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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,...
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Only one thing is progress — doing
Which is the best running shoe in the world? Who cares? You just need a good enough pair. Because the shoes won't run, you will. And I am not being...
Productivity = focus + prioritization
Today, I had dozens of pending tasks. So here is what I did. I just picked one task that really mattered. I dropped everything else, started my...
Remembering Deepak Ratan
A year ago, we lost Deepak Ratan, my friend, IPS batchmate, and an illustrious officer, to a heart attack. We are all in shock. Deepak was still in...
Break free from digital distractions
You are distracted. But not for the reason you think. MORE than 50% of the work interruptions destroying your productivity aren’t triggered by your...
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The power of downtime and diffuse thinking
A few years ago, when I was doing my previous startup, a student once asked me an IITJEE Advanced physics problem. The question appeared so unsolvable that I asked him, "Are you sure the problem is correct?" Sadly, it was 🙂 I thought about it for...
3-step process to clarify thinking
Here is a 3-step process to clarify your thinking, whenever you feel you have a lot to say about something but it all feels jumbled up in your head. Imagine that you have to make a presentation before someone (a client, colleague, etc.). Now, dump...
The efficiency paradox
During my days at McKinsey, I once asked a retired senior partner about life before PowerPoint. How did they make presentations to clients? He said that they used to create presentations on big chart papers using felt-tip pens. They would have to...
Freedom over fortune
You should envy Warren Buffett and the late Charlie Munger -- I certainly do. But not because of their billions. But because of how happy and joyful they are. In their 90s, they have the infectious enthusiasm and curiosity of a 25-year-old. They...