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You Don’t Need 10 Hours of Productivity, just 2 hours of deepfocus
You cannot be 100% focused, 100% productive, all day long. In fact, don't even try -- it is a guarantee for self-inflicted agony. Life ebbs and flows. There are good days and bad days. Even within a day, our mood and energy go up and down. But here...
Recent Posts
Effective Delegation: Letting Go Is the First Step to Leadership
When you delegate work, remind yourself that: 1. People won't approach problems the way you do. 2. People's slides or spreadsheets won't look...
You Will Never Feel Ready – Take the Shot Anyway
All my life, for any big goal I set my eyes on, I always felt underprepared and under-confident -- be it an exam, a job, or a startup. I never felt...
Why Articulation Matters More Than Performance
The last few days, my wife has been busy writing recommendation letters for her junior IAS officers applying for Fulbright and various other...
Why Struggle Never Ends – Even After Success
There is a 99% chance that your struggles will never cease, no matter how successful you become. But this can't be true! What if one achieves...
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How the Need to Fit In Shapes Our Choices and Behaviour
An ex-colleague used to show up at work with a Tumi bag. When I learned how atrociously expensive these things were, I asked him, "Why did you buy this? Was it worth it?" This guy had bought it while working with a top-tier private equity fund,...
Why Prestigious Jobs Still Leave So Many People Unhappy
About half of the IAS/IPS officers who reach out to me ask me about career opportunities outside the Services. Of course, there is an obvious self-selection here (why else would they reach out to an ex-Civil Servant). Yet, the number of...
Early Struggle Is Not a Signal of Failure
During my tenure at McKinsey, a new colleague got started at the Firm. And in the initial days, this person really struggled despite a stellar academic background. The work in consulting is often ambiguous, and no matter how intelligent you are, it...
Why a Packed Calendar Is Killing Your Productivity
A packed calendar seems like the ultimate productivity hack. Yet, it is a terrible idea. Here is why. When your calendar is packed, your mind feels a time scarcity, as if someone is constantly whispering -- "Hurry up! There is not enough time."...