A recent LinkedIn post by entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo is being widely shared for exactly that reason. At its heart is the story of a young man who spent years believing he had fallen short of expectations after failing to clear the IIT-JEE examination. Today, that same person is earning a seven-figure income every month and recently marked his father’s retirement with a gift worth ₹55 lakh.For many readers, however, the most talked-about part of the story is not where he ended up. It is where he started.
“Thought his life was over”
Warikoo shared the journey of Shaurya Shikhar, who joined his team five years ago.Recalling those days, he wrote, “Five years ago, Shaurya Shikhar thought his life was over. This year, he bought his dad a 55L BMW as a retirement gift.”According to Warikoo, Shaurya had appeared for IIT-JEE but was unable to clear the examination. The disappointment was particularly difficult because his father was an IIT graduate.Instead of pursuing engineering, he went on to study BBA. At the time, Warikoo said, Shaurya struggled with feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty about his future.Describing his state of mind then, he wrote, “He weighed 110+ kgs. Felt like he let down his parents. Hated his college. Was convinced his life won’t work out!”
Five years later, a very different chapter
Warikoo said that over the next few years, Shaurya’s life changed significantly.He revealed that the 26-year-old now earns a seven-figure salary every month and recently bought a BMW worth ₹55 lakh as a retirement gift for his father.Sharing the details, Warikoo wrote: “Cut to this year, Shaurya bought a 55L BMW for his dad as a retirement gift. He earns 7 figures every month. The down payment of the car would be less than 5% of his net worth. The EMI would be less than 7% of his monthly salary. Plus, he is his fittest self now!”At the same time, he stressed that the post was not intended to be about wealth.“This post isn’t about money. It’s about a thought that arrives late, but always arrives.”
The message behind the milestone
While sharing Shaurya’s journey, Warikoo reflected on how difficult it can be to trust the future when things are not going well in the present.He wrote, “Life eventually works out. But it doesn’t help to know that, when you have failed.”Warikoo then explained what he believes matters most during such phases.“Here is what helped me: KEEP MOVING! If we all believe that life will eventually work out, the only thing we can do is to keep moving.”
Social media users say the story feels relatable
The post sparked a wave of responses from users who connected with its message.One user commented, “The line ‘Knowing that life will eventually work out would NOT have helped on those dark days’ hits hard. When you’re at your lowest, optimism feels fake, but action feels real. Proud of Shaurya for choosing to keep moving. Truly inspiring.”Another wrote, “One of the biggest traps in life is believing today’s circumstances are permanent. Most success stories look inevitable in hindsight but uncertain in real time. The people who win aren’t those who never feel lost – they’re the ones who keep moving despite it. Progress often arrives long after confidence disappears.”A third user said, “Every successful person has a chapter where things looked uncertain. The difference is that they didn’t mistake that chapter for the whole story.”Another added: “We often overestimate the importance of one exam, one rejection, or one bad phase. But life is usually shaped by what happens after that moment. Keep moving. That’s where the real story begins.”Disclaimer: This article is based on a social media post and has not been independently verified by The Times of India.Thumb image: LinkedIn/ Ankur Warikoo
