Rewrite the story

In 2004, I realized that my life-story was going wrong. I had joined the Indian Police Service expecting massive challenge and excitement. And the first five years delivered exactly that — it was like a dream, despite the ups and downs. Yet, after that,...

Leadership

During my Civil Services training in Mussoorie, an IAS officer conducting a class once asked us, “What are officer-like qualities?” Soon we rattled off a barrage of heroic qualities: Integrity, courage, vision, persuasion, eloquence, teamwork… When the list on...

Determination

The MBA at Wharton turned my life into a one-pointed quest: Find a summer internship. At any cost. When you are an international student with zero bank balance, do you really have a choice? Further, two things made my desperation worse: 1. Nobody was dying to hire an...

Loving-kindness

Two years ago, our landlord cheated us — when we vacated our office building, he refused to hand back most of the security deposit on some flimsy grounds. Seething with rage, I wished him ill to no end. And every time I thought of him, my blood would start...

Disasters

What I learnt from a lifetime of anticipating disasters and nightmare scenarios: – More than 90% of the disasters I worried about, never materialized. – Less than 10% that did materialize, were rarely as bad as I imagined. The next time you feel panic, my...