Why I didn't go the IIMs

The Question

If you’re going to be making some important life decisions over the next couple of years, read on. This one’s for you.

I have a very interesting story to tell. And some unsolicited advice for you.

10 months ago, I was faced with a big decision…or at least big by most people’s standards. I had an opportunity most people dream to have. But maybe after reading this piece, you will realise that it isn’t as great as the world has you believe. And maybe there are better things for you to aim at.

This newsletter is for those that are truly committed to improving themselves and their lives. This is not going to be a quick dopamine hit. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’re probably better off scrolling Instagram.

The Story

I had scored a 99.1%ile in CAT, gotten calls from a lot of IIMs, IIFT, FMS, etc. There was a strange excitement in the air. Parents were understandably happy, even proud. I was too. It felt like I had achieved something big. No one that I knew had scored as much as me. 

But I was also feeling a very familiar emotion. The kind you feel when you have something that most people value, and want so bad, but for some reason, it doesn’t speak to you like it does to them. I felt it in school too.

Fortunately, I had realised quite early in my life, that I didn’t thrive in a classroom setting. And so had my parents. The fact that my almanac could no longer fit more complaints from teachers, was proof enough for them.

I was always great at academics. I studied a day before the exams and aced most of them. But it never gave me any sense of achievement.

Most people aren’t quite sure about what they want to do in life. I wasn’t either. Until one day, my world flipped. And life was never quite the same.

I was in 10th grade. I still remember clear as a day, reading ‘Shoe Dog’ under my table at school, while the teacher patiently explained how how electrons revolve around the nucleus.

I remember the exact feeling in my stomach, as Phil described so beautifully, the ups and downs of his journey building Nike.

Reading his words, the struggles, the comebacks, thinking of how it must’ve felt being the centrepiece of such an epic story and company, I told myself before I even finished the book. “This is what I want to do. I want to build businesses.”

I had appeared for CAT because my parents wanted me to. They truly believed that doing an MBA would take me closer to achieving my dreams. I wasn’t so convinced. But I still decided to appear for it.

After all, this was a Masters in BUSINESS right ? I would learn about business, it was what I always wanted, right ? Wrong!

The Realisation

Post the exam I went onto Youtube to watch various analysis on what percentile I can expect, and which calls I'd most likely be getting. I had a habit of reading comments on each Youtube video. So per usual, I started to scroll down. And that was when I saw the reality of it all.

I saw thousands of aspirants in the comments section, some desperate, some worse. All talking about the exam, placements, calls, cutoffs. Everyone wanted the same thing. To get into IIMs. And get jobs that pay well.

These were competent young men and women, all with unique talents, perspectives, and situations. They had their entire lives and a world of possibility ahead of them.

Was it possible for all of these people to have the exact same dream? Or were they all dreaming someone else’s dreams?

In that moment, I understood. I was already on the edge. But after looking at the kind of hysteria that was going on, I knew this wasn’t for me. This was a terrible system that created weak individuals, who thought and acted like their lives depended on their degree and institution.

Where everyone is peddled the same dream. It’s fed to you at some point in your lives. By parents, teachers, schools, friends, etc. It’s not yours. But you’re manipulated into believing it’s your own.

The Reason

For a lot of people, IITs and IIMs are the safest paths to financial security. And if you come from a financially challenged background, I respect that. But what I don’t like about it is that they take away any meaningful desires people have in their lives. Their lives start to become defined by the degree, by the institution. Passions, goals, dreams, satisfaction for work, all of these things are thrown out the window.

Some would argue that they’re pursuing the degree in the absence of other viable alternatives.

Or they don’t know what they want yet.

Well have you tried different things yet?

Most people I know, that say that they don’t know what they want to do, will also not put in the time and effort to try 15 different things for free.

But they will happily spend 20 lacs getting a degree beacause everyone says they should get it.

Maybe in a time where opportunity wasn’t as abundant, these degrees and institutions held their relevance. Because if not this, then what?

Thats the questions a lot of generations had to answer, including our parents.

The Alternative

But we my friends, you and me, we’re lucky enough to be alive at a time in the world where the question “what do I want to do in my life” doesn’t need to be answered traditionally. We have a world of limitless possibilities.

The world is connected in ways previously unimaginable. Opportunities are everywhere for those willing to put the work in. Why then would you want to tread the same path as everyone else, when deep down, you know its not what you really want?

We don’t need to be sold on outdated dreams that don’t fulfil us. The few of you that will read this and choose to pursue their own unique paths, will be rewarded with a life filled with fulfilment and adventure. For the rest, I hope you find it too. 

Everyone throws surprised looks at me when I tell them I didn’t go to IIMs… A good portion of them think I’m crazy. And that I’ve given up on a massive opportunity.

But think about this.

There are millions upon millions, of IIM grads, IIT grads, MBAs, engineers, etc. But there’s just one you. Maybe I am crazy. But also, just maybe, the world needs a little bit of crazy. And it sure as hell, needs a little bit of ‘you’.