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Brilliance Is Nice, but Grit Is Everything
Early in my startup journey, an IIT/IIM guy reached out to me, wanting to join my startup. And he was simply brilliant. So after a discussion, I made a joining offer, which he accepted. And I was thrilled that we would be building it together! But...
Recent Posts
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...
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...
How to Reach the Flow State Through Optimal Challenge
How do you achieve meditative focus? The answer lies with a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine, which controls the level of your brain arousal...
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...
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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...
Don’t stay busy to escape reality
Believe it or not, hard work can be counterproductive. And staying busy can be like morphine -- it numbs the pain of not knowing what to do in life or career. When we want to escape that pain of feeling lost, doing inconsequential things is very...
Multitasking Is Not the Solution to Overload
Napoleon said, "Nothing is impossible." Well, he was wrong. Today, in the corporate world, many people are trying to solve the problem of overload by multitasking, because monotasking, apparently, isn't fast enough to get things done. Fair point....
You Can’t Pick Wins Without Accepting Losses
A friend once asked an insurance sales guy, "Don't you feel disappointed by so many rejections, every single day?" The guy said, "I have a 10% hit rate. So every time I call someone and get rejected, I count it towards the 9 rejections I need to...