The one and only Answer is they can say NOOOO.
Recently, I met three guys in Bangalore at events and cafes.
One guy works at Apple and recently moved to a startup.
The second guy works at Google.
The third guy works at another startup.
The main thing I noticed is that all of them earn at least ₹60 LPA or more.
This made me think what is the special thing that helps them anchor such a high value compared to me?
Because I’m also similar to them in terms of being a developer. I have my own tech stack, and I’ve built a SaaS product. I identified a problem, came up with an idea, validated it, built it, and even got my first paid user.
But interestingly, two of these guys have never built any SaaS product in their entire life.
Still, they earn much more than me.
When I spoke to them, all three said things like:
“We should work together sometime.”
“I’ve been thinking about building something like this for a long time.”
But my question is what actually makes them hold such high value?
Finally, I realized a common factor among all of them.
It’s not just skill it’s money.
They have a huge financial runway. They hold stocks, have savings, and can sustain their lifestyle for years.
Because of this, they are bold.
They can take their time.
They can evaluate opportunities properly.
They can decide whether something is truly a great deal or not.
And most importantly, they can say no.
That’s the real difference.
So instead of thinking I’m behind, I’ve decided to focus on building that strength.
My plan now is simple:
I want to increase my boldness by improving my financial runway.
At least 6 months of savings so I can make better decisions, not rushed ones.
Because I’ve realized something clearly:
Better decisions don’t just come from skill.
They come from having the freedom to choose.