Why Zombie Work Destroys Productivity

During my consulting days, I once worked 16-18 hours for two weeks straight, estimating the losses that US banks would suffer in the 2008 financial crisis. This was a big project for the company since a lot of clients wanted to know this. Finally, the presentation was...

Unconscious Competence

A few years ago, I was interviewing an expert physics teacher for my previous startup. And to any question I would ask, he would rattle off formulas like a machine gun. But I was not getting a sense that he really understood things. So I asked him, “Can you...

Immortality Serum Experiment

I have cracked the ‘immortality serum’ and you can take a sip. But there is a catch — once you drink it, you HAVE to live forever. No matter how much you love or hate your life, you will have to continue living — no escape. People around you...

To become a student, empty your cup

A few years ago, my Indian Police Service training boss, Shri Atul Karwal, told me the story of his commando training with India’s elite National Security Guards (aka black cat commandos). When he, along with another batchmate of his, reported for the training,...