control of her career and build something on her own. “To my old boss: Thank you.”

She added that the experience changed how she looked at work and independence. “Your harassment taught me I never wanted to be at someone else's mercy again.”

Meenal ended her post with a line that reflected her journey. “Your friend got my job. I got my freedom. I won.”

The post led to several people in the comments saying they have faced similar situations where their efforts were questioned despite long hours. For some, it points to deeper issues around workplace culture and how feedback is sometimes used.

At the same time, her journey also highlights a different path; choosing to step away and build something independently