Ankur Warikoo's Rs 9 Crore Gamble: How a 'Bad Idea' Paid Off
Entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo has revealed how a decision that seemed like a 'bad idea by every metric' eventually turned into one of his most successful bets, generating Rs 9 crore in revenue five years later. In a detailed LinkedIn post, Warikoo shared that he hired a content team in 2020 at a time when he was making no money from content.
'By every metric, it would be considered a bad idea. But I had a conviction I couldn't fully explain. I also knew I would regret not taking a bet on myself,' he wrote. By 2025, Warikoo's content business had scaled to Rs 9 crore in revenue, proving the gamble right. He described the mindset behind the move as 'irrational optimism'—the belief that current reality is not permanent, even when circumstances don't support that belief.
Ankur Warikoo Explains Irrational Optimism
Warikoo explained that irrational optimism doesn't mean ignoring odds, but refusing to let them have the final say. He illustrated with examples:
- People who don't apply for jobs unless they meet 100% of criteria, while successful candidates often meet only 70%.
- Creators who hesitate to post online until they feel like 'experts,' even though many influencers started with less knowledge.
- Side projects delayed for 'more time,' while others launch by dedicating just 30 minutes a day.
'The rational person waits for proof before they believe. The irrational optimist believes first—and builds the proof themselves,' Warikoo said.
Read Ankur Warikoo's Complete LinkedIn Post Here
'The best decision I ever made looked like the worst one when I was making it. I hired a content team in 2020 when I was making no money from it. By every metric—it would be considered a bad idea. But I had a conviction I couldn't fully explain. I also knew I would regret not taking a bet on myself. 2025: the content business did Rs. 9 crores in revenue. This is what I call irrational optimism. A common trait I see in many successful people. The belief that your current reality is not your permanent reality. Even when nothing around you supports that belief yet. That doesn't mean you ignore the odds. It means the odds don't get the final vote. Here's what it looks like in practice: Someone doesn't apply for a role because they don't meet 100% of the criteria. But the person who got it met 70%, and figured out the rest on the job. Someone doesn't post online because they're not an 'expert' yet. But the person with 100k followers started when they knew less than you do right now. Someone waits to start their side project until they have more time. But the person who worked on it for 30 minutes a day launched in 2 months. The rational person waits for proof before they believe. The irrational optimist believes first—and builds the proof themselves!'
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