Sipping Dreams, One Expensive Coffee at a Time

 Because 10-Rupee Coffee Won’t Get You to Starbucks

Meet Phil. Phil had big dreams—he wanted to be successful, live the high life, and most importantly, sip on fancy cappuccinos at Starbucks like those influencers who post aesthetic pictures of their lattes.

But here’s the thing: Phil’s daily fuel for these grand ambitions was a 10-rupee coffee that could strip paint off walls. He’d sip it, frown at the taste, and think, one day, I’ll upgrade. One day. Spoiler, one day wasn’t on Phil’s calendar.

Until it was.

One fine day, Phil had had enough of daydreaming. Clutching 700 rupees—half his weekly budget and a full dose of reckless optimism—Phil marched into Starbucks. The cool air-conditioning greeted him like a promise of luxury. The barista asked for his name, and Phil hesitated for a second before confidently saying, “Phil. P-H-I-L.” (This was his moment, and everyone was going to spell his name right.)

When his caramel macchiato arrived, Phil took his first sip. It was smooth, creamy, and… sweet baby Jesus, worth every rupee. He leaned back, soaking in the vibes—the chic furniture, the jazz playing softly in the background, and the people typing on laptops like they were changing the world. Phil thought, this is it. This is success.

But as the last drop hit his tongue, reality smacked him harder than his office deadlines. I can’t afford this every day. Not unless I want to survive on Maggi noodles for dinner… forever.

Phil’s story reflects something we all experience at some point, our habits and the people we surround ourselves with play a massive role in shaping who we are and how we live. These habits can lead us down a dark path—turning into addictions—or they can help us evolve, if we use them wisely.

Here’s the truth, if we want to get ahead in life, we need to start living like it. You can’t sip on 10-rupee coffee every day and hope to magically land in Starbucks someday. It doesn’t work like that. You need to experience the life you want—step into it, taste it, live it—so you can find the motivation to work for it.

For Phil, it started with that caramel macchiato. He tasted what success could feel like, and it lit a fire inside him. He wanted to keep coming back, to make it his reality, so he started putting in the effort. He took on extra work, upgraded his skills, and even learned to budget better.

But here’s the important part, it’s not just about splurging for the sake of it. You need to calculate your moves. The idea is to live today while planning for tomorrow. You don’t want to spend everything chasing the high and then crash when the bills come due. Balance is everything.

Once Phil got a taste of the good life, he didn’t stop at coffee. He started applying the same mindset to other parts of his life. He explored fancy home décor stores to imagine his dream apartment, test-drove cars he couldn’t afford yet, and even attended gourmet cooking classes to see what life as a Michelin-level chef could feel like.

Each of these experiences gave Phil a glimpse of the life he wanted—and with each glimpse, he worked harder to make it his. He wasn’t just dreaming anymore; he was living small pieces of his dream, and that made all the difference.

So, this isn’t just about coffee. It’s about giving yourself a glimpse of the life you truly want, experiencing how good it can be, and using that as fuel to hustle harder. Whether it’s Starbucks cappuccinos, better grooming, building your dream home, or upgrading your career, it all starts with that first taste of success.

The key? Balance your today while planning for tomorrow. Because while it’s fun to splurge on a 700 rupee cappuccino, it’s even better to know that you’re building a life where it’s just another line in the budget.

Enjoy your coffee

Thanks for reading

Love 
Priyanka Ashokanand