Why I Took a 50% Pay Cut to Join a Startup—and Why It Paid Off

I gave up a big title, a fat paycheck, and all the perks—just to start over at the bottom of a startup. Why? Because I didn’t just want a job. I wanted a seat on a rocket ship.

Two years later, that startup went from 12 to 200 people—and I had front-row seats to a masterclass in scaling, leadership, and real impact.

📢 Shout out to PATIENTPOP a.k.a ‪@tebra‬

📢 Shout out to ‪@JustinWelsh‬ —one of the best leaders I’ve worked with, and someone I’d bet on any day.

💡 Pro Tip:
Don’t chase status—chase substance. Bet on vision. Bet on founders you believe in. The biggest leaps in your career often start with a step back that most people are too afraid to take.

Big shoutout to ‪@amysylvis6234‬ having me on—such a fun and thoughtful conversation. 🙌 Grateful for the chance to share my journey and talk all things startups, ABUNDANCE, and the power of betting on people. Let’s keep building!

Links and Resources
Sagar on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sagar-patel-01/
Sagar on Instagram: @sagarpatel01
Ocean Calm on Instagram: @oceancalm01
Company Website: www.oceancalm.co

#CareerMoves #StartupJourney #AbundanceMindset #BuildTheFuture #DreamTeamEnergy #StartupScaling #HighConviction #FounderEnergy #OperatorLife #LeadershipGrowth