In a country where cracking IIT or IIM is often considered the gold standard of success, stories that break this narrative tend to stand out. One such story comes from a Gurgaon-based manager whose journey didn’t follow the conventional script of top ranks, elite colleges, or perfect grades. Instead, it was marked by repeated failures—yet led to a fulfilling and well-earned career, proving that life has far more diverse paths to offer.
Early Failures Don’t Define Future
The manager candidly admitted online that he failed in Class 11 mathematics—a subject that typically acts as a foundation for engineering aspirants in India. That didn’t deter him from attempting competitive exams, but he couldn’t make it to the IITs. During engineering, he even failed in two subjects. Later, his attempt at cracking the prestigious IIMs also fell short.
Despite this list of academic hurdles, he sent out a powerful message, stating that it’s absolutely okay to fail sometimes and that one doesn’t need an IQ of 160 to be successful in life.
Redefining Goals, Not Chasing Labels
In response to the flood of questions and comments his post received, he encouraged others to reflect on their own definitions of success. According to him, people must first ask whether their goals truly align with societal expectations like top-tier colleges or high-paying jobs. If not, then there’s no need to compare one’s journey to someone else’s.
For those who do share similar aspirations, he advised building a strategy to achieve those goals—even if the starting point isn’t ideal. He pointed out that many successful people, including Warren Buffett, accumulated the majority of their wealth after the age of 50.
From Tier II to Day Zero Success
While some questioned how he managed to secure a job after academic failures, he shared that supplementary exams during engineering allowed him to recover and move forward. Eventually, he got into a respected Tier II B-school. With an 89 percentile in CAT, he cracked a day-zero campus placement offer with a Rs 9 lakh CTC package.
His success is a clear reminder that one setback—or several—doesn’t end the story. In his words, if one door closes, another door likely opens for you!
Online Reactions
The reactions to his post reflect how many others have walked a similar path of failure and persistence. From struggling in stock markets for years to failing multiple times in college subjects, people related deeply. One user even wrote that if his story could uplift even one person, it was worth sharing.
Still, there were critics. Some mocked the repeated failures, while others questioned his profession, qualifications, and net worth. But the manager remained unfazed, focusing instead on the broader message: failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s often a part of it.
When asked how he measures success, the Gurgaon manager didn’t provide flashy numbers. His approach is clearly more introspective. Success, for him, isn’t defined by elite institutions or public validation. It’s about resilience, growth, and building a career despite not following the “ideal” route.