How does a middle-class mindset help build better founders?
As entrepreneurs, we often get caught up in the glamour of starting our own businesses. We’re told to be bold, take risks, and be willing to fail. But what about the foundation of our mindset? How does our upbringing, our family, and our social class shape our approach to entrepreneurship? In this post, I’ll explore how a middle-class mindset can help build better founders.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Sameer Maheshwari, CEO of HealthKart, a leading e-commerce platform for health and wellness products. Sameer’s journey is a testament to the power of a middle-class mindset in shaping his entrepreneurial spirit. Growing up in a middle-class family, Sameer learned valuable lessons about resilience, frugality, and grit – values that have served him well in his entrepreneurial endeavors.
The Advantage of a Middle-Class Upbringing
Sameer’s middle-class upbringing was far from privileged. His family struggled to make ends meet, and he had to work multiple jobs to support himself. This experience taught him the value of hard work and the importance of earning everything he had. “I didn’t have any safety nets,” Sameer recalls. “If I wanted something, I had to work for it. And that’s what taught me the value of resilience.”
Sameer’s middle-class mindset also instilled in him a sense of frugality. He learned to make do with what he had, to prioritize his spending, and to avoid unnecessary expenses. “I didn’t have the luxury of throwing money around,” he says. “I had to be careful with my finances, and that taught me to be resourceful and to think creatively.”
Grit, another key component of a middle-class mindset, was also essential to Sameer’s development as an entrepreneur. He learned to bounce back from setbacks, to persevere in the face of adversity, and to stay focused on his goals. “When you’re from a middle-class background, you’re used to overcoming obstacles,” Sameer explains. “You learn to be resilient, to adapt, and to push through challenges.”
The Entrepreneurial Edge
So, how does a middle-class mindset help build better founders? According to Sameer, it’s the values that a middle-class upbringing instills that give entrepreneurs an edge. “When you’re from a middle-class background, you’re not entitled to success,” he says. “You have to earn everything you get, and that teaches you to be humble, to be grounded, and to be willing to learn.”
These values, in turn, give founders a unique advantage. They are more likely to be resourceful, to be frugal, and to be resilient. They are less likely to take unnecessary risks, to waste resources, and to become complacent. And they are more likely to stay focused on their goals, to adapt to changing circumstances, and to push through challenges.
The Limits of Privilege
Of course, there are some who argue that privilege can be an advantage for entrepreneurs. After all, having access to resources, connections, and networks can certainly give someone a head start in the business world. But Sameer believes that this advantage is short-lived. “Privilege can get you started, but it won’t sustain you,” he says. “Eventually, you’ll have to earn your success, and that’s where the middle-class mindset comes in.”
Moreover, Sameer argues that privilege can actually be a hindrance to entrepreneurship. “When you’re from a privileged background, you often have a sense of entitlement,” he says. “You may not be as motivated to work hard, to take risks, or to push through challenges. And without these qualities, you’re unlikely to succeed as an entrepreneur.”
The Power of the Middle-Class Mindset
In conclusion, Sameer’s story is a testament to the power of a middle-class mindset in building better founders. His experience of growing up in a middle-class family, without privilege or safety nets, taught him valuable lessons about resilience, frugality, and grit. These values, in turn, have given him an edge as an entrepreneur, allowing him to navigate challenges, to adapt to changing circumstances, and to push through setbacks.
As entrepreneurs, we often focus on the glamour of starting our own businesses, but we neglect the foundation of our mindset. We forget that our upbringing, our family, and our social class shape our approach to entrepreneurship. By embracing a middle-class mindset, we can build a stronger foundation for our businesses, one that is rooted in values like resilience, frugality, and grit.
Source:
https://ascendants.in/founders-corner/middle-class-mindset-founder/
