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6 Colleges, 1 Recession, and the Messy Path to Being My Own Boss

Picture of Shiren Mathai By   ·  2 minute read

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Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

"The corporate world and current market is a scam. I quit my stable job to start a consulting firm in a recession. It worked. Here’s the real talk.

 

🚨 Spoiler Alert: The "Straight Line" Career is a Myth

 

If you feel pressured to pick your life path at 18, I get it. I spent years feeling like a failure because my journey was a mess. But here’s the truth I learned: the path to entrepreneurship is never straight, and it shouldn't be.

My journey is proof: I went from a bus boy with no confidence to running my own consulting firm. Every "wrong turn" was actually me collecting cheat codes for business.

 

🍽️ Early Life: The Hustle is the Ultimate Flex

 

My parents were immigrants, so hard work wasn't a motivational poster—it was the house rule.

My first real job? Clearing tables. It was awkward. I was an outsider in a wealthy suburb. But putting on that uniform was my great equalizer.

  • The Lesson: Work wasn’t just a paycheck; it was an identity. It gave me competence when I felt useless, and I was hooked. I wasn't the weird kid anymore; I was the one who got sh*t done. That feeling is addictive.

 

📚 The Academic Maze: 14 Years, 6 Colleges (IYKYK)

 

I had a romantic idea of being a Disney artist, but my parents were giving me the financial stability talk. We were speaking different languages.

So, I started a 14-year college odyssey through six different schools. Yes, six.

The Vibe What it Felt Like The Reality I Didn't See
The Pressure Every transfer felt like a failure. I was just trying to figure out who I was.
The Pivot Animation ➡️ Information Science ➡️ MBA. I was strategically building a confidence firewall.

Each degree wasn't just knowledge; it was me saying, "I can actually compete in this world." I finally earned my footing and was ready to make my move.

 

💣 The Leap of Faith: Quitting in a Recession

 

In 2009—the depths of a massive recession—I did the unthinkable: I left a stable, 11-year job to start my own consulting business.

My doctor friends thought I was insane. My former colleagues were shocked.

But that decision was the biggest flex of my life. It changed everything.

 

💡 The Founder Playbook: 3 Real Principles

 

After years of trial and error, these three rules are my non-negotiables:

  1. Don't Chase the Bag, Know Your Worth.

    • Success is not the highest paycheck. It’s about building a sustainable business by understanding your true value and pricing your services accordingly. Respect the self-worth, and the money follows.

  2. Comfort is the Anti-Growth Hack.

    • The moment you get comfortable is the moment you stop innovating. You can't avoid risks, but you can make them calculated. If you're not a little scared, you're not going fast enough.

  3. Create Your Own Luck.

    • "Luck" is just hard work meeting planning. You can't control everything, but you can position yourself to seize the opportunity when it finally drops. Be prepared. Stay ready.

 

The Takeaway

 

Starting a business in Illinois—or anywhere—is about hustle, strategy, and self-belief.

Your path doesn't have to look like anyone else’s. Stop trying to follow a traditional map, and start finding your most rewarding destination.

What’s one “messy” part of your journey that actually taught you your biggest lesson? Drop it in the comments.