Ahmedabad man juggles full-time job, bike taxi shifts, PhD and content creation
Deepak Pandey shared on Instagram how he balances a 9-to-5 job, bike taxi shifts, cooking, editing and PhD studies. His account resonated for its message on pushing past fear and starting with the time available.
For many people, the workday ends at 5 pm. For Deepak Pandey, it is only the beginning of a second shift.
The young professional from Ahmedabad has gone viral after sharing how he manages a full-time job, works as a bike taxi driver in the evenings, cooks his own meals, edits videos and pursues a PhD — all while finding a sense of purpose he says he never had before.
In a video posted on Instagram, Pandey reflected on a time when he believed a regular office job left him with little energy for anything else. Looking back, he said he often felt dissatisfied and assumed he had reached his limits.
That changed when he began taking on new challenges one step at a time.
"There was a guy who, after doing his 9-to-5, used to think he had no energy left, and he was unhappy," Pandey said in the video. "Today, that same guy, after doing his 9-to-5, is driving a bike taxi from 5 to 11, cooking his own food, doing video editing, and along with all that, his PhD studies are ongoing."
According to Pandey, the biggest shift was not in his schedule but in his mindset. He explained that fears of failure and concerns about what others might think had prevented him from exploring opportunities outside his comfort zone.
"Out of fear of 'what will four people say?' or 'I won't be able to do it', I never recognised my potential," he said.
Rather than making a drastic career change, Pandey chose to gradually add new pursuits to his life. He enrolled in a PhD programme, started working as a bike taxi driver and later began creating content online. Over time, he found himself adapting to the demanding routine.
What surprised him most, he said, was that taking on more responsibilities made him happier, not more exhausted.
Watch the video here;
In the caption accompanying the video, Pandey encouraged others not to wait for the perfect opportunity to chase their ambitions. He argued that even a small amount of time invested consistently can help people move closer to their goals.
His story has since resonated with thousands online, many of whom praised his discipline, determination and willingness to challenge his own limits.
For many people, the workday ends at 5 pm. For Deepak Pandey, it is only the beginning of a second shift.
The young professional from Ahmedabad has gone viral after sharing how he manages a full-time job, works as a bike taxi driver in the evenings, cooks his own meals, edits videos and pursues a PhD — all while finding a sense of purpose he says he never had before.
In a video posted on Instagram, Pandey reflected on a time when he believed a regular office job left him with little energy for anything else. Looking back, he said he often felt dissatisfied and assumed he had reached his limits.
That changed when he began taking on new challenges one step at a time.
"There was a guy who, after doing his 9-to-5, used to think he had no energy left, and he was unhappy," Pandey said in the video. "Today, that same guy, after doing his 9-to-5, is driving a bike taxi from 5 to 11, cooking his own food, doing video editing, and along with all that, his PhD studies are ongoing."
According to Pandey, the biggest shift was not in his schedule but in his mindset. He explained that fears of failure and concerns about what others might think had prevented him from exploring opportunities outside his comfort zone.
"Out of fear of 'what will four people say?' or 'I won't be able to do it', I never recognised my potential," he said.
Rather than making a drastic career change, Pandey chose to gradually add new pursuits to his life. He enrolled in a PhD programme, started working as a bike taxi driver and later began creating content online. Over time, he found himself adapting to the demanding routine.
What surprised him most, he said, was that taking on more responsibilities made him happier, not more exhausted.
Watch the video here;
In the caption accompanying the video, Pandey encouraged others not to wait for the perfect opportunity to chase their ambitions. He argued that even a small amount of time invested consistently can help people move closer to their goals.
His story has since resonated with thousands online, many of whom praised his discipline, determination and willingness to challenge his own limits.
