Cofounder urges parents to rethink what success means for kids(Image: AI)
10 Sept 2026 | 12:19 Read the post here But he suggested that another answer deserves equal consideration: being healthy and happy. “Your BMW is of no use when you are on bed rest. A LinkedIn post by Saurabh Bothra, co-founder of fitness platform Habuild, has sparked a conversation about how parents define success for their children and whether health gets enough attention in that equation. In his post, Bothra questioned the familiar question parents ask children: “What do you want to do in life? The answers, he noted, often revolve around careers such as becoming a doctor, engineer, scientist or artist.
Because many lifestyle-related conditions develop over years rather than days, for young people, the consequences may seem distant. For parents deciding what they want their children to become, the post therefore offers a different way of framing the question. Because a career may build a life.
“At the end of the day, your BMW is of no use when you are on bed rest,” he wrote. Bothra argued that society often trains people to prioritise wealth, careers and material achievements, while health can become secondary. He connected the two by pointing out that both survival and reproduction depend on health, before making his central point about material success. The post challenges the idea that a child’s future should be measured primarily through academic or professional achievement. For parents, career success can feel like the safest goal to encourage. Good grades can lead to better colleges, which can lead to better jobs and financial stability. But health is often treated as something that can be managed alongside that journey rather than as one of its foundations. Bothra’s post asks parents to consider whether that balance needs to change. The concern is not only philosophical. Health risks often build gradually. Long periods of sitting, inadequate physical activity, poor dietary habits, chronic stress and insufficient sleep have all been linked to a higher risk of chronic diseases. The World Health Organization lists physical inactivity as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. That can make health easy to postpone while education, careers and financial goals feel more urgent. Bothra’s post does not argue against ambition or financial success. Instead, it questions what happens when those goals become more important than the health needed to enjoy them. A high-paying job can provide financial security. A luxury car can represent achievement. But neither can replace the ability to live independently, spend time with family or enjoy everyday life. Perhaps the goal does not have to be doctor, engineer, scientist or entrepreneur versus health and happiness. It can be both. But health is what allows a person to live it. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day. Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.