Why Action Is the Only Way Forward

This may be unpopular but let me say it. If you have to climb a mountain, at some point, you need to start climbing. Yes, you can watch all the videos on how to climb — ice climbing vs rock climbing, and this technique vs. that technique. You can seek motivation...

Prestige, Power, and the Hidden Costs

Yesterday, more than half a million people in India wrote the Civil Services exam, to compete for a few hundred jobs. From my firsthand experience, I can vouch that the kind of responsibilities these jobs give you while still in your twenties is unparalleled. But this...

Can Generalists Thrive in a Specialized World?

Can generalists thrive in this new world order? To answer this, let me go back to the McKinsey I saw a decade and a half ago, which was full of generalists. Even specialists were hired as generalist consultants. For example, it was common to see medical doctors on...