As I was getting picked on by some classmates, one of my pals came over and said, “You’re going the wrong way. Everyone’s criticizing you. I feel bad for you, too.”

“Oh, really? So, all of you think you’re on the right track?” I asked.

“Yeah, what’s wrong with that?” he replied.

“Well, because you are just following what everyone else is doing. In India, tons of people are studying engineering. Almost all aim to work in a big company or start their own.” I explained.

He went silent.

“Do you really believe everyone will get the job they’re after?” I asked.

“I’m not sure about others, but I’m confident I’ll get one,” he replied.

“Really? What makes you so sure you’ll get the job? Why would they pick you?” I questioned.

“Because I’ll have my degree and knowledge,” he replied.

“What about the others? Won’t they have degrees and knowledge, too?” I inquired.

He was silent.

He stayed quiet.

“You need more than just technical skills to impress an employer. I’m learning things like presenting, communication, people skills, and leadership here. These are the things that will be helpful in the long run. Technical know-how can be replaced as new technology evolves, but do you think these skills could ever be replaced? But these guys think I’m just chasing money. If that’s the case, what are you all doing? Why spend 5-6 hours daily in this classroom, enduring these boring lectures? Because all of you want to qualify for a job and earn money,” I said, looking at him thoughtfully.

“Now tell me I’m wrong about everything and laugh,” I said, slamming my palm on the desk.

My aggression left him speechless.

It became routine for me to go to the mall after my classes. I’d hang out with Shubham, Harsh, and Bhaskar in the evenings, discussing business, technology, and other topics. Often, we’d criticize those in jobs.

That day, I went to the mall and told them, “Today, I shut up one of my friends.”

“Wow, really? How?” asked Harsh.

I recounted the entire story. They laughed and praised my efforts. After spending an hour with them, I headed back to my room.

I thought to talk to Sumay-uncle regarding this. He had always stressed upon doing business rather than hankering after a corporate job.

So, it was the right time to tell him what I was doing. I texted him at 10 PM, hoping he’d be awake since he usually stays late.

I shared with him my decision to learn and venture into business. Luckily, he promptly responded on WhatsApp, saying, “Nice to hear.”

Shortly after, he called me and inquired about my plans.

“I want to learn about business. I don’t want to be part of the rat race, so I’ve decided to get into network marketing to gain practical business skills,” I explained.

“Hmm, it’s good that you aspire to be an entrepreneur. But why network marketing? You can read books by famous businesspersons. They share a lot of interesting facts about business that you can learn from,” he suggested.

“Yes, I plan to do that too,” I replied.

“Well, it might be better to reconsider before diving into network marketing,” he advised.

“Hmm, okay,” I responded.

He then ended the call. That night, I found it hard to sleep. My eagerness to learn about business and Sumay-uncle’s caution kept me restless. Instead of calming down, I became more agitated and started pacing on the terrace. Suddenly, I thought about reading the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert T. Kiyosaki. Bhaskar had recommended it to me as a way to grasp the basics of business.

The book delves into crucial aspects that can lead a person to achieve mental and financial freedom. Robert T. Kiyosaki elaborates on the distinction between assets and liabilities, the significance of financial education, and the importance of entrepreneurship. He also teaches about how to retire early so that a person doesn’t need to strive for money. These concepts opened up my mind to a different dimension of society.

My mind was constantly grappling with the business theories, concepts, and teachings I had encountered through various books and discussions with my mentors. As a result, my academic focus began to wane, and I was falling behind without being concerned about it. All I yearned for was to become a businessman and lead a financially free life. My grades took a backseat as my sole concern became my pursuit of entrepreneurship.

A month went by, and I couldn’t convince any of my friends to join me in my business venture. While I had grasped many business concepts, I needed help figuring out how to apply them in real life. Instead, I started observing people and tried to share my newfound knowledge with them. Unfortunately, this approach cost several friends who used to hang out with me.

I stopped wandering around my college campus and dedicated any free time to reading books on business. My eagerness to learn became so intense that I even read these books during class lectures. Sometimes, my teachers noticed, but they didn’t say anything.

One day, after college, I joined Bhaskar at the mall. He greeted me with a handshake and a cheerful “good evening,” but my response lacked enthusiasm. Bhaskar, usually the one encouraging others, noticed and asked, “What happened, Chirag? You seem hopeless. Did something happen?”

“No, sir. I’m just not making any progress. I don’t know where I’m headed in life. I’m reading books and learning a lot, but I can’t make a single sale. It’s frustrating,” I admitted with a downcast voice.

“Hmm, you’re right. The same thing happened to me when I was a new associate. But one event changed my entire perspective. Now, you see a different Bhaskar. Attending that event gave me realizations that transformed my business outlook,” he shared.

“What event?” I asked immediately.

“An event which will clear many doubts and give you more clarity about what you are doing.” he said.

“Really? When and where is it happening?” I asked eagerly.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow. Right now, I have to meet a guest. See you later,” he said, leaving the table.

As he walked away, I pondered, “What was the event, and how could it help me?”

As Bhaskar promised, the answers would be revealed in the next chapter. Until then, stay tuned…