Real Wealth Comes from 3 Assets (Hint: Your ₹25 LPA Salary Isn't One)
Why IIT grads with high packages struggle while government teachers retire early? The Indian truth about building wealth.
Let me tell you about my friend Aakash. IIT Delhi graduate, MNC job in Bangalore, annual package: ₹25 lakhs. Lived in a premium 3BHK apartment, drove a new Hyundai Creta, dined at five-star hotels every weekend. Two years later? Lost his job during layoffs, EMI pressure forced him to move back to his hometown.
Then there's my uncle Ramesh Sir. Government school teacher, annual salary: ₹8 lakhs. But he owns: two rental properties, ₹50 lakhs in PPF, and a small coaching center that generates ₹40,000 monthly. At 52, he's planning his early retirement.
The difference? Not salary. Assets.
We've all been sold a lie: "Get a higher salary, become wealthy." That's why we prepare for IIT-JEE, work day and night for MBA placements, and keep job-hopping. Salaries increase, but we still count pennies at month-end.
Here's the truth: Wealth isn't in your income; it's in your assets. Those things that earn while you sleep, grow while you play, and protect you when life throws curveballs.
The 3 Assets That Matter More Than Your CTC Package
1. Financial Assets: Money That Makes More Money
Yes, money matters. But we're not talking about the ₹50,000 in your savings account. We mean productive capital — money that actively creates more money.
Your savings account earning 3% interest isn't an asset. It's a pet you feed money to that just sleeps all day.
Real Financial Assets in Indian Context:
- Rental Property: A 2BHK flat in a good area generating ₹20,000 monthly rent
- Dividend Stocks: Shares in companies like ITC, HUL that pay regular dividends
- Small Business: Online coaching, tuition center, or food delivery business that runs without you
- Fixed Deposits/Debentures: Safe investments giving 7-8% annual returns
Indian Reality Check: Your ₹25 LPA package becomes ₹1.7 lakhs monthly. After taxes, rent, EMIs, and lifestyle expenses, you're often left with less than ₹30,000. But a ₹20,000 rental income from a property you own? That's pure, untaxed (mostly) cash flow.
The magic happens when your financial assets generate enough passive income to cover your basic needs. That's the "peaceful sleep" wealth no salary can provide.
2. Intellectual Assets: Knowledge That Compounds
This is your most valuable asset, especially in today's digital India. Intellectual assets are your knowledge, skills, expertise, and creativity — packaged to create value beyond your time.
The beautiful part: While money can vanish overnight, your intellectual assets compound over time and can't be taken from you.
Building Intellectual Assets in India:
- Technical Skills: Coding, data science, digital marketing certifications
- Content Creation: YouTube channel, blog, or Instagram page with monetizable audience
- Consultancy: Packaging your experience into coaching/consulting services
- Creative Work: Music, writing, design that generates royalties
Your 8-hour Netflix binge isn't an intellectual asset (unless you're a film critic). But your YouTube channel teaching UPSC/GATE preparation? Definitely an asset!
Indian Success Story: Think of Chetan Bhagat (books), Ranveer Allahbadia (YouTube), or Sandeep Maheshwari (personal development). They built intellectual assets that generate income long after the initial work is done.
Unlike a job where you trade hours for rupees, intellectual assets let you create once and get paid repeatedly. A book, software, online course, or patent — these pay you long after the work is finished.
3. Relational Assets: Networks That Open Doors
This is the most overlooked asset. Relational assets are the value stored in your network — not just contacts, but genuine connections built on trust and mutual benefit.
Your network determines your access to opportunities, information, and resources money can't buy. The right introduction can be worth more than years of grinding.
Indian-Style Relational Assets:
- Family Connections: Those who can help in business or job opportunities
- College Network: IIT/IIM seniors and batchmates across industries
- Local Community: People in your city/village who trust you
- Online Community: Professional connections on LinkedIn, Twitter
5000 LinkedIn connections you've never spoken to aren't assets. But 50 people who'd answer your call at 3 AM? That's real wealth!
Indian Truth: In India, "janta" (connections) often matters as much as "paise" (money). A referral from a trusted contact can bypass 100 job applications. A family contact can get you better business deals.
Building relational assets isn't transactional networking. It's about adding value first, being genuinely interested in others, and maintaining connections over years.
Your Action Plan: Building Assets the Indian Way
Shifting from salary mindset to asset mindset starts today. Here's your practical plan:
Audit Your Current Assets
Write down what you own in each category. Be honest. How much productive capital? What intellectual property? Who's in your inner circle?
Allocate Resources Monthly
Every month: Invest 10% of income, spend 5 hours on skill development, and build one genuine relationship. Start small but consistent.
Automate & Systematize
Set up SIPs for investments. Create content consistently. Schedule regular check-ins with key contacts. Make asset-building habitual.
The Indian Reality About Real Wealth
We've been conditioned to measure success by our CTC package — that bigger number equals winning at life. But that's like judging a book by its price tag without reading the pages.
Real wealth isn't flashy. It's quiet. It's security that doesn't post on Instagram. It's options that don't require a loan. It's freedom that doesn't need a leave application.
Indian Middle-Class Truth: Our parents sacrificed to give us education for "good jobs." But today, a "good job" with high salary often means high stress, high expenses, and low actual wealth-building. The real game has changed.
Your salary is important — it's the fuel. But these three assets are the engine, navigation system, and vehicle itself. Focus on building them, and you'll discover: Wealth isn't about having more to spend; it's about having more choices, security, and freedom.
Start today. Not with a radical overhaul, but with a simple shift in perspective. See your time, energy, and money not as things to spend, but as seeds to plant. Water your assets. Watch them grow. One day, you'll realize you've built a forest that provides shade, fruit, and shelter — not just for you, but for generations.
That's the unspoken rule of wealth. Now you know the secret. The question is: Will you act on it or keep chasing the next salary increment?
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