koolhead17
A lie is a vice that has come to us humans by default. We lie as an escape mechanism. We lie to own something. We lie to get over something.
The desire for self always takes over the rest or others.
Many lies have killed people and turned great empires into ruins.
Being in business or being in the company of a liar is a ticking time bomb.
Many actions, opportunities, and the relationship we build without knowing about the end. What drives us towards them is self-belief, mutual liking, shared goal or a deep sense of immersion.
Why do at an early age elder brother joins a monastery to renounce his worldly please or becomes a monk?
What drives us falling in love with someone just over a cup of coffee or a glimpse of him or her an event?
One has to have a Leap of faith in life at one or the other instance. We cannot avoid it.
I find it amusing how people with all confidence and authority give advice, which in real terms is their own opinions or playbook for life and business.
There is no one fit for all. We all have our journey, paintbrush for life. One likes to grind 100 hours a week while another talks about work-life balance.
How will you apply the learning of someone whom you have not met, who has not lived your life? How will you live your life on the advice of others when your pain, scenarios, and deliverables are your life scripts?
Do not fool yourself with the noise on social media, books, podcasts et all. This is your life, you are the in-charge, take control of it and script your destiny. Do not get fooled by others.
Running a startup is like sailing in a sea, your course depends on external factors like the tide and weather. One can strive to build an unsinkable ship. There is no perfect template for startup success. It requires much more than reading a book or taking advice from Twitter or a medium blog post.
While some people start the startup with a mission of changing the world or fixing a problem. Many have got their other incentives which can be getting rich and famous quickly, which is glamorized by the media.
Meeting a dozen friends over last week’s trip to Ahmedabad and Delhi showed me the importance of profitability. A lot of my friends are in traditional business and some have taken ancestral business. All they strive for is being profitable and floating comfortably in any weather or tide.
In the hi-tech era we are living, the pace at which we are growing how difficult it is to become profitable while cutting all the noise?
Last week in Delhi I met with Manish Jain , a seasoned entrepreneur and owner of BPB Publication.
Some learning:
We caught up without any prior agenda and ended up making a fruitful conversation.
Coming to Delhi is no less than nostalgia for me. The city is very close to my heart, almost a home. I have spent 12 years of my life here. With the rapid pace of Delhi’s development, every visit welcomes me with a surprise.
I have missed Delhi winter for a very long time, December 2019 is an exception. Here I am sitting at the SDA market and writing this post. Winter in Delhi reminds me of my childhood and laziness to attend classes or going at work. Winter is also the season for the foods in Delhi. I am lucky that some of my old friends are still in town and gave me a company graciously.
Delhi has existed since eternity, many ruled it, many destroyed and plundered. The city emerges out from the ash like a phoenix and becomes even more beautiful.
I keep hearing and reading about the unbearable air pollution, crime, and a plethora of other negativity about the city. I cannot deny them. I feel with time and technological and civic advancement city will rise again. The caretakers aka elected representatives are working on it. Not everyone has given up.
This trip reminded me of SF for wearing multi-layered cloths apart from buzzing nightlife, iconic eateries, and Delhi metro. Some in the past have called Delhi a paradise while others the city of Djinn. For me, it is just nostalgia for my past.
Some photos and tweets.
Our human mind is tightly wired for our advantage. We deny reality because as it makes us feel bad and does not match with our construct/assumptions. We start living in our fantasy world expecting things to be the way we like which might be wrong for others.
Another side of living is giving benefit of doubt to others. Living life in real without assumptions.
If you would like to live a life without burning your blood pressure or heartbeat start living life in reality with fewer assumptions.
December readings:
I am into sales now, since the product has matured and we are getting some traction via word to mouth.
One of my key learning has been, being honest makes life better for both parties. Sales are more about a relationship than profit. People are generally helpful and good. They appreciate your effort if you are open to sharing your vision and end goal.
Some of the folks who did not buy our product connected us to others who are our customers. This happened because the connection was honest and not transactional.
Lastly, I have realized I have to work with great people, who are empathetic and believe in our vision and be part of each other’s journey in the long run.
I happily mention my competitor’s name to those who ask me and also walk away or polity says NO to folks whom we feel will be a pain as our future customers.
In the book Nuts, the author talks about the importance of celebration. Running any business requires a lot of trust and great people. These are some reasons why an organization should celebrate and what is there for us.
I felt like sharing the excerpts from the book.