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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...
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The Hidden Joy of Having a Compelling Goal
I know many people who miss the days when they prepared for IITJEE or some major exam. Why? 1. A singular, compelling goal like a big exam overrides...
Make New Mistakes, Not Old Ones
In my previous job, a team member was making an investment proposal that my boss thought was quite disastrous. So my boss said, "Why do you want to...
Your Struggle Isn’t Waking Up Early — It’s Sleeping Early
Your struggle is not waking up early. Your struggle is sleeping early. If you are scrolling and 'Netflixing' till late at night, you obviously can't...
The Simplest Way to Disarm an Angry Person
The next time someone is angry and you want to disarm them, just listen to them. They should know that you are genuinely listening, without being...
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How Hurrying Blinds You
In the early days of India's e-commerce boom, in 2011, I was among 30-odd investors gathered around a renowned entrepreneur in Mumbai's Oberoi Hotel. With casual bravado, he said, "In the current market, if you are not growing 30% month-on-month,...
The Hardest Test of Leadership
The best tonic for your mental health is having a kind boss. Even in the most high-profile assignments, when my bosses have been bad, I have hated the experience. And when I had good bosses, even mediocre work felt worthwhile. If you lead a team,...
The Irony of Life: Why Chasing a Better Future Steals Today’s Joy
A few years ago, I was at IISc Bangalore to give a talk. And I was raving about the beautiful, idyllic campus to my host, a retired civil servant who was teaching an undergraduate class. When my host told me that he had previously worked as the...
The Truth About Wealth: Why Side Hustles Rarely Work
I know quite a few wealthy and well-off people. But I don't know even one person who got somewhat wealthy doing "side hustles, generating multiple income streams." Not one person! And yet, on LinkedIn, you are made to believe that side hustles are...