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Earning Respect That Lasts a Lifetime
A few weeks ago, I called a former boss of mine (the then Director General of Police, Kerala) to wish him a happy new year -- he is nearing 80 and is not keeping very good health. This officer was the most draconian disciplinarian to have headed...
Recent Posts
Why True Confidence Comes from Hands-On Experience
When you first hold a rifle, shooting seems so easy -- just align the gun's foresight, backsight, and the target, and pull the trigger. But there is...
There Is No Single Mold for Success
A few years ago, I was at IIT Kanpur to give a talk. And the speaker before me was a brilliant entrepreneur, who had built a billion-dollar company...
How to Overcome Nervousness Through Exposure
Anyone can walk on a one-foot-wide path. But if it was a beam jutting out from a building's 100th floor, you would collapse before taking even one...
The Power of Problem-Solving Under Pressure
During my consulting days, whenever we felt unclear about what to do next, my panic would start rising. And my instinct would always be to push...
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How Morning Routines Shape Your Day
Many of us live by default -- not by choice. After waking up, we all default to some behaviors, e.g., hanging out with a cup of coffee, going to the gym, scrolling the phone, and so on. Some of these are helpful, some are toxic -- but they are very...
How to Stay Calm in a Crisis
The first time I fired a 9mm Browning pistol was at Mussoorie's Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy. The instructor lined up five of us, 10 yards from the target, and told us to shoot. After five carefully aimed shots, we excitedly went to check the target...
The Real Struggle Is in the Mind, Not the Body
I came across a video of the Indian Army special forces training, in which the soldiers have to run 100 km, with a 17 kg load. I thought it was borderline impossible but their trainer had a different take on it. In the video, the trainer says, "If...
Why “Retire Early” Is an Empty Fantasy
When I launched my first startup, on the way to my rented office in Mumbai's Bandra, I would see a house where two retired-looking men would be sitting, listening to vintage Goanese and English songs. Their faces had no joy, no expression. All they...