Leaving behind a stable job, high income, or even a successful venture is not a decision most people would consider easy. For many, these are long-term goals, not things to walk away from. Yet, some individuals choose to reset their journey even after reaching those milestones.
In a recent reflection, entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo spoke about three major turning points in his life that were once widely questioned but later shaped his career in significant ways.
Warikoo said these choices were not made with certainty, but were guided by self-belief and a willingness to take risks even without a safety net. He wrote about three key moments. The first one he revealed, “Dropping out of my 100% scholarship PhD in the US and coming back to India no plan in mind.”
Next he shared an early career moment when he moved away from a well-paying consulting role to enter the startup world. He wrote, “Quitting my 33L consulting job to startup.”
The third one was choosing to leave a high-value startup and beginning again from scratch at a later stage in life. He said, “Leaving my 600Cr startup to bootstrap a business at 40.”
Warikoo reflected on the mindset that helped him repeatedly take uncertain decisions in his career. He said these choices were made without any guarantees or backup plan, but were driven by strong self-belief. He explained that he trusted his ability to handle failure and start again if needed, and felt that this confidence also influenced how others viewed him.
He also shared his view that consistent effort and a willingness to keep trying can open more opportunities in life.
Talking about how others saw his decisions, Warikoo said that many people initially believed he was wasting his career. However, he felt he was actually building a different path for himself. He also advised that people should not wait for luck, but instead create opportunities by taking risks, reaching out, and stepping into unfamiliar situations. He added that the worst fears are often exaggerated, and real growth happens when a person moves beyond their comfort zone.
Many users praised his approach to risk and decision-making. One user wrote, “Kudos to self-belief! In a world that often pushes for conventional learning and paths, believing in oneself and seeing it through to the finish line is true heroism. Congratulations!”
Another said, “The worst-case scenario in our heads is usually just a lack of data. Once you take the leap, the data proves that growth is the only outcome.”
However, not all responses were purely celebratory. One user highlighted practical limitations that many people face. The user wrote, “But at the end of the day, even if one has belief, a good financial backbone is a must. So, for sure, many can’t do this amidst the pressure of various liabilities. Given the fact that if most people had such high numbers in life, they would also make such posts rags to riches well, that’s an utopia, I feel.”