In the world, only 0.004% of people are billionaires. They know a shortcut to wealth, called the “bottleneck.”
Story of Gautam Adani
Gautam Adani left his village at the age of 16 and came to Mumbai with only 100 rupees in his pocket. At that time, he worked for Mahendra Brothers as a diamond sorter. Later, his brother Mansukhbhai called him to Ahmedabad to help with a small plastic factory, where Gautam started importing PVC (a material used in plastic). Slowly, he expanded his import business, which eventually grew so large that he started his own company, Adani Exports, in 1988.
From running a factory, Gautam learned that bottlenecks in this field are often at the ports because all goods go in and out through ports. In 1995, Gautam managed to secure control over the operations of the Mundra port in Gujarat. Today, it’s the largest private port in India, with over 210 million tons of cargo passing through each year. His company has now become India’s biggest port operator.
Later, Gautam discovered another crucial factor for his business: electricity. He took control of several coal mines to ensure his company could produce its own electricity. But he realized that non-renewable sources like coal would eventually run out. So, he began investing in renewable energy, like solar power, and created one of the world’s largest solar plants in Gujarat, visible from space.
Story of Jensen Huang
Jensen Huang was born in Taiwan to a very poor family. To reduce the burden on his family, Jensen’s parents sent him to live with his uncle in the United States. Despite his challenges, Jensen finished school and took a job as a waiter to pay his college fees.
After completing his education in electrical engineering, he got a job at AMD, a microprocessor company. Working hard, Jensen learned everything he could about microprocessors, gaining the skills and knowledge to eventually start his own company, NVIDIA, in 1993 with two friends. NVIDIA began making graphics cards, which turned out to be far more challenging than they anticipated. At one point, they were nearly bankrupt, with just enough funds to pay their staff for one more month. But just in time, the video game company Sega provided NVIDIA with $5 million in funding, which helped them survive.
About ten years ago, Jensen took another big risk, investing in chips for artificial intelligence (AI). Back then, no one was talking about AI, and even his customers doubted him. But Jensen believed in his vision. Today, NVIDIA is a leader in the AI chip market, supplying companies like Google and ChatGPT.
The Bottleneck Concept
In every industry, there’s usually a key element, called the bottleneck, that controls the entire market. Whoever controls this bottleneck controls the industry.
For example, in the education sector, finding an excellent physics teacher for NEET coaching can be a bottleneck. Or, in a business, your brand’s value can become a bottleneck that differentiates you from others.
By mastering a particular skill or area in your field, you can create a bottleneck, making yourself essential and hard to replace.
The Role of Luck
This documentary also describes four types of luck:
- Blind Luck: This is random luck that happens without any effort, like winning a lottery.
- Luck from Hustling: This luck comes from working hard, meeting new people, and putting yourself out there. Eventually, this creates opportunities.
- Luck from Preparation: This type of luck favors those who are prepared. The more skilled and knowledgeable you are, the more you can take advantage of opportunities.
- Luck from Your Unique Character: This luck comes from creating a unique character or personality. Opportunities naturally come to people who stand out and are well-prepared.
Story of Sam Altman
Sam Altman, the creator of ChatGPT, faced a huge setback. He was once removed from his position as CEO by his company’s board members. Microsoft, which had invested $1 billion in Altman’s company, supported him. Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, recognized that Sam Altman was the bottleneck that could lead them to success in AI.
Microsoft promised Sam a new advanced AI research company if he didn’t return to his old company. Sam was irreplaceable, and his company’s employees even petitioned to bring him back as CEO. After several negotiations, Sam returned to lead the company.
Final Takeaway
If you want to be successful, aim to be irreplaceable. By focusing on your strengths and becoming an expert in your field, you can create a bottleneck, making you valuable in any organization or industry.
This shortcut to success—becoming essential in your field—isn’t just for billionaires. Anyone can apply it, regardless of their background.
Luck and Success
While luck can help, success ultimately comes from preparation, hard work, and making yourself essential in whatever you do.
