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Job salary is not the real reward, it's a low risk strategy to unlock a hidden advantage, says financial educator
ET Online | June 29, 2025 11:00 PM CST

Synopsis

In today’s fast-changing work environment, the way people view jobs is undergoing a shift. For many, getting a job is seen as the ultimate goal—a sign of stability and success. But financial educator and entrepreneur Akshat Shrivastava is challenging that mindset. In a widely discussed post, he argued that a job should not be treated as the end goal, but as a platform to build skills, take risks, and grow.

Real Value of a Job Lies Beyond Salary
In today’s fast-changing work environment, the way people view jobs is undergoing a shift. For many, getting a job is seen as the ultimate goal—a sign of stability and success. But financial educator and entrepreneur Akshat Shrivastava is challenging that mindset. In a recent LinkedIn post, he argued that a job should not be treated as the end goal, but as a platform to build skills, take risks, and grow.

According to him, this belief mirrors the outdated notion that excelling in school guarantees a settled life. In reality, he emphasized, growth and change are constant, and no milestone truly signals that life is “set.”

Jobs a Launchpad, Not Final Destination

Shrivastava argued that a job should be viewed as a low-risk environment where individuals can build valuable skills while earning. He described it as one of the safest and most effective strategies to learn, develop, and prepare for future opportunities. While many see employment as a finish line, he encouraged people to think of it instead as the starting point—a platform from which to grow and explore.

Supporting this view, several professionals in the industry echoed his sentiment. One user described a job as a “training ground,” where the smartest approach is to treat it like a “paid learning sprint” rather than a comfort zone. Another noted that people often stop growing once they’re hired, when in fact, that’s where the real growth begins.

The Need for Continuous Upskilling

In today’s fast-evolving job market, staying relevant requires constant upskilling. Responding to Shrivastava’s post, many professionals pointed out that being employed doesn’t reduce risk to zero. Rather, those who fail to evolve risk being left behind, especially with rapid advancements in technology like AI.

One commenter highlighted that genuine engagement at work leads to faster learning and better execution. Another added that seeing a job merely as a paycheck limits potential, whereas treating it as an active learning space can lead to exponential personal development.

Beyond Paycheck: The True Benefit

Shrivastava also brought attention to a critical shift in mindset: the real value of a job lies not in the salary, but in the opportunities it offers to grow, learn, and eventually outgrow the position. The comfort of a stable income should not replace the need to take initiative, develop new skills, or pursue parallel income streams. Some users suggested learning additional digital skills such as content creation, website design, or marketing to generate passive income alongside a job.

Another contributor described this transition aptly: moving from job-seeking to skill-building. This shift, they noted, is what equips individuals to thrive in uncertain and competitive environments.


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