‘The fastest way…’: Shark Tank’s Anupam Mittal on how to build a ‘Dhandha’
ET Online October 06, 2025 04:00 AM
Synopsis

Anupam Mittal, Shark Tank judge, recently shared business advice. He stressed developing a "Dhandha mindset" through early selling. Mittal highlighted his own past selling experiences. He also advised learning finance to understand margins and capital flow. This approach separates dreamers from real business people. Practical experience and numbers are key for success.

Anupam Mittal
For many aspiring entrepreneurs, the hardest part is figuring out where to start. Anupam Mittal, renowned entrepreneur and Shark Tank judge, recently shared his advice for anyone looking to launch a business, emphasizing that success begins with cultivating the right mindset.

In a LinkedIn post titled “How to build a Dhandha?”, Mittal stressed that before anything else, budding entrepreneurs need to develop a “Dhandha mindset.” He reflected on his own early attempts at business:

"At 13, I thought renting books would make me rich. At 16, I tried to build a sports club. In college, I experimented with ten other hustles. Most failed. All taught me one thing—selling," he wrote.


Mittal explained that whether it was selling books, collecting donations, promoting his college projects, or even marketing himself for a job, each experience honed his survival skills—persuasion, negotiation, and influence.

"That’s why I tell young founders and professionals: start selling early. But selling alone isn’t enough. To build real business acumen, you need to zoom out," he added.

According to Mittal, one of the fastest ways to understand business at a deeper level is a stint in finance, particularly equity analysis or investment banking.

"Why finance? Because it strips away the romance of 'disruption' and reveals the raw truth: where margins lie, where capital flows, and where profit pools truly sit," he explained.

He warned that too many entrepreneurs get carried away by their own narratives, forgetting that every industry has its economics. "Hack it if you want, but you can’t ignore it. Gravity always wins," he said.

His advice to young entrepreneurs is clear: if you’re in your early 20s and wondering how to become a successful businessperson:

  • Sell something. Anything.

  • Then spend a year or two learning how industries really make money.

"Dhandha is not taught in classrooms. It’s forged in the trenches of selling and sharpened by the discipline of numbers," Mittal concluded.



Commenters on the post resonated strongly with his message. One wrote, "Selling is the real trick. If you can convince, the work is done." Another added, "The journey from selling to understanding margins and capital flows separates dreamers from real business people. Classroom theory can’t replace lessons from closing deals and analyzing industries." A third commented, "Finding solutions to societal problems and converting them into business opportunities is key, but selling skills remain non-negotiable."

Mittal’s insights underscore a simple truth: real business mastery comes from practical experience, persistence, and an unflinching focus on how money truly moves.

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