Why I Hired My Friends Despite Everyone Telling Me Not To

"Don't Hire Your Friends" – A Common Advice for Entrepreneurs

I've been given this advice countless times. As an entrepreneur, a leader, and even a student, I’ve faced my fair share of failures. But having friends by my side has always made hitting rock bottom bearable.

One of my earliest memories of failure was when I scored 92-something % on my 10th board exams. My friends and I went to school to share our results with our teachers. One of them remarked, "You got 92%?" I replied, "Yes, sir," with a big smile on my face, only for him to say, "But your brother got 94%."

In that moment, I felt shock and anger. Over the years, having failed many times made me realize that

"failure is defined by how you act on it, not how you feel in the moment or how others make you feel."

The Power of Friends in Overcoming Failure

Through these failures, one thing has remained constant: my friends. They have always been there, making me feel that when everything else is falling apart, some things remain unchanged. There is something primal and comforting about this feeling.

When we started hiring for NeuralSpace, I talked my friends into joining the team. Despite being advised at least five times not to hire friends or relatives, it felt natural. There was an inherent sync, and things took off smoothly.

Hiring Friends: The Challenges and Awkward Moments

Hiring friends is not always smooth sailing. Yes, it's hard to fire someone you know personally (done that). It's awkward to give negative feedback to one of your best friends (done that too). The most embarrassing moments come when you (the founder) receive negative feedback from your close friends in a professional setting. It doesn’t get any weirder.

In these moments, even a Zen monk would consider keeping friends away from their company. But none of this matters when you hit rock bottom.

The Strength of Close-Knit Teams

For instance, when we were raising funds and had spoken to over 100 investors without success, our bank balance was depleting, and we had only a few days left for survival. We had hit our first rock bottom as a startup. I felt like I had failed big time. But at that moment, none of those awkward moments mattered.

We were a tight-knit group of close friends, and even the new hires became close. While discussing our survival strategy, it felt like everything was fine. In the most tense moments, we could share a laugh. It was like "Us against the world," and this rock bottom became bearable.

Every time I failed and had no friends around, the cycle of failure, retrospection, action, and impact was much harder.

Failure Is Just a Step Toward Success

In my entrepreneurial journey, I've failed many times. My teammates have failed, and I've seen the smartest people fail miserably. Think about it: Zomato's Green Veg Fleet idea was a big failure, but it didn’t define them.

Failures keep you grounded and make you stronger, but a message from a friend who is also your teammate, saying, "Remember that other time when you thought we had failed? Look at us now lol!" keeps you going.

Building Stronger Teams with AI and Leadership Training

Through my experiences, I’ve learned that leadership isn’t just about making tough decisions—it’s about building strong, resilient teams that can weather failures together.

For startups, business leaders, and professionals looking to build high-performing teams and integrate AI into their strategy, I offer tailored consulting services. Whether it’s AI upskilling, leadership coaching, or strategic team-building, my programs are designed to help businesses and leaders navigate the evolving AI landscape. You can join my "invite-only" community of select leaders to break down real-world AI use-case and practical implementation and scaling strategies.