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, making a name for yourself, and reaping the rewards of your hard work. But what about the journey itself? What about the mindset that drives you to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough? For Sameer Maheshwari, CEO of HealthKart, it’s the middle-class mindset that has been instrumental in shaping his entrepreneurial journey.
Growing up in a middle-class family, Sameer had to work hard to earn every penny he made. There was no trust fund or safety net to fall back on, no privilege to cushion his mistakes. This forced him to develop a mindset that emphasized resilience, frugality, and grit. He learned to earn everything he had, and in doing so, turned hardship into strength.
So, what does it mean to have a middle-class mindset? And how does it help build better founders? In this post, we’ll explore the values that Sameer believes have given him a true entrepreneurial advantage.
Resilience: The Ability to Bounce Back
As a middle-class kid, Sameer learned to deal with uncertainty and unpredictability from a young age. His parents, though well-meaning, couldn’t always provide for him, and he had to learn to adapt to changing circumstances. This taught him to be resilient, to bounce back from setbacks and failures, and to never give up.
In entrepreneurship, resilience is everything. You’ll face rejection, criticism, and failure, and it’s how you respond to these challenges that will determine your success. Sameer’s middle-class mindset has given him the ability to take these setbacks in stride, to dust himself off, and to keep moving forward.
Frugality: The Power of Living Below Your Means
Growing up in a middle-class family, Sameer had to be frugal. He learned to live below his means, to prioritize, and to make do with what he had. This taught him the value of hard work and the importance of saving for the future.
As a founder, frugality is essential. You’ll face financial constraints, and you’ll need to make tough decisions about how to allocate your resources. Sameer’s middle-class mindset has given him the discipline to live below his means, to prioritize his spending, and to make smart financial decisions.
Grit: The Ability to Keep Going
Finally, Sameer’s middle-class mindset has given him grit – the ability to keep going, even when things get tough. He learned to push through challenges, to persevere, and to never give up on his goals.
Grit is essential for entrepreneurship. You’ll face long hours, sleepless nights, and endless setbacks. You’ll need to keep pushing forward, even when it feels like the world is against you. Sameer’s middle-class mindset has given him the grit to keep going, to stay focused, and to achieve his goals.
The Edge That Money Can’t Buy
So, what does it mean to have a middle-class mindset? It’s not about the money you make or the resources you have at your disposal. It’s about the values you develop, the mindset you cultivate, and the resilience you build.
Sameer believes that his middle-class mindset has given him a true entrepreneurial advantage. It’s taught him to be resourceful, to be frugal, and to persevere. It’s given him the discipline to live below his means, to prioritize his spending, and to make smart financial decisions. And it’s given him the grit to keep going, even when things get tough.
In an age where privilege and entitlement are all too common, Sameer’s middle-class mindset stands out. He’s a reminder that success is not just about the resources you have, but about the values you develop and the mindset you cultivate.
Conclusion
As founders, we often focus on the glamorous aspects of entrepreneurship – the idea of creating something from scratch, making a name for ourselves, and reaping the rewards of our hard work. But what about the journey itself? What about the mindset that drives us to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough?
For Sameer Maheshwari, CEO of HealthKart, it’s the middle-class mindset that has been instrumental in shaping his entrepreneurial journey. It’s taught him to be resilient, frugal, and gritty – values that have given him a true entrepreneurial advantage.
So, what can we learn from Sameer’s story? We can learn that success is not just about the resources you have, but about the values you develop and the mindset you cultivate. We can learn that resilience, frugality, and grit are essential for entrepreneurship, and that these values can be developed by anyone, regardless of their background or privilege.
And we can learn that, with a middle-class mindset, anything is possible.
Source: https://ascendants.in/founders-corner/middle-class-mindset-founder/
