I was recently talking with a client on his / her career journey. The person in reference started off with a meagre salary 30 years ago and being hardworking, focused and super driven has accomplished a lot in life. This is without any haloed degrees.

📈 The Power of Career Compounding – 30 year career summarized below:

  • Starting Point: ₹2,500/month salary 30 years ago
  • Current Income: ₹25 lakhs/month or ₹3 crores/year.
  • Growth Rate: ~26% CAGR (compounded annual growth rate).
  • Doubling Every 2.75 Years: That’s the magic of exponential growth — not just in investments, but in careers too.

Actual increments may have come in bursts, but the long-term trajectory is what matters.

💡 Lessons from the Journey

This isn’t just about income. It’s about intentionality and discipline:

  1. Focused on his job & the drive to be there everyday no matter.
  2. Consistent Saving: Even saving ₹500/month in the early years could have snowballed into a sizable corpus. SIPs started in the 90s would now be worth crores — thanks to time and compounding.
  3. Lifestyle Control: Avoiding lifestyle inflation is like avoiding termites in your wealth tree. The real wealth was built not just by earning more, but by spending wisely.
  4. Channeling Earnings into Investments: SIPs in equity mutual funds can help create wealth passively while the focus remains on excelling in one’s career. The synergy of income growth + investment growth = financial freedom.

🧠 The Takeaway: You Are the Asset

  • Degrees help, but drive, discipline, and direction matter more.
  • Your career is your first SIP — nurture it, invest in learning, and avoid emotional withdrawals.
  • With the right mindset, anyone can become a multi-bagger — not just in stocks, but in life.