IIT-IIM graduate calls his first toxic manager 'Don'. Recalls staying back late, working hard and rest 'felt like weakness'

We’ve all had that one boss who made us question our life choices. For IIT-IIM graduate Mridul Anand, that boss wasn’t even human — it was dopamine. In a viral LinkedIn post, Anand shared how his first “manager” pushed him to work late nights, chase perfection, and treat rest like weakness. He called this manager Don — a powerful, silent force that never raised its voice but ruled with results and reward.

Anand began his story by describing how, on his very first day at work, he realized this boss meant business. Everyone called him Don. He didn’t care about feelings, only outcomes — more, better, faster. One night, long after everyone had left, Anand stayed back polishing slides under the dim office lights. As he shut his laptop, Don’s whisper echoed in his mind — one more slide, tweak that chart, let’s earn that “good job” tomorrow.

That “good job” from his chief the next morning changed everything. It was his first dopamine hit — that addictive rush of validation. From then on, he was hooked. Anand said Don trained him to move fast, chase bigger goals, and see rest as laziness. Quiet weekends made him uneasy. Even joy started to feel like something he had to earn. Every success was followed by the same whisper: Now aim higher.


With every project and promotion, Don kept raising the bar. Anand never heard the words “you’re enough.” Years later, even though he no longer works for that manager, Don’s voice still lingers. When it’s 7 PM and he’s about to log off, it asks, one more task? When he sits down to relax, it taunts, don’t waste time.

That’s when he revealed the twist — Don’s real name is DOpamiNe. The same chemical we blame for our scrolling addiction and constant need for more is also the hidden “manager” behind burnout, overachievement, and endless goal-chasing. Anand ended his post on a reflective note. He said he’s grateful for Don because that drive helped him achieve a lot. But now, he takes guidance from others — curiosity, kindness, and patience. They don’t push as hard, but they remind him to slow down, stay balanced, and actually enjoy the ride.

Internet reacts

One user said that not every manager needs to act like a Don to get the best work from their team, pointing out that there are many other leadership styles that can deliver equally strong results. Another praised the post as a refreshing read amid what they called AI-generated, overpolished LinkedIn posts, adding that the comments comparing this “Don” to real-life managers were hilarious. They also noted that the constant chase for dopamine is taking a toll on people’s attention spans.

Someone else shared that the post hit a little too close to home. For years, they had mistaken dopamine’s push for discipline and said it took them a long time to realise that sometimes the bravest thing to do is simply close the laptop instead of taking on one more task. Another user reflected on how the pursuit of winning and excellence often comes at a cost, saying that we only recognise the damage when headlines about young CEOs collapsing hit us. They urged everyone to understand the difference between good stress and bad stress before the body decides to force a reset on its own.