I Want to Be Like Ratan Tata, But Where Do I Start?

- Tell Me What to Do!

- Almost every ambitious teenager feels lost at some point-especially when the future starts knocking early. This is a thoughtful question from a 9th standard student who wants to build a business, help people, and make the nation proud.

Hello,

I am currently studying in the 9th standard, and I feel that I have reached a stage where I should start thinking seriously about my future. I am interested in starting my own business one day, but I don't know what kind of business I should do or even where to begin. This confusion makes me feel lost and unsure about my direction.

Right now, my main goal is to perform well in my exams, and I am focused on that. But at the same time, I feel I should start preparing for my future beyond academics. I believe that if I know clearly where I am heading, I will work extremely hard to reach that goal.

I want to help people, make my family proud, and contribute positively to the country's economy, just like great business leaders have done. The only problem is-I don't know which path to choose or how to find it. I request your guidance to help me understand what I should do at this stage of my life.

Thank you.

- Jiyal Talesara

Dear Jiyal,

First of all-pause, smile, and take a deep breath. You are not lost. You are exactly where a thinking, ambitious, intelligent 14-15-year-old should be.

Let me tell you a secret that adults rarely admit: even many 40-year-olds don't know exactly where they're going. The difference is-you are aware of your confusion, and that is a superpower.

Now let's tackle your worries one by one.

1. "I want to do business, but I don't know what to sell."

Excellent. That means you are not blindly copying anyone.

Here's the truth:

No successful businessperson in the world started at 14 knowing exactly what they would sell for the rest of their life.

At your age, your job is not to decide what to sell.

Your job is to slowly discover:

  What excites you

What problems around you bother you

  What skills you enjoy learning

Business ideas come from observation, not pressure.

For now, replace this question:

"What business should I do?"

With this better one:

"What skills and mindset should I build so that I can do business later?"

2. "My only target right now is acing exams."

Perfect. Please keep it that way-for now.

Think of exams as your training gym, not your life goal.

Discipline, consistency, time management, and focus-these are business skills in disguise.

Do well in exams not because marks define you, but because:

  They keep options open

  They teach you how to work even when motivation is low

  They train your brain to handle pressure

A sharp mind is the best startup capital.

3. "If I know my destination, I'll work like a Trojan."

True-but here's the twist.

Life doesn't give you a Google Maps destination at 14.

It gives you a compass, not a route.

Your compass points to:

  Helping people

  Making your family proud

  Contributing to the nation

That's more than enough direction for now.

Destinations change. Values shouldn't.

4. What you should start doing 

Here's a simple, no-pressure action plan for the next few years:

1. Become curious, not anxious

Read about people, ideas, technology, history, money, failures. Curiosity creates clarity.

2. Try small things

Help someone sell something online. Organize a school event. Tutor a junior. Observe how money, effort, and people work together.

3. Learn communication

Speak well. Write clearly. Listen carefully. Business is 80% communication, 20% everything else.

4. Accept that confusion is part of growth

Confusion means your brain is expanding. Don't rush to "fix" it.

5. About wanting to be like great leaders

Wanting to help people and contribute to the economy is a beautiful ambition. But remember-great leaders didn't copy anyone's path. They built their own.

Don't ask,

"How can I become like them?"

Ask instead,

"How can I become the best version of myself?"

That's how meaningful success is born.

Final Words

Jiyal, you are not behind. You are early.

You are not confused-you are thinking.

Focus on learning, stay curious, do well in studies, and trust that clarity comes from action, not overthinking.

The road will appear after you start walking.

And trust me-you've already taken the first step. 

- Uncle Fix-It