From Barber to Multimillionaire: A Not-so-famous Entrepreneur Whose Life We Can Learn From

Ramesh Babu grew up the child of a poor barber in a Bangalore, India. When he was just seven years old, his father died. This was a devastating blow for the family, not just emotionally, but also financially. His father was the only breadwinner in the family.

To feed her family, Ramesh's mother worked as a cook and rented out her late husband's barber shop for 5 rupees a day. With her earnings, his mother could only feed the family one meal a day. As Ramesh grew up, he understood that he needed to create a better life for his family.

After studying electronics in school, Ramesh decided he couldn't go work in some big company. Instead, he re-opened his father's barber shop. He worked there for years before finally saving enough rupees to live a childhood dream: he purchased his first vehicle, a Maruti Van.

But he didn't drive the van very often: instead, he rented it out.With the money he earned from renting out the Maruti Van, he purchased another vehicle. And then another one... still just a side passion while continuing to cut hair at his barber shop. Then one day he took a huge leap of faith: he purchased his first luxury car - an E-class Mercedes.

At the time there were no luxury cars in the private taxi market in Bangalore. So Ramesh didn't know what the demand for such a car would be. But he believed the market was ready for it, and he wanted to push the envelope; to see if he could offer something new.

Today, Ramesh has over 200 cars and 75 luxury cars in a fast-growing vehicle fleet - including a Rolls Royce he rents for 75,000 rupees a day, and numerous Mercedes'. He is a rags to riches millionaire who has found a way to make a better life for him and his family. Yet still, he hasn't forgotten his beginnings.

Everyday, he finishes work with his car rental business by 5:30, and travels to his barber shop - where he continues to cut the hair of longtime clients. It's been important for Ramesh to honor where he came from, and to pass on such humble traits to his children... who are now also learning to be great barbers!