For most working professionals, a bigger salary has long been treated as the ultimate marker of doing well in life. Every hike, promotion, or job change tends to feel like proof that things are moving in the right direction. But a recent social media post pushes back on that idea, asking whether the endless pursuit of more money genuinely leads to a more fulfilling life. In an Instagram video, Mohit Talreja shared his perspective on how much professionals working in Indian cities should realistically aim to earn. According to him, once someone’s monthly income touches the Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh range, they’ve hit a genuinely meaningful financial milestone. He was careful to add that there’s no universal age by which this has to happen for everyone. His point isn’t that people should stop growing in their careers altogether, but rather that once income reaches a comfortable level, it might be worth redirecting some energy away from chasing the next raise and toward other parts of life instead.
Why this particular income range, according to Talreja
Talreja’s reasoning is that a monthly income between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh is generally enough for someone in an Indian city to support a family and live comfortably. He acknowledged that this figure isn’t universal, it will naturally look different based on where someone lives, their family situation, housing expenses, and personal financial goals. What matters more, in his view, is recognising the point at which “enough” has actually been reached. He suggested that professionals should try to hit this income level relatively early on, and once they do, let their earnings grow at a natural pace rather than treating salary growth as the defining goal of their career.He also pointed to a trade-off that often goes unspoken: bigger salaries frequently come bundled with bigger demands. Longer hours, constant travel, higher pressure, and shrinking personal time often accompany higher-paying roles. Someone might end up earning considerably more, but with far less time left for family, friendships, health, or anything outside of work. Talreja’s core argument is that continuously sacrificing these things in pursuit of the next salary bump can end up costing people things that money simply can’t buy back.
Does the sacrifice actually pay off?
To be fair, earning more does come with real benefits. It strengthens financial security, allows for better savings and investments, helps clear debts faster, and creates a cushion for unexpected expenses. It can also open doors that simply aren’t available at a lower income. Talreja isn’t disputing any of that. His concern lies specifically with what happens when the pursuit of a higher salary turns into a never-ending cycle, one where a person moves from one income target to the next, convinced that the next promotion or job switch will finally bring lasting satisfaction, only to set a new target the moment the last one is met.He described an excessively high salary as something that can quietly become a trap, one where a person keeps trading away more and more of their time simply to keep earning more. Instead of measuring success purely through income figures, Talreja’s suggestion is for individuals to define their own personal financial threshold. Once that threshold, the point that comfortably supports the lifestyle they actually want, is reached, the focus can shift toward other priorities, whether that means spending more time with loved ones, paying attention to physical and mental health, or simply having enough breathing room to enjoy life.
Why building something of your own matters just as much
One of the more compelling parts of Talreja’s message was his suggestion that professionals use some of their spare time not just to work harder, but to learn something new or build a separate source of income. Rather than pouring every free hour into chasing a bigger pay cheque at a single job, he encouraged people to invest that time into developing a skill, exploring something they’re personally interested in, or building a small independent venture on the side. This isn’t necessarily a call to quit a stable job. It’s more about recognising that learning and personal projects can eventually open up new forms of flexibility and independence that a salary increase alone can’t provide. It also nudges at a bigger, more personal question: what does career success actually mean to you? For some, it’s financial stability, plain and simple. For others, it might be the flexibility to work on their own terms, work that feels genuinely meaningful, more time with family, or simply the freedom to spend time on things they care about outside a job title.
The bigger idea behind the message
At its core, Talreja isn’t arguing for a hard income ceiling that everyone should stop at. His message is really about clarity, knowing exactly what you’re working toward in the first place. Once someone’s basic financial needs and goals are met, he believes it’s worth pausing to ask whether the next salary jump is genuinely worth the extra hours, stress, and sacrifices it demands. For professionals stuck in the constant loop of appraisals, promotions, and job hops, his perspective offers a simple but different lens to look through: earn enough to live comfortably, but don’t lose sight of building an actual life to enjoy alongside it.
