Latest Post
When Focus Feels Like a Battle, Step Back
Yesterday, when I was doing some focused work, after some time, I felt so agitated and restless that I desperately wanted an escape -- check the news, open LinkedIn, do anything. When the task is hard or tedious, this 'escape impulse' comes to me...
Recent Posts
Power of steady progress
I was once explaining a basic breath meditation technique to somebody but he wasn't satisfied. The next day, he said that his friend told him,...
Most powerful motivation comes from within
When my dad was in his eighties and unfortunately, not in very good health. But on some days when he feels a bit better, he would go outside the...
Life is not a single game
A few years ago, while teaching physics to a bunch of high-schoolers, I erred in deriving a formula. And in a split second, even before I could...
Willpower alone can’t break habits
When your fingers are itching to open WhatsApp or Instagram, why is it so hard to resist? Why can't you break distractions through sheer willpower?...
More Articles
Hidden secret to longevity
Once I wrote a newsletter about a sprightly 101-year-old Navy veteran Commander (retired) Sriramulu, who runs 18 km every alternate day. In response, many people emailed me back asking -- "What is the secret of his longevity and good health?...
Do less, focus more
A McKinsey colleague, curious about my policing experience, once asked me, "What was the most difficult aspect of leading a police force?" The biggest challenge was not the riots or hooligans. It was that everyone thought that everything was urgent...
Perspective is everything
Once I had to visit a cancer hospital in Trivandrum to seek a medical opinion for a friend's father. The hospital was packed with patients, many of whom were suffering immensely. When you see those gaunt faces and shaved heads, you realize what a...
The Truth About Influencers
Most influencers are lying. They tell you that you can make a 6 or 7-figure income working 2-4 hours a day while chilling on the beaches of Maldives. You have no bosses, no stress, full freedom, lots of money, creative work, and public adulation....