There was a time when everything I owned could fit into a small bag and even that bag was not full. I had ₹500 in my pocket, a small bag, a job offer in hand and a belief that I had to make something of myself. That was all I carried when I left my town to work at one of the biggest IT companies. There were no family connections in the city, but only ambition that kept me going forward.

Leaving my hometown was not just a physical move, it was a psychological leap. When you step into a new city with almost nothing, every decision feels heavier, every rupee counts and every mistake feels expensive. But there is also something incredibly powerful about that phase of life. When you have very little, you have very little to lose and everything to gain.

Entering Health Tech Changed Everything

Fifteen years later, life looks very different. Today, I’m building in health tech, a space where the work we do is all about real life impact. I now spend my days in conversations with clients across the world that can change how modern health care is delivered, accessed and experienced. Leadership started to feel very different as it was no longer about growth alone or hitting milestones. It has become more about making thoughtful decisions, about asking the right questions and about ensuring that what you build actually creates value for others. You become more aware, more intentional and more accountable. When you realize that your work touches lives beyond your own, your perspective shifts altogether. All the decisions become more meaningful and responsibility becomes real.

If you had asked me back then what success looked like, my answer would have been simply financial security. Today, that definition has grown too. Success now feels deeper and more personal. It is being able to give my children opportunities that I never had without passing on the weight of my struggles and building a comfortable life with my partner who works just as hard and is the backbone of our family.

Consistency Over Secrets

People often ask me, “What’s the secret to becoming a founder?” There is an expectation behind that question, that somewhere there must be a formula, a shortcut or a strategy that guarantees success. There is no secret for it, there is only consistency which does not always feel rewarding in the moment but it is always the one thing that quietly builds everything over time.

Consistency is showing up on days when you feel motivated and more importantly, on days when you don’t. It is choosing discipline over mood, action over overthinking and staying honest even when it would be easier not to. There are days when things do not work as expected and there are days when doubt creeps back in. It makes you compare your journey with others. It makes you feel like you are behind even when you are doing your best. In those moments, it is easy to step back, pause and wait for clarity or confidence to return. I had moments like that as well but I chose to show up anyway.

The Power of Starting Small

Looking back, that ₹500 was a starting point. It was proof that I did not need perfect conditions to begin. We often underestimate what can grow from small beginnings. We often wait for the right time, wait for better resources, better connections or more confidence. We tell ourselves that we will start when things are more certain and when we feel more ready. But the truth is that growth comes from action and not perfection. You start with what you have by taking the first step, even if it feels small. Over time, those small steps lead to bigger opportunities that you could not have planned for.

Every system I build today, every conversation I have, every decision I make now, it all traces back to that one moment of choosing to begin. Fifteen years is a long time, long enough to make mistakes, learn lessons and grow.

When you look back, you start to see how each phase shaped you. The struggles, the uncertainties and the small wins they all played a role. You realize that nothing was wasted as every experience added something, every challenge taught you something valuable and every step, no matter how small, moved you forward.

Even today, I think about that ₹500, not because of its value but because of what it represents. It reminds me that every journey has a humble beginning, every milestone was once unimaginable, and every version of success started as a decision. It keeps me grounded because no matter how far you go, remembering where you started gives your journey context and your success meaning.

What’s your story been like?