‘Very high salary is a trap’: Professional MBA offers ₹ 1.5-2 lakh per month as an ideal benchmark for the city | Today’s news
How much money is really enough to live well in the metropolis – and at what point does the pursuit of an ever-increasing paycheck begin to cost more than it brings?
In a corporate culture that constantly fights for the relentless pursuit of higher CTCs, MBA alumnus Mohit Talrej’s viral Instagram video sparked a heated debate on career ambitions, health and personal fulfillment.
He claimed that once a city professional earns between ₹1.5 million and ₹2 lakh per month, the pursuit of higher earnings can become a trap that disrupts family life and well-being.
Comparative indicator of urban income
According to Talrej, urban professionals need a clear financial finish line rather than an open-ended race. He noted that while individuals can decide for themselves at what age they reach this goal, they earn ₹1.5 million up to ₹2,000,000 per month in an urban city provides enough financial base to support a family and maintain a comfortable lifestyle.
However, pushing aggressively beyond that line often takes a hidden toll.
“Besides, the more you chase a high salary, the higher you want to climb, the further you want to go, the more sacrifices you end up making and the more other aspects of life escape you,” Talreja warned.
Reach the threshold and then step on the gas
Rather than sticking to an aggressive upward trajectory for decades, Talreja advocated a two-stage career approach: sprint early to reach your safety mark, then deliberately ease off the pedal.
He recommended that a professional’s primary goal should be to cross that salary threshold as quickly as possible. Once that baseline is secured, the focus should shift toward allowing one’s career to progress at its own steady pace, redirecting time and attention to health, family, and learning new things.
Escape the “high salary” trap.
Talreja cautioned that trading endless amounts of personal time just to rack up bigger paychecks rarely brings long-term peace.
“Constantly selling your time just to make money, chasing higher and higher salaries, and endlessly working to make someone else rich, this philosophy will not bring you fulfillment in the long run,” he said.
Instead of measuring success only by company designation or rating percentages, he pointed to cultivating autonomy outside of the nine-to-five routine.
“You will find fulfillment when you let your work flow and at the same time learn something yourself or generate your own income. This will give you much more satisfaction. A very high salary is a trap; you should set your own limit.”
Social media users agreed with Talrej’s argument, calling his perspective “refreshing.”
