Failed UPSC 3 times. Then crushed CAT in 45 days. Now he’s at IIM Ahmedabad. Vivekananda, IIT Hyderabad CSE grad, had the safety net of a top tech job; but chose public service instead. Four years. Three UPSC attempts. Cleared Prelims each time. But no final rank. Most would’ve quit. He didn’t. He cleared SSC CGL, got a government job as Customs Inspector… and then, with just 6 weeks left, aimed for CAT. 99.92 percentile. IIM-A. His story isn’t about genius. It’s about grit. About redirecting energy, not surrendering. About knowing when to pivot; but never giving up. Sometimes the ‘wrong’ path leads you to the right destination. You’re not defeated unless you think you are.