‘I am embarrassed...': Ankur Warikoo recalls career mistake that cost him 9 months of his work and added zero value

Success stories often focus on the right decisions that changed everything. Far less attention is given to the choices that seemed smart at the time but later turned out to be costly distractions. Entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo recently shared one such experience from his own career, revisiting a decision he made more than a decade ago. Looking back, he described it as a lesson in the hidden cost of saying "yes" too often.

Ankur Warikoo's confession

Ankur Warikoo took to X to reflect on a period of his life that he says he is not proud of. “I am embarrassed at this version of mine,” he wrote, before recounting an encounter from 2014 that significantly influenced his decisions that year. According to Warikoo, he met an extremely wealthy Indian businessman based in the United Kingdom. During their conversation, the businessman shared what he believed was the fastest route to building wealth.



Warikoo recalled the man saying he had “figured the quickest way to make money” by taking advisory positions in startups in exchange for 5% equity stakes. The idea immediately appealed to him. At the time, it sounded like an attractive opportunity to be associated with multiple startups while potentially benefiting from their future success. Inspired by the conversation, Warikoo decided to pursue the same path.

Saying yes to 14 startups

Following that meeting, Warikoo accepted advisory roles at an astonishing pace. “I said yes to 14 advisory roles that year,” he shared. Looking back, he admitted that his motivations were driven by a combination of ambition and perception. “I thought saying yes made me valuable,” he wrote. From the outside, the decision may have appeared strategic. However, the reality turned out very differently.


As the months passed, Warikoo realised that he had spread himself far too thin. By trying to be involved with 14 different companies simultaneously, he found himself unable to contribute meaningfully to any of them. “By December I had added zero value to any of them,” he wrote. The problem was not simply that the startups failed to benefit. Warikoo also recognised the personal cost of his decision. The time and energy invested across so many commitments came at the expense of his own work and priorities.


He estimated that the experience cost him nine months of focused effort. “...and lost 9 months of my own work,” he added.

A lesson

The experience left a lasting impression on Warikoo. Rather than continuing to pursue advisory positions, he chose to move in the opposite direction. “Have never taken any advisory role in any startup since that year,” he revealed. Warikoo concluded his reflection with a line that resonated widely with entrepreneurs and professionals alike. “The most expensive word in my vocabulary has always been yes.”


The remark captures the central lesson of his story. While saying yes can open doors, create opportunities and build relationships, it can also carry hidden costs when done without careful consideration. Every yes often means saying no to something else, whether that is time, attention, energy or personal goals.