A deeply personal LinkedIn post by Sameer Maheshwari, the founder and CEO of HealthKart, has struck a powerful chord with readers across India, reigniting a conversation around the impact of a middle-class upbringing. The post, which has since gone viral, has seen thousands of professionals engage with Maheshwari’s reflections, praising his honesty and relatability.
An alumnus of IIT Delhi and Harvard Business School, Maheshwari began by expressing his enduring gratitude for his modest beginnings. “We had no legacy, no advantage, no safety net,” he wrote. “If we didn’t perform, there was no fallback option.” The stark reality of this statement resonated widely with readers who had faced similar circumstances growing up.
Maheshwari’s post delved into how the absence of material privilege in his early years instilled values that have remained with him throughout his entrepreneurial journey. “What we lacked in material things, we were overcompensated with strong values, hunger to achieve and resilience to face any hardship,” he wrote.
Recalling a poignant memory from childhood, Maheshwari spoke of longing for a cricket bat—a reward he eventually earned through sustained effort. “Every milestone had to be earned. Even the first cricket bat took months. Consistent effort was the only currency,” he said. The anecdote served as a metaphor for the principle that “anything worth having must be earned”—a lesson that shaped his future.
He went on to list several foundational lessons that life in a middle-class household taught him—insights he believes no textbook could ever impart. These included:
Value of Money: “Every Rupee can go a long way.”
Need vs Want: “Eating out is a treat, not a routine.”
Saving First: “You never spend ahead of yourself.”
Gratitude: “You appreciate what you have rather than dwell on what you don’t.”
Comparison: “You are constantly measured against peers and must learn to convert that pressure into internal strength, not insecurity.”
Even today, despite his considerable success, Maheshwari admitted that these habits and instincts remain ingrained in him. “The middle-class OS still runs deep,” he wrote candidly. He described his ongoing reluctance to splurge, even on something as routine as a pair of shoes. “Not because I can’t afford them,” he noted, “but because middle-class OS still runs deep.” He added that he continues to browse multiple sites, compare prices and search for coupons before making a purchase.
Reflecting on his journey, Maheshwari asked a powerful question: “Sometimes I wonder if I had received too much too early, would I have had the same drive?” He offered an answer rooted in lived experience: “The grind gave me direction. The friction built resilience. It made me entrepreneurial long before I even knew what that word meant.”
He concluded with a profound statement on identity: “Middle class isn’t just an economic label; it’s a mindset. One I will always be grateful for.”
The post quickly became a magnet for engagement on LinkedIn, with hundreds of users praising Maheshwari’s honesty and introspection. Many echoed his sentiments, sharing stories of similar upbringings, and highlighting the lasting strength such a foundation instils.
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