generation

Our society is undergoing a generational shift. From politicians to officials to families, we are witnessing the emergence of new stewards of the future. What held priority in the past may be discarded, and new priorities will take their place. Fresh gateways to opportunity will open, and many careers that previous generations dismissed as trivial will enter the mainstream.

These changing times demand a new worldview—or at least a mental rewire. Without this, generational friction will only grow. Our shifting ideologies, values, priorities, and perspectives can be a double-edged sword.

The older generation may label us as naive or foolish, while we may see them as overly cautious or risk-averse. And so, the drama continues—repeating itself every couple of decades.

opportunities

As an underdog, I consider myself fortunate to have received the opportunities that have come my way. It takes small, consistent steps, a tremendous amount of hard work, and an almost unimaginable level of self-belief to wake up every day and compete with well-established players.

What has worked for me so far is building a hungry, self-driven team that operates independently.

What works for us may not work for others. But our core learning has been simple: give everyone an opportunity, allow time to make mistakes, and encourage them to learn and improve. Some team members surprise us by taking ownership and performing like founders themselves. Others, unfortunately, take things for granted.

We can afford this approach because we’ve created room for experimentation and are not in a rush to scale.

Truly successful organizations are built by people who share a common vision and whose long-term goals align with both their personal growth and the organization’s incentives.

integrate

An organization doesn’t die solely because of a funding crunch—it also falters for many other reasons. For example, a founder may fail to cultivate a sense of ownership within the team, or individual team members may have personal goals that are misaligned with the organization’s long-term vision.

Another commonly overlooked issue is the divide in seniority. Long-standing team members may feel entitled to operate in silos, which can alienate newer hires. As a founder, it is your responsibility to integrate everyone. Left unchecked, this divide will deepen, building trenches and silos within the organization.

As the team grows, multiple units form, and their respective leads begin to shape the culture. If you, as the founder, are not actively adding value to both your team and the next generation of leaders, the company will eventually crumble.

Noise

We live in constant noise and chatter from inside and outside. Our brain acts as a router, receiving thoughts and external signals. It results in us swimming with bias and confusion, crowding us through all corners.

When we were kids, we were experimenting and asking questions. We had all the curiosity. As we grew up, we ended up wearing many facades. It made us an adult leave behind our innocence and curiosity.

We lived most of life crowded with fear, ego, and jealousy. We call it progress.
Our competition with others, our quest to win, and our earning respect are making us go mad.

wrong

When you’re successful, no one cares about your mistakes. You’re rewarded even for your smallest wins. Our society adores achievers. Time and again, we’ve seen this blind admiration lead to the rise of Ponzi schemes that dupe millions.

Get-rich-quick schemes have a shelf life. The sooner you, as a participant, realize this, the better.

The cheerleaders of the past are now today’s racketeers. The crowd-pullers of events, conferences, interviews, and showbiz are now in hiding.

We need to rethink what is right and what is wrong—and for whom it is right or wrong.

fragile

Our life is short-lived. The connection we make and, the moment we spend with our loved ones should matter most. We are so occupied with our wants and running with the capitalistic treadmill that we forget to live a life.

When our day comes we are in the grave. The time that we should have spent with our parents, loved ones, and siblings gets diverted toward accumulating more wealth, power, and stardom.

Most of us have not lived an iota of life yet, yet we dream of living. The time is now; take control of yourself and your actions. This fragile life should have a meaning beyond wealth and raising offspring.

simple

We were simple people, born without thoughts, raw and pure. As we grew older and saw the world, we became complex.

Our needs and desires did not come at birth. They emerged over time. Our social interactions and status were imposed upon us, even though they were constructs.

Our simplicity eventually became our foe. We now live in a world where others define what we eat and wear. It is societal norms that dictate us.

Rejection

I know, I must have written a post about rejection for the nth time. It has become a core part of life. In the early days of building our company, I would feel frustrated and humiliated. But with age and years of selling, I’ve come to hold a different opinion.

I’m more at peace with myself now and no longer take things personally. That shift has a lot to do with reading Seneca and building affirmations around everyday encounters. It’s never easy to hear a NO from the world. But if you look a little deeper, you realize you’re just a small piece in this vast universe.

It’s not about rejection — it’s just business.

Well, what is the price of lettuce? An obolus perhaps. If a man gives up an obolus and receives lettuce, and if you do not give up an obolus and do not obtain lettuce, do not suppose that you have received less than he; for as he has lettuce, so you have the obolus which you did not give.“

The Enchiridion, Epictetus

contentment

I’m not sure if contentment comes with age, is part of our nature, or is shaped by the thoughts we cultivate from observing society around us.

Both Stoic and Hindu philosophies have emphasized contentment since their inception.

Unfortunately, the world we live in today teaches the opposite—urging us to accumulate more and more. Many families hoard as many clothes in their garages as they do in their wardrobes. The craving for more is never-ending.
We live with unmet desires until we reach the grave, never truly content with anything.

Tradeoff

We have to accept life as it comes. Like the seasons, it can be rainy at times, while other days are cold or scorching hot. Some struggle to accept this reality, falling into madness or depression. In short, life is no utopia. Instead of crying over not having oranges, we must learn to make lemonade with the lemons we get.

Life feels like a tradeoff. If you want one thing, you must be ready to compromise on another. I’m turning 40 in a few months, and while some people ask about my marriage plans, they also reminisce about my independence. Some days, I long for a family; other days, I find joy in the freedom of traveling from city to city, selling products and living out of a suitcase.

I could take a strong stance, claiming my choices have either been wonderful or terrible. But the truth is, I was so immersed in living my life that I never had time to analyze it all. What I do know is that life will always bring its fair share of ups and downs, challenges, and happiness.