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Real Character Reveals Itself Only in a Crisis
One of my bosses in the police service was a soft-spoken man -- more like a college professor than an intimidating, toughened-up cop. But the first time I was caught up in a violent student agitation, I suddenly noticed that he was standing behind...
Recent Posts
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...
Life Comes Without a Map – And That’s Okay
I often hear 25-year-olds say, "I don't know what I want to do with my life." Heck, I am so much older, and even I don't know that! But one thing I...
Why Staying Up Late Doesn’t Mean You’re Working Hard
On day 1 of my last job with a private equity fund, I wanted to know whether they worked late nights routinely or followed reasonable work hours....
How to Survive the Avalanche of Advice
I am afraid you will become a victim. Not a victim of some scam, but of all the well-intentioned advice, frameworks, and exhortations you will find...
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When a Blunder Turns Out to Be a Blessing
When writing my Wharton MBA application, I was working right until the 2:30 am deadline. I was frantically working on my application essays in a Word document, saving the edits every few minutes. But in a last-minute panic, I mistakenly overwrote a...
Why We Must Sweat Every Day
Today during my morning run, I crossed a guy walking his dog (a sweet-looking labrador). But sadly, the dog was so overweight that even at a very slow pace, it was struggling to keep up -- the owner had to keep pulling the leash to drag him along....
When You Try Too Hard to Sleep
During a consulting project at McKinsey, every Monday morning, I had to drive 2-3 hours from New Jersey to the client's office in Connecticut. One Sunday evening, when I went to bed, I barely had 6 hours left before my wake-up time. So I tried hard...
A Decade Later, Your Body Won’t Forget
Very early in my career, I developed severe back pain due to long hours of sitting. I knew that I should have gone for evening runs or sports, but I stayed late in the office to show that I was a sincere worker. But one of my bosses would regularly...