Most people spend years chasing a good job, a better salary and that next promotion. But according to Chetan Bhagat, a regular job has its limits, and one frustrating experience at work completely changed the direction of his life.In a recent Instagram video, the bestselling author answered a follower who asked him about the biggest drawbacks of having a salaried job. Bhagat didn’t hesitate. He listed three things that, in his view, make corporate life difficult: limited income, less control over your own time, and office politics.And the third one, he admitted, played a big role in turning him into a writer.
“You can only earn so much”
Bhagat believes that one of the biggest realities of a job is that your earnings eventually hit a ceiling.“To be very straightforward, income growth is very limited,” he said.He explained that while a stable salary can give you a comfortable life, it doesn’t usually create massive wealth.Of course, he acknowledged there are exceptions. He pointed to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who is technically also an employee. But, as Bhagat put it, people like him are “one in millions.”He also mentioned that some investment bankers, hedge fund managers and top lawyers earn extraordinary salaries. Still, he feels that’s not the experience of most working professionals.“For most people, a job helps you live well,” he said. “But becoming extremely rich through a salary alone is rare.”
Your time belongs to someone else
Money wasn’t the only thing Bhagat spoke about.He said a salaried job also means giving up a certain amount of freedom.Your day revolves around office timings, meetings, deadlines and someone else’s priorities. Even if you enjoy your work, your schedule isn’t entirely yours.It wasn’t a criticism of jobs as much as an observation.For Bhagat, that’s simply part of the trade-off that comes with the security of a regular paycheck.
The promotion he never got
The most personal part of the conversation came when Bhagat spoke about his own corporate journey.Long before he became one of India’s bestselling authors, he worked at a global investment bank. The job paid well, and he was surrounded by talented people.But he says office politics slowly took the joy out of it.“I hated it,” he admitted.Then came a promotion he thought he had earned.It went to someone else.Instead of brushing it aside, Bhagat says the disappointment forced him to rethink what he really wanted from life.“That’s one of the reasons I started writing,” he revealed.He began working on Five Point Someone, the novel inspired by his IIT days. What started as an escape from office life ended up becoming the beginning of an entirely new career.His video struck a chordBhagat shared the clip with a simple caption: “Think a high-paying job is the fastest path to wealth? Think again.”The internet had plenty to say.Many people said the part about office politics hit home.One person commented, “I haven’t been promoted in four years.”Another wrote that deserving employees are often ignored despite working hard and delivering results.Others appreciated Bhagat for saying out loud what many professionals quietly experience but rarely discuss.
Not everyone wants to quit their job
Bhagat wasn’t telling people to resign tomorrow.His point was that every career path comes with trade-offs.A job offers stability, a steady income and valuable experience. Entrepreneurship comes with freedom, but also uncertainty and risk.For him, the turning point happened when he realised the corporate world no longer felt like the right fit.Today, it’s hard to imagine Chetan Bhagat anywhere except behind a keyboard. But his writing career might never have happened if one promotion had gone differently.Sometimes, the setbacks we complain about end up changing our lives in ways we never expect.For Bhagat, office politics wasn’t just another bad day at work. It became the reason he walked away from banking, and eventually wrote the books that made him a household name.
