Mamaearth’s Ghazal Alagh was chasing success until her son asked her one innocent question she couldn’t ignore

In the relentless pursuit of success, we often forget to pause, reflect, or even ask ourselves—why the hurry? Mamaearth co-founder Ghazal Alagh had one such moment recently, when a simple yet piercing question from her young son made her hit the brakes on her packed, fast-paced life. Sharing her experience in a candid post on LinkedIn, Ghazal opened up about how her son’s innocent observation, “Mama, why are you always in a rush?” stopped her in her tracks—not because she had an answer, but because she didn’t.

That question lingered. It became a mirror for everything she was doing on autopilot—meetings, to-do lists, and constant motion, without stillness or clarity. Halfway into 2025, she decided to re-evaluate her choices, values, and pace. The result? Five life lessons that didn’t come from strategy decks or boardrooms, but from a deeply personal commitment to live more mindfully.

Here’s what she learned:

1. Progress over perfection

Perfection can be paralysing. Ghazal realised she was constantly rushing because she was trying to do everything “right.” In the process, she avoided delegating and neglected what mattered more. Choosing consistent progress over perfection has brought her both peace and productivity.

2. Know your “why”

Saying yes to everything had her stretched thin. Now, she pauses to ask “why?” before committing. That one word, why, has helped her eliminate unnecessary stress and make lighter, more intentional decisions.

3. Health is foundational

Ghazal acknowledged that when her health or her family’s well-being is compromised, everything else crumbles. Slowing down and defining her version of balance became non-negotiable.

4. Work should make life better, not busier

Being busy isn’t always being productive. Ghazal now questions whether her packed schedule adds genuine value or just contributes to noise. If there’s no peace in productivity, something has to change.

5. What you don’t change, you’re choosing

Waiting for life to slow down is wishful thinking. Unless she took action, she was silently agreeing to the chaos. Owning her choices became the first step toward lasting change.

Ghazal ended her post with a powerful reflection—some lessons don’t come from books, but from a child’s simple question. It’s that moment that now shapes how she shows up—as a leader, a mother, and most importantly, as herself.