The race to get rich quickly has never felt louder. Every scroll is filled with big numbers, overnight success stories, and timelines that promise wealth in just a few years. But what happens when that pressure starts shaping how an entire generation thinks about money? Entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo recently weighed in on this growing mindset after reading a telling email. His reflections struck a nerve, especially among young professionals navigating ambition, patience, and expectations.
Taking to LinkedIn, Ankur Warikoo shared that what stood out to him about the email was not the financial goal itself, but the pressure driving it. The underlying belief was clear: if someone is not hitting large numbers fast, they are somehow behind in life, or worse, failing.
Warikoo pointed out that this pressure often makes people feel they have not “made it” unless their achievements look big and immediate. In contrast, he highlighted a quieter truth that rarely trends online. Most meaningful outcomes in life reward consistency far more than short bursts of intensity. He explained how compounding is often misunderstood. When results finally show up, they appear sudden to the outside world. But in reality, nothing about them is instant. Behind that apparent overnight success are years filled with small decisions, steady effort, and constant back-and-forth between slowing down and speeding up.
Warikoo urged those currently stuck in this in-between phase to trust the process. Just because progress is not visible yet does not mean it is not happening. Discounting effort simply because results are delayed is one of the biggest mistakes people make. He then shared more context about the email that triggered his reflection. The subject line read, “I want to reach 1 crore in the next 3–4 years.” The email came from someone with a stable job, a decent income, and over five years of investing experience. Her investment corpus stood at Rs 25 lakh, an impressive achievement by any standard. Yet, the underlying desire was not long-term wealth building, but getting rich quickly.
According to Warikoo, this mindset reflects a larger issue among today’s youth, through no fault of their own. Many understand the concept of compounding in theory but have not experienced it in practice. The most critical ingredient of compounding is time, and that is exactly what they have not yet seen play out.
He emphasised that in personal finance, compounding is everything. But the only truly quick way to wealth is sheer luck, like winning a lottery. Almost every other legitimate path requires patience and time. Without witnessing compounding at work, people begin to doubt it. This doubt often pushes them toward risky shortcuts or scams that promise instant returns.
Warikoo noted how chasing quick money feels thrilling, while watching slow compounding feels dull and unrewarding. However, the real difference becomes clear years later. A decade down the line, it is usually the patient, consistent investors who come out ahead, while the thrill-seekers are left dealing with losses.
By sharing this reflection, Ankur Warikoo highlighted a growing disconnect between expectations and reality in the world of money. His message was not about abandoning ambition, but about understanding that time, patience, and consistency still matter, even when the internet says otherwise.
Taking to LinkedIn, Ankur Warikoo shared that what stood out to him about the email was not the financial goal itself, but the pressure driving it. The underlying belief was clear: if someone is not hitting large numbers fast, they are somehow behind in life, or worse, failing.
Warikoo pointed out that this pressure often makes people feel they have not “made it” unless their achievements look big and immediate. In contrast, he highlighted a quieter truth that rarely trends online. Most meaningful outcomes in life reward consistency far more than short bursts of intensity. He explained how compounding is often misunderstood. When results finally show up, they appear sudden to the outside world. But in reality, nothing about them is instant. Behind that apparent overnight success are years filled with small decisions, steady effort, and constant back-and-forth between slowing down and speeding up.
Warikoo urged those currently stuck in this in-between phase to trust the process. Just because progress is not visible yet does not mean it is not happening. Discounting effort simply because results are delayed is one of the biggest mistakes people make. He then shared more context about the email that triggered his reflection. The subject line read, “I want to reach 1 crore in the next 3–4 years.” The email came from someone with a stable job, a decent income, and over five years of investing experience. Her investment corpus stood at Rs 25 lakh, an impressive achievement by any standard. Yet, the underlying desire was not long-term wealth building, but getting rich quickly.
According to Warikoo, this mindset reflects a larger issue among today’s youth, through no fault of their own. Many understand the concept of compounding in theory but have not experienced it in practice. The most critical ingredient of compounding is time, and that is exactly what they have not yet seen play out.
He emphasised that in personal finance, compounding is everything. But the only truly quick way to wealth is sheer luck, like winning a lottery. Almost every other legitimate path requires patience and time. Without witnessing compounding at work, people begin to doubt it. This doubt often pushes them toward risky shortcuts or scams that promise instant returns.
Warikoo noted how chasing quick money feels thrilling, while watching slow compounding feels dull and unrewarding. However, the real difference becomes clear years later. A decade down the line, it is usually the patient, consistent investors who come out ahead, while the thrill-seekers are left dealing with losses.
By sharing this reflection, Ankur Warikoo highlighted a growing disconnect between expectations and reality in the world of money. His message was not about abandoning ambition, but about understanding that time, patience, and consistency still matter, even when the internet says otherwise.
