By Saurav Pandey | June 16, 2025
As a teenager, Kamath openly admitted that money was his primary motivation. He reflects that childhood experiences and surroundings shape our financial ambitions—even if we don’t always acknowledge it.
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At 15, Kamath started selling mobile phones in his neighborhood, turning a small venture into a profitable side hustle. This early exposure to business taught him the value of initiative and resourcefulness.
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His first full-time job at a call center in Bangalore paid just ₹8,000/month, but the experience—selling insurance to international customers—was invaluable. It instilled discipline and time management.
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Kamath compares trading to dating: it starts exciting, then gets tough, but if you stay patient, it improves. Beginner’s luck is real, but long-term success comes from persistence and learning from losses.
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In trading (and life), staying calm in chaos is crucial. Kamath believes objectivity and resilience separate successful people from those who quit too soon.
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He credits much of his success to being around driven, trustworthy individuals. The people you associate with—whether in college or work—have an outsized impact on your growth
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Kamath controversially claims that hard work is overrated. He admits that in his early career, much of his “work” was just pretending. Real success comes from efficiency, not just effort.
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Even top executives feel like they’re faking it sometimes. Kamath recalls a meeting where his entire team admitted they often felt unproductive—proving self-doubt is common at every level.
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After 21 years in trading, Kamath’s expertise came from repetition. Whether in markets or relationships, sticking through challenges leads to growth.
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Even on vacation, Kamath checks the markets. Passion for what you do makes work feel less like a chore and more like a lifelong journey.
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