Ep # 1: The journey from Mercedes to Maruti.

We’re always told about the rags to riches stories. We’re always told about the overnight success of other people. But there’s another side to these stories. Let’s find out in today's episode. 

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It’s time to have a Word with me, Rajive Dhavan. I’ll see you on the other side of the intro music.

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Transcript

The Journey from Mercedes to Maruti.

We’re always told about the rags to riches stories. We’re always told about the overnight success of other people. But there’s another side to these stories. Let’s find out. 

It’s time to have a word with me, Rajive Dhavan.

The concept of wealth is distorted in our society. As kids, we are always taught that a luxury car is a true identity of wealth. We’re always told about the journeys of people who’ve moved from a bike to a luxury car. 

In my case, I always wanted to buy a Mercedes. And as part of a crazy hustling culture, I wanted to buy it before I turned 30. I also wanted to make sure I bought it with my own money. And guess what? I did it. Three months before I turned 30, I bought the car. My dream car. I drove it around for four years. And then, the pandemic struck. We were all locked in our homes. It gave me time to reflect on various aspects of my life, including the fact that I didn’t want a luxury car as a kid. It’s actually the conditioning of society that made me buy it.  

After I bought one, I didn’t really feel any significant shift, except how people thought or perceived that I’d arrived, that I made it big. But inside, it was all the same, and nothing had changed in me. 

After much thought, I decided to sell it and buy a Maruti. Yes. You heard that right—a Maruti. And yes, it was not a financial issue that led me to this decision. I was actually in a situation where I could afford two such cars without hassle. Sorry if I sound pompous. But there’s a reason why I am sharing all this information with you. 

But what made me change my mind? It was introspection that led to clarity. Now was the time to buy something I was comfortable with. Something that I didn’t attach my self-esteem to. And to do this, I had to make sure that I truly give a damn about what people think. Not just in theory. But practically. 

Luckily, it wasn’t tough at all. In fact, my transition was effortless. I didn’t feel any less in a Maruti. It felt good for some reason. 

I soon understood that having control of my money and not giving a damn about society is the most lethal combination. It would take me closer to wealth creation, ultimately leading to financial freedom. 

But in this world, the idea of financial independence or financial freedom is almost non-existent. There’s hardly any discussion about the fact that time is the biggest wealth. And financial freedom is one of the effective ways to create this wealth called “Time”. If we look around closely, we’ll see the herd getting stuck in the loop of buying things. In fact, it’s mostly the stuff they don’t even need, a trait that keeps them poor for life. 

There’s absolutely no talk about making sure that we focus on our mental and physical health. More so, mental health.

Today, there’s an increase in the hustling culture. The culture talks about continuous work without really taking a break. When our body types are different, our growing up experiences are different, our goals are different, our purpose in life is different, and our health condition is different, how can hustling be a standard culture?

For instance, we are all not meant to be entrepreneurs. And that’s okay; we all can excel while working somewhere too. We can find a sense of purpose in a job as well. The idea of glorifying entrepreneurship is great. But the idea of vilifying a job doesn’t really help the cause. 

The idea that entrepreneurs are smart and those working for someone are just wasting their time making someone else rich is obnoxious. Some people are happy with owning a basic scooter, and others remain unhappy despite owning the best sports car money can buy. So, it ultimately boils down to what you’re passionate about. What drives you?

For instance, my biggest ambition can be something you’ve taken for granted every minute. So, it’s all subjective. What matters is whether we are aligned with our purpose or not. It doesn’t mean we don’t take risks or move out of our comfort zone occasionally. It’s just about understanding our situation better. It’s about not blindly comparing our journey with someone else’s. Now, I am not against the idea of buying luxury. But there’s time to do that. And if you’re truly passionate about these cars, then it’s a different scenario. 

But if you’re someone who’s struggling with their finances, have enough debt and responsivities, and then you say “one life” and go for the plunge, then that’s a move you might want to double-check.

I hope you liked this piece of content. If you did, please share. I’m sure you will positively impact someone. Thank you.