How Does a Middle-Class Mindset Help Build Better Founders?
As the founder and CEO of HealthKart, Sameer Maheshwari has had his fair share of ups and downs. From humble beginnings to scaling his e-commerce platform to become one of India’s leading health and wellness companies, Maheshwari’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, frugality, and grit. In a recent interview, he credited his middle-class upbringing for shaping his entrepreneurial journey, instilling values that no amount of wealth or privilege can buy.
Growing up in a middle-class family, Maheshwari faced challenges that many of today’s entrepreneurs don’t. He didn’t have the luxury of a safety net or a trust fund to fall back on. Every success, every failure, and every setback was a direct result of his hard work and determination. This mindset, he believes, gave him an edge that has served him well as a founder.
Resilience: The Key to Overcoming Adversity
Maheshwari’s middle-class upbringing taught him the value of resilience. When faced with setbacks, he learned to pick himself up, dust himself off, and keep moving forward. This ability to bounce back from adversity has been instrumental in his success as a founder.
“I’ve faced numerous challenges in my journey, from financial struggles to personal setbacks,” he says. “But I’ve always believed that failure is an opportunity to learn and come back stronger. My middle-class upbringing taught me to be resourceful and adapt to situations, which has been invaluable in my entrepreneurial journey.”
Frugality: The Art of Making Do with Little
Maheshwari’s middle-class mindset also instilled in him the value of frugality. He learned to make do with limited resources, a skill that has served him well in the often unpredictable world of entrepreneurship.
“When I started HealthKart, I didn’t have a large budget to work with,” he recalls. “I had to be creative and resourceful to get things done. This taught me to prioritize, to focus on what was essential, and to find innovative solutions to problems.”
Grit: The Power of Perseverance
Perhaps the most critical value that Maheshwari’s middle-class upbringing instilled in him is grit. He learned to persevere in the face of adversity, to keep pushing forward even when things seemed impossible.
“I’ve faced numerous times when I felt like giving up, when the going got tough and it seemed like there was no way forward,” he says. “But my middle-class upbringing taught me to keep going, to keep pushing forward, no matter what. This has been instrumental in my success as a founder.”
The Middle-Class Mindset: A True Entrepreneurial Advantage
So, what is it about the middle-class mindset that gives founders an edge? According to Maheshwari, it’s the values that come with it – values that no amount of wealth or privilege can buy.
“Growing up in a middle-class family taught me to be resourceful, to be resilient, and to persevere,” he says. “These values are essential for success as an entrepreneur. They give you the grit, the determination, and the creativity to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals.”
Conclusion
Sameer Maheshwari’s journey as a founder is a testament to the power of the middle-class mindset. From resilience to frugality to grit, the values that come with growing up in a middle-class family have been instrumental in his success.
As entrepreneurs, we often focus on the flashy, the glamorous, and the high-stakes. But the truth is that success is often the result of hard work, determination, and a willingness to learn from our mistakes. The middle-class mindset, with its emphasis on resourcefulness, resilience, and perseverance, is a true entrepreneurial advantage.
So, the next time you’re facing a setback or struggling to make ends meet, remember Sameer Maheshwari’s story. Remember that the values that come with growing up in a middle-class family are the same values that can propel you to success as an entrepreneur.
Source:
https://ascendants.in/founders-corner/middle-class-mindset-founder/
