I failed my first year of engineering.
My 10th and 12th marks were below average.
I shut down four companies.

By most definitions, I should have quit long ago.

But life doesn’t reward perfection—it rewards persistence. This is the story of how a small-town boy, average in academics and unsure of himself, slowly built confidence, career, and purpose—one failure at a time.

A Small Town, Big Dreams

I am Devashish, born and raised in Gadchiroli, a small town where ambitions often feel bigger than the opportunities around you. I come from a lower-middle-class family, but because of my parents’ hard work and sacrifices, our lives improved over time. By my teenage years, we were living a stable middle-class life.

My parents gave me everything they could—education, safety, and belief.
What I lacked was belief in myself.

Average Marks, Heavy Self-Doubt

Academically, I struggled from the beginning. I was surrounded by intelligent, confident students, and instead of learning from them, I felt inferior. That discomfort slowly turned into self-doubt.

My scores told the story:

• 10th grade: 54%
• 12th grade: 57%

Despite this, I managed to get into a good engineering college in Nagpur. But the environment there only magnified my insecurities. My classmates were confident, fluent in English, and strong in academics. Once again, I felt like I didn’t belong.

The result?
I failed my first year of engineering.

That failure forced me to sit at home for almost a year—questioning my abilities, my choices, and my future. But that pause became my turning point. For the first time, I truly understood the value of education, discipline, and responsibility.

The Friends Who Changed Everything

When I returned for my second year, life surprised me.

I found friends who didn’t judge me for my background, my poor English, or my lack of confidence. They accepted me exactly as I was—and then decided to help me grow.

They believed in me more than I believed in myself.

They pushed me, guided me, and supported me relentlessly. Slowly:

• I cleared all my subjects
• My confidence improved
• My academic performance started rising

By the time I graduated, I had scored 74% in my final year and earned respect from both teachers and peers. More importantly, I had learned how powerful the right environment and right people can be.

My First Taste of Entrepreneurship

I knew my low early academic scores would block campus placements, so I chose a different path.

I launched my first website, Students Diary.

To my surprise, it gained traction quickly. We had good traffic, recognition, and even interview calls from multiple portals. The idea worked—but due to inactive partners, the project eventually shut down.

Still, it gave me something priceless:
confidence that I could create something on my own.

I started taking freelance projects and successfully delivered several of them. However, my parents—like most parents—wanted stability for me. Respecting their wishes, I chose to enter the corporate world.

Career, Failures, and Hard Truths

My first job was in Pune, in a company with just four employees. I believed a testing role would give me time to manage freelancing on the side. Reality hit hard.

Office work consumed all my energy, and I slowly lost my freelance clients.

I tried moving back to Nagpur to balance business and job. Over time, I attempted to start my own companies—and failed repeatedly.

I shut down four companies.

Then came one opportunity that changed everything.

I secured a large project and founded Nexus IT Software Solutions. From that moment, life became intense. I worked 16–17 hours a day, managing both job and business in parallel.

Within 2–3 years:

• The company grew rapidly
• We had 10+ employees
• A proper office and strong reputation

But due to regulatory and compliance challenges, I was eventually forced to shut it down.

It was painful—but it taught me resilience.

Where I Stand Today

Today, I have completed 15 years in Quality Engineering (QE). I’ve worked as a team member, individual contributor, and team lead. My career has been a roller-coaster—full of ups, downs, failures, and comebacks.

Ironically, many of the toppers I once admired are not even close to where I stand today.

Not because I am smarter—but because I never stopped moving forward.

Building, Selling, and Learning

In my entrepreneurial journey, I have:

• Delivered 100+ client projects
• Personally built 30–35 products

Some projects changed my life:

• JustBollywood
• Cinetalkers
• JustMarathi

I sold these platforms for significant value—money that helped me pay the down payment for my home, a dream that once felt unreachable.

A Message for You

I don’t consider myself lucky.

I consider myself a hard worker—someone who may get results a little late, but when opportunities arrive, gives everything to make them count.

If you are:

• Not a topper
• From a small town
• Struggling with failures
• Feeling left behind

Remember this: your starting point does not define your finish line.

Success doesn’t come to those who never fail.
It comes to those who fail, learn, and refuse to quit.

And if my journey proves anything, it’s this—
delayed success is still success.