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By:

Asha Tripathi

14 April 2025 at 1:35:28 pm

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along...

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along with growth has come another silent challenge — the tendency to constantly observe, compare, and sometimes even compete with the journeys of others. But a crucial question arises: Is it necessary to track the growth of others in order to grow ourselves? From my personal experience of more than two decades as an entrepreneur, I have realised something very powerful — true growth begins the moment we stop looking sideways and start looking within. A Small Beginning I had a flourishing career of teaching abroad, but when I restarted my career after moving back to India, my beginning was extremely small. My very first assignment was a simple home tuition for a single student, and the amount I earned was meagre. There was nothing glamorous about it. No recognition, no large batches, no big earnings. Just one student and one opportunity. But instead of worrying about how others were doing, how many students they had, or how much they were earning, I made a conscious decision—my only focus would be on improving myself. I focused on teaching better, preparing better, and becoming more disciplined and consistent. And slowly, without even realising it, things began to grow. One student became two, two became a small group, and gradually, over the years, the work expanded beyond what I had initially imagined. Looking back today, I can confidently say that the growth did not happen because I competed with others. It happened because I competed with myself yesterday. Comparison Creates Noise When we keep watching others' journeys too closely, we unknowingly divert our own energy. Comparison creates unnecessary noise in our minds. It brings doubts, insecurities, and sometimes even negativity. Instead of walking our own path with clarity, we start questioning our speed, our direction, and our worth. True success grows through focus, not comparison. Every woman has her own story, her own pace, and her own struggles that others may never see. The path of one person can never be identical to another's. So comparing journeys is like comparing two different rivers flowing towards the same ocean — each with its own route, its own curves, and its own rhythm. As women, we already carry many responsibilities. We balance emotions, relationships, work, and society's expectations. In such a life, the last thing we need is the burden of comparison with one another. Instead, what we truly need is support for each other. When women encourage women, something extraordinary happens. Confidence grows. Opportunities multiply. Strength becomes collective rather than individual. There is enough space in the world for every woman to create her own identity. Each of us can build our own niche without stepping on someone else's path. Choose Encouragement Envy weakens us, but encouragement empowers us. Rather than questioning how someone else is progressing, we can ask a more meaningful question: "How can I grow a little better than I was yesterday?" Lift As You Rise Today, after twenty years of experience, the most valuable lesson I have learned is simple yet profound — focus on your own work with honesty and dedication, and success will quietly follow you. We, women, are capable, resilient, and creative. We do not need to pull each other down or compete in unhealthy ways. Instead, we can lift each other up while building our own dreams. Because when one woman rises, she does not rise alone. She inspires many others to believe that they can rise, too. And perhaps that is the most beautiful form of success. (The writer is a tutor based in Thane. Views personal.)

Mahashivratri: The wants fast

Mahashivratri is associated with discipline, stillness, and control over impulses. Most people interpret fasting as a food ritual. But what if you tried a different kind of fast this year - one that improves your finances and your health? I call it as “Wants Fast” for 30 days.


The Simple Rule

The idea is simple. For one full month, you do not spend money on wants, only needs. Not as punishment, but as a reset - because in personal finance, the biggest damage rarely comes from one big mistake. It comes from small, frequent “leaks” that quietly drain your wealth.


Needs vs Wants

Let us define it clearly. Needs are essentials: groceries, medicines, fuel, rent/EMIs, electricity and phone bills, and truly necessary household and work expenses. Wants are everything else: online shopping “because it was on sale,” impulse café visits, random Swiggy/Zomato orders, unplanned outings, new gadgets/accessories, and subscriptions you do not even use.


Why It Works

This experiment works because impulse spending is emotional, not logical. We buy because we are bored, stressed, tired, or scrolling. A Wants Fast breaks that loop, and you will quickly spot patterns you never noticed before.


The 48-Hour Pause Protocol

To make it practical, follow a few rules. Start with the 48-Hour Pause Protocol. Whenever you feel like buying something non-essential, wait 48 hours. You will be shocked how many “must-haves” disappear in two days.


The One Place Investment Rule

Now here is the key upgrade for this month. Do not just save the money you avoid spending, invest it, and invest it in one place. Pick one instrument only for the entire month: one mutual fund scheme, or one good-quality stock, or one ETF (like a Nifty ETF, for simplicity). Every time you skip a want, take that exact amount (or consolidate it weekly) and invest it into that single chosen instrument.


Why Consolidation Matters

Why this “one place” rule? Because consolidation makes the result visible. When you spread savings across multiple items, you do not feel the impact. But when all that avoided spending accumulates in one mutual fund, one ETF, or one stock, you will physically see how much money was leaking from your lifestyle. Many people underestimate this until they witness the lumpsum created in just 30 days.


The Health Dividend

And yes, there is a health benefit too. A Wants Fast naturally reduces ordering out, late-night snacking triggered by scrolling, and “reward spending” that often comes with sugary drinks and junk food.Money improves, and so does your body.


The 30-Day Audit

At the end of 30 days, do a personal audit: which expenses were pure noise, and which were definitely necessary. Because fasting is not about hunger, it is about control. If you like the concept of Wants Fast, maybe extend it for a month or two more, remember - money saved is money earned. 


(The author is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor.  Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)


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