‘Ma had to bear the brunt’: Ankur Warikoo shares how his mother supported the family when his father was unemployed Ankur Warikoo reflected on the contrasting roles of his parents, emphasizing how his mother’s unwavering stability became the cornerstone of their family’s resilience during his father’s unemployment. When his father, a risk-taker, lost his job after accepting a higher-paying opportunity, his mother stepped in to ensure the household remained financially and emotionally secure. Her sacrifices, which included working as a primary school teacher and offering evening tuitions, allowed his father to pursue new ventures without the burden of financial instability. Warikoo described this dynamic as a balance between his father’s boldness and his mother’s quiet strength, which together sustained their family through years of uncertainty. The father’s career shift began when he accepted a job that promised double his previous salary and included a car. However, the company he joined collapsed within a year, leaving him unemployed for several years. During this period, Warikoo’s mother became the family’s primary source of income. Despite the significant drop in earnings compared to their previous standard of living, her work provided a sense of normalcy that his father relied on to continue taking risks. Warikoo noted that her stability allowed his father to explore opportunities without the fear of financial collapse, even as those risks often failed to materialize. Warikoo highlighted how his mother’s efforts extended beyond financial support. He described her as offering “the stillness that a volatile life values,” a role that required immense personal sacrifice. Even as she grew older, she continued working, giving tuitions as recently as four years ago.#family #mother #father #ankur_warikoo #primary_school_teacher
Ankur Warikoo's Advice to a 35-Year-Old Employee Facing Layoff: Take Responsibility and Learn Daily A 35-year-old employee, grappling with the threat of a layoff after years of career setbacks, sought guidance from entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo. The man described his struggles with academic failures, substance abuse, and a lack of formal qualifications, all of which left him feeling unprepared for the future. Warikoo, known for his candid approach, shared his response on social media, offering a mix of practical steps and blunt honesty to help the employee reclaim control of his life. The employee’s academic journey was marked by repeated failures. He failed Class 11, switched schools, and ultimately dropped out of Class 12, completing his schooling through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). Later, he enrolled in a Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) program but abandoned it after losing focus and succumbing to alcohol and substance abuse. During his twenties, he worked in customer service and BPO roles, but admitted to lacking discipline and direction during that period. A major turning point came in 2018 when he faced a severe anxiety episode, which he linked to years of alcohol abuse. After hospitalization and a health scare, he quit drinking entirely. His personal life also became a source of stability. He married the woman he loved in 2020, and his wife’s support helped him navigate some of his darkest moments. Despite these challenges, his professional life began to improve. In 2022, he transitioned internally to a quality and testing role involving speech-to-text systems. By 2025, he secured a promotion into a governance and risk analyst position.#ankur_warikoo #national_institute_of_open_schooling #bachelor_of_computer_applications #speech_to_text #governance_and_risk_analyst
Ankur Warikoo's Journey from 14,750 to 33 Lakh in 5 Years Ankur Warikoo, a self-made success story, began his career with a monthly salary of 14,750 rupees and, within five years, climbed to an annual package of 33 lakh rupees. His journey, shared on social media, highlights the challenges of finding employment, the importance of perseverance, and the power of education in achieving financial growth. Warikoo’s story begins with his early struggles. After returning to India from the United States, he faced uncertainty about his career path. Despite lacking clear direction, he took proactive steps to secure his first job. After months of searching—submitting applications, attending interviews, and enduring rejections—he landed a position at NI Sparta, where he earned a modest salary of 14,750 rupees per month. The experience was humbling, as he observed colleagues with higher qualifications, prompting him to question his own capabilities. Determined to improve his prospects, Warikoo enrolled in the one-year MBA program at the Indian School of Business (ISB). The decision came with financial strain, as he secured a loan with a monthly repayment of 20,000 rupees. Despite the burden, he remained resolute, believing that the investment would pay off. During his MBA, he gained exposure to industry leaders and learned about consulting opportunities. This led to a breakthrough when he secured a consulting role with a firm, earning a salary of 12 lakh rupees annually. Within 1.5 years of joining the firm, Warikoo was promoted, and his salary increased significantly. Over the next three years, his earnings grew to 33 lakh rupees per year. His journey underscores the importance of resilience, continuous learning, and seizing opportunities.#consulting #career_growth #ankur_warikoo #ni_sparta #indian_school_of_business
Why Your Pay Hike, Promotion, and Dream Car Stop Feeling Special The phenomenon of feeling less excited about life’s major achievements—such as a promotion, a salary increase, or buying a dream car—has become increasingly common. This pattern, explained by entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo, is rooted in a psychological concept known as the "Hedonic Treadmill." According to Warikoo, this cycle describes how people quickly return to their baseline emotional state after experiencing significant positive events, making even the most celebrated milestones feel ordinary over time. Warikoo’s insights highlight a universal experience: the initial euphoria of a promotion or a financial windfall often fades within weeks or months. For instance, the thrill of a salary hike that once felt transformative may eventually become part of daily routine. Similarly, a dream car that occupied a person’s thoughts for months can shift from a symbol of success to a mere mode of transportation. This shift leaves many individuals feeling confused, as they achieve their goals yet struggle to maintain the same level of satisfaction. The core of the Hedonic Treadmill lies in how humans perceive happiness. Warikoo argues that people often tie their emotional well-being to future milestones, believing that the next achievement will permanently alter their sense of fulfillment. However, this mindset creates a cycle where each success becomes the new normal, and the pursuit of the next goal becomes an endless loop. He warns that this trap can lead to a life spent "emotionally waiting" for the next milestone, rather than finding contentment in the present. Modern culture, with its emphasis on productivity, achievement, and constant growth, exacerbates this issue.#social_media #personal_growth #ankur_warikoo #hedonic_treadmill #career_milestones
Ankur Warikoo On Why Success Shouldn’t Come At The Cost Of Yourself Ankur Warikoo’s new book, Winning People Without Losing Yourself, redefines success by urging readers to prioritize self-truth over external validation. Published by Penguin Random House, the work is a deeply personal reflection on relationships, influence, and boundaries in a hyper-connected world. Warikoo challenges the notion that winning requires sacrificing one’s values, arguing instead that true influence stems from staying authentic. The book’s central message is that success, love, and respect do not have to come at the cost of self-respect, a belief Warikoo once internalized but later reevaluated. Warikoo’s journey began in his teenage years, when he described himself as a chronic people-pleaser, driven by the need for approval. “I went above and beyond to be seen a certain way,” he explains, often neglecting his own needs. This pattern persisted until his mid-thirties, when the toll of constant compromise became impossible to ignore. A pivotal moment came as he reexamined his relationships, realizing that being a good friend, colleague, or parent does not inherently require sacrificing self-worth. “Being good to yourself is not a selfish act,” he says, framing this realization as the emotional core of the book. The book critiques a cultural conditioning that equates success with sacrifice, a mindset Warikoo once embraced. “I thought you had to lose in order to win,” he recalls, noting how this belief shaped his early career. Over time, he experimented with a different approach, discovering that meaningful influence and relationships could thrive without eroding self-respect.#penguin_random_house #ankur_warikoo #winning_people_without_losing_yourself #self_respect #self_truth
Is 40 too late to start again? Ankur Warikoo says no At 40, Ankur Warikoo made a bold career decision that defies conventional wisdom about age and ambition. After leaving a fully funded PhD program, abandoning a high-paying job worth Rs 33 lakh, and stepping down from a Rs 600-crore startup, he chose to start over entirely. His journey reflects a pattern of calculated risks and relentless reinvention, with his latest move marking the most significant leap in his career. Warikoo’s decision to walk away from a successful startup to pursue an uncharted path has sparked conversations about the limits of professional ambition. While many might view 40 as a threshold for stability, Warikoo sees it as an opportunity for transformation. His story challenges the notion that career milestones are tied to traditional timelines, instead emphasizing the value of personal agency and adaptability. The move came after years of navigating complex professional landscapes. From academic pursuits to corporate roles, Warikoo’s career has been defined by a willingness to pivot. His latest chapter, however, is particularly striking. By leaving behind a lucrative position and a thriving business, he has embraced uncertainty, choosing to redefine his purpose on his own terms. The decision has been framed as a testament to the power of self-belief. Warikoo’s journey highlights how career motivation can transcend conventional metrics, offering a blueprint for those seeking to break free from societal expectations. His story is not just about risk-taking but about redefining success in a rapidly evolving world. India Today’s coverage of his reset underscores the growing interest in narratives that challenge traditional career trajectories.#india_today #ankur_warikoo #rs_33_lakh #rs_600_crore_startup #career_reinvention
Ankur Warikoo, an entrepreneur known for his unconventional career path, recently shared insights into his bold decisions that reshaped his life. The 40-year-old first abandoned a fully funded PhD program in the United States, choosing to return to India without a clear plan. This move, initially seen as reckless, marked the start of a journey aligned with his personal instincts. Warikoo then left a high-paying consulting job offering Rs 33 lakh annually to pursue the unpredictable world of startups. At a time when many professionals seek stability, he opted for uncertainty, a choice that later proved pivotal. After building a successful startup valued at Rs 600 crore, he made another unexpected decision: stepping away from the venture to launch a new business from scratch at the age of 40. This move challenged traditional notions of success and stability. Warikoo emphasized that self-belief was the constant that sustained him through these risks. He acknowledged that none of his decisions felt certain at the time, with no safety net to fall back on. Yet, his conviction that resilience would allow him to try again if things didn’t work out kept him moving forward. He also highlighted how self-belief has a ripple effect, inspiring others to trust in their own potential. The entrepreneur’s journey resonated with many, sparking discussions about the courage required to defy societal expectations. Online reactions praised his story as a masterclass in trusting oneself, noting that real growth often comes from taking bold risks rather than playing it safe. Some users reflected on how fear is often shaped by uncertainty rather than reality, suggesting that the worst-case scenarios people imagine are frequently based on a lack of information.#startup #india #self_belief #ankur_warikoo #rs_600_crore
