How does a middle-class mindset help build better founders?
As a founder, it’s easy to get caught up in the glamour of entrepreneurship. The idea of creating something from scratch, building a team, and scaling a business can be intoxicating. However, the reality is that entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It requires grit, resilience, and a willingness to take calculated risks.
For Sameer Maheshwari, CEO of HealthKart, his middle-class upbringing played a significant role in shaping his entrepreneurial journey. Growing up in a humble background, he learned the value of hard work, frugality, and resourcefulness from a young age. In this article, we’ll explore how the middle-class mindset helped Sameer build the foundation for his success as a founder.
The power of resilience
Sameer’s story is a testament to the power of resilience. Growing up in a middle-class family, he faced numerous challenges that could have easily derailed his path. His parents, both educators, struggled to make ends meet, and Sameer often had to work multiple part-time jobs to support his family. These early experiences taught him to be resourceful and adaptable, traits that would serve him well as a founder.
As he began his entrepreneurial journey, Sameer faced numerous setbacks, including rejected pitches, failed product launches, and cash flow crises. However, he never gave up. Instead, he used each failure as an opportunity to learn and improve. This resilience, honed through his middle-class upbringing, allowed him to bounce back from setbacks and continue pushing forward.
The value of frugality
Another key aspect of the middle-class mindset is frugality. Growing up, Sameer’s family couldn’t afford luxuries, and he learned to make do with what they had. This mindset served him well as a founder, where every dollar counts. By being mindful of expenses and prioritizing resource allocation, Sameer was able to keep his startup lean and agile, allowing it to adapt quickly to changing market conditions.
Frugality also taught Sameer to think creatively and find innovative solutions to problems. Without the luxury of a large budget, he had to rely on his wits and resourcefulness to overcome obstacles. This ability to think on his feet and find creative solutions has been instrumental in HealthKart’s success.
Grit and determination
The middle-class mindset also instilled in Sameer a sense of grit and determination. Growing up, he had to work multiple jobs to support his family, often going without luxuries like new clothes or entertainment. This sense of responsibility and duty drove him to work harder and push through challenges.
As a founder, Sameer’s grit and determination allowed him to persevere through the inevitable ups and downs of entrepreneurship. He refused to give up, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This unwavering commitment to his vision has been a key factor in HealthKart’s success.
The entrepreneurial advantage
So, what sets entrepreneurs from middle-class backgrounds apart from those with privileged upbringings? Sameer believes that it’s the values instilled by a middle-class upbringing that give founders an edge. These values, such as resilience, frugality, and grit, cannot be bought or taught – they can only be developed through experience.
In an environment where resources are scarce, entrepreneurs from middle-class backgrounds are forced to be creative, adaptable, and resourceful. These traits, combined with a strong work ethic and determination, make them well-equipped to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.
Conclusion
Sameer Maheshwari’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of the middle-class mindset in building better founders. By instilling values such as resilience, frugality, and grit, a middle-class upbringing provides entrepreneurs with a unique entrepreneurial advantage.
As founders, we often focus on the glamour of entrepreneurship, but the reality is that it’s the hard work, determination, and resourcefulness of entrepreneurs from humble backgrounds that truly drive success.
Source:
https://ascendants.in/founders-corner/middle-class-mindset-founder/
