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Book to Life : How Rohan Built His Startup Inspired by J. Paul Getty’s ‘How to Be Rich

From tech support to startup success—read how Rohan from Bangalore built wealth by applying lessons from J. Paul Getty’s How to Be Rich.

📘 Meet Rohan — The Dreamer from Bangalore

Rohan grew up in a modest neighborhood in Bangalore. His father was a clerk and his mother a homemaker. Money was always tight, and Rohan knew early on that he had to do something different to break the cycle.

While working in a small IT company as a tech support executive, Rohan discovered his love for reading. During his commute and late nights, he devoured books on personal development and finance. One book that shifted his mindset was “How to Be Rich” by J. Paul Getty.

Inspired by Getty’s journey from wildcatter to billionaire oil tycoon, Rohan realized that wealth wasn’t just about working hard — it was about thinking smart, taking calculated risks, and serving people at scale.


💼 Phase 1: From Employee to Entrepreneur

After reading Getty’s book, Rohan made a commitment:

  • To become an owner, not just a worker.

  • To create value and solve real problems.

  • To think long-term and build wealth with purpose.

He began with a small tech consultancy as a side hustle, helping local businesses digitize their operations. He reinvested every rupee earned, just as Getty advised — make money first, then think about spending.


🔧 Phase 2: Applying Getty’s Business Habits

Getty emphasized efficiency, service, and responsibility — habits Rohan took to heart:

  • Always delivered projects on time

  • Prioritized customer service over flashy marketing

  • Built a small, reliable team and delegated wisely

  • Paid all bills and salaries on time to build trust

As his consultancy grew, Rohan expanded into a SaaS product for small retailers — an underserved segment. This was his Getty moment: Serve more people at lower cost.


⚠️ Setbacks and Strategy

During COVID-19, Rohan’s startup faced cash flow issues. But instead of panicking, he followed Getty’s advice:

  • Paused expansions

  • Reworked his cost structure

  • Focused on core profitable clients

Within 6 months, his lean startup was profitable again.


💰 Success and Significance

By age 33, Rohan’s startup had served 10,000+ small businesses across India. He now conducts free weekend workshops to teach financial literacy in local colleges — “Use wealth to improve society,” Getty would say.

Rohan credits How to Be Rich not just for his financial success but for his transformation into a mindful entrepreneur.


📌 Key Lessons Rohan Applied:

  1. Own something — don’t just work for others.

  2. Efficiency and service always beat noise and hype.

  3. Invest wisely — in people, systems, and ideas.

  4. Never panic — reflect, refocus, and re-strategize.

  5. Give back — true wealth uplifts others too.


 

Read → Apply → Grow — Learn from great minds. Live the wisdom.


 

This blog is part of the “Book to Life” series — Real stories of people who transformed their lives by applying lessons from life-changing books.

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