He thought learning typing for Rs 48 was a waste. But those skills helped him build a Rs 5,000 crore company. Thyrocare founder shares his biggest lesson

A skill that once looked insignificant can sometimes become the foundation of a much bigger success story. For Dr A Velumani, the founder of Thyrocare, a six-month typing course in the late 1970s seemed like a small step taken during a difficult phase of life. Years later, the same skill helped him shape the way his company communicated and operated. He recently shared how a Rs 48 investment he once considered a waste became an unexpected lesson in business and technology.

Dr A Velumani took to X and reflected on his early struggles, saying that he was fortunate to face difficulties while searching for a job. During the late 1970s, typing jobs were common, and he decided to learn the skill by joining a typing class. He recalled attending classes for six months, paying a monthly fee of Rs 8. By the end of the course, he had developed a good typing speed. However, he did not become a typist, which made him feel that the Rs 48 spent on learning the skill had gone to waste.

Years later, that perception changed completely. In 1995, when Velumani bought a computer for his business, he chose to type emails instead of relying on voice communication. He felt that writing emails felt easier and more efficient than speaking. That typing ability transformed the way he worked. He described himself as a “mail man” and said the habit of using emails helped make the company almost a zero-voice organisation, except for the call centre.



Looking back, Velumani said he was happy that he remained unemployed for a period because it pushed him to learn typing. The skill that seemed unnecessary at the time eventually became useful in building a more efficient business system.


Sharing his broader takeaway, he wrote that voice can make an intelligent person a millionaire, but emails can help make someone a billionaire. Through his message, Velumani highlighted how small skills learned during difficult phases can create unexpected advantages later in life. His story also reflects his long-standing belief that struggles often teach lessons that comfort cannot. The things people learn while trying to survive can sometimes become the tools that help them grow.

Why he believes email plays major role in communication?

In a previous post, Dr Velumani further explained why he believes email-based communication played a major role in building an efficient organisation. He said that entrepreneurs with a strong product could see very different outcomes depending on how they communicate. According to him, those who rely heavily on voice calls may only reach a certain level, while those who build a culture around written communication can create systems that support much larger growth.


He shared that he prefers emails over calls for maintaining clarity and work-life balance, whether it involves employees, clients, or vendors. Recalling his own journey, Velumani said his first email ID was created in 1995 and that since 2010, he has been “near zero voice” in his professional life.

He also highlighted the importance of quick email responses, saying businesses should focus on achieving the lowest possible Mail Response Time to maintain consistent growth, whether measured through salaries or profits. For him, choosing written communication is not just about convenience but about creating a more organised way of working.