Rs 5,000 crore Thyrocare founder believes sleeping past 6 am could come at a hidden cost. Why?

What separates people who continue building new ventures in their sixties from those who slow down long before that age? For Dr A Velumani, the answer has less to do with talent and more to do with how people use the earliest hours of their day. The Thyrocare founder, whose net worth is estimated at around Rs 5,000 crore, recently shared his thoughts on productivity, discipline and parenting, arguing that one extra hour of sleep could sometimes cost more than people realise.

Dr A Velumani took to X to respond to a question he says he is frequently asked: how does he still find time to launch startups at the age of 66? According to him, the answer is surprisingly straightforward. He believes people should define their priorities and begin focusing on them from 5 am, doing so consistently over long periods of time. To explain his point, Velumani pointed to three people in his own life.

First was his mother, whom he credited with building and holding together a large family for 75 years, largely on her own. Next was his wife, who he said spent five decades helping create the foundation that enabled Thyrocare to grow and generate thousands of jobs. Finally, he spoke about himself, saying he has followed a similar disciplined approach for around 60 years and remains curious about what he can still achieve over the next five.



For Velumani, the reward of such consistency goes far beyond professional success. He argued that disciplined living creates an abundance of things many people spend their lives chasing: time, energy, relationships, success, wealth, happiness, peace, dignity, love, care, affection and trust.



He also made it clear that, in his view, these rewards justify sacrificing that "extra hour" of sleep. The entrepreneur then shifted his focus to parenting, offering advice that sparked discussion online. Instead of covering a child with an extra blanket when they are sleeping past 6 am, he suggested parents should wake them gently, hug them and tell them a story.

According to Velumani, children who learn to wake up early and spend time with motivated adults are more likely to develop leadership qualities. He argued that those who do not cultivate that habit may eventually find themselves following people who did.


His broader message was not merely about waking up early but about developing discipline and intent. The entrepreneur believes that intelligence alone is not enough if it is not paired with action. In his view, many capable people lose valuable opportunities because they allow comfort and routine to dictate their schedules.

Velumani concluded by saying that "intelligent" people sleeping too long is a significant loss for thousands, reinforcing his long-held belief that consistent effort, clear priorities and early starts can compound into extraordinary results over a lifetime.