Upgrade Your Altitude: Why Growth Demands New Knowledge

by Dr Abhishek Gilara

A driver who excels at maneuvering cars isn’t qualified to fly planes.

No matter how smooth or skilled they are behind the wheel, their ability becomes irrelevant once the terrain changes. And the same is true in business.

When Past Knowledge Hits a Ceiling

Many entrepreneurs invest everything they have—passion, time, and relentless effort—into building their businesses. They scale from zero to success through sheer grit and focus.

But at a certain stage, something changes. Despite the same—or even greater—effort, growth slows. Momentum fades.

The common assumption? That the team isn’t performing. That the market is shifting unfavorably. That something external is to blame.

But in truth, the culprit is often internal: The knowledge that once sparked progress has now hit its ceiling.

Why Old Skills Can’t Fuel New Growth

Let’s go back to the analogy. A driver trying to fly a plane won’t just fail—they’ll crash. Not because they’re bad at what they do, but because they’re applying outdated skills to a new environment.

Likewise, the business landscape at each stage of growth demands new thinking, new tools, and new mindsets.

What worked to hit your first ₹50L in revenue may not work to scale to ₹5Cr.
Managing a team of five isn’t the same as leading fifty.
Selling locally is vastly different from scaling globally.

Without upgrading your knowledge, you risk becoming the bottleneck in your own business.

Temporary Solutions Don’t Build Sustainable Success

Some founders try to solve this by hiring smart managers or external consultants. And while this can offer short-term progress, it doesn’t replace the need for foundational leadership evolution.

Every new stage of business demands:

Smarter decision-making
Deeper financial literacy
Stronger communication skills
Faster adaptation to tech and market trends

You can’t outsource vision. You must grow into it.

Growth Is a Signal, Not a Struggle

If your growth has plateaued—even though you're working hard—it’s not a sign of failure. It’s a signal.

It’s the business telling you: “You’ve outgrown what you know.”

This is your cue to:

Learn more
Grow more
Or surround yourself with those who know more

Because yesterday’s skills can’t fuel tomorrow’s results.

The New Altitude Awaits

Staying in the driver’s seat with road-level thinking won’t get you off the ground.

If you want to fly higher, you’ll need to master the skies. This means leaving your comfort zone and embracing new learning.

Because progress doesn’t begin with effort alone—it begins when knowledge expands.

So ask yourself: Are you upgrading your altitude—or stuck circling the same road?