making

There is no overnight success. The sad part is that media glorifies the present much without listing the past.

We only know Edition got us the light bulb without million times he failed. We all know how Ray Kroc revolutionized the franchisee model concept with McDonald’s. No one knows he did not give up for 50 years of trying his hands in multiple businesses.

We must understand that things take time and that the journey is painful with lots of teaching.

I see current youth aiming to take shortcuts for glory because of half-baked media information.

Like

When you like someone, there are no rules or boundaries. It is like an air or water stream flowing and choosing its course. There are no cookbooks or best practices.

With time the meaning of likeness and love has also changed. We have started attaching with others on their external attributes, not who they are internal.

While in the short-run, it helps both parties, when the long-term commitment comes to play, like or love gets messy.

You have to like or love someone for who they are not, what they own or can become in the future. Looks, money, and fame are temporary.

ass

India’s startup culture is a mix of good and bad.
We have copied mostly bad things from the west.

Some founders or investors are still carrying their ass persona with them. We know what happened to such folks in the valley.

Being high on adrenaline is not a sign of smartness but inferiority. People don’t earn respect, trust, or praise by being an ass.

People lose the bigger picture by being blindsided without realizing that today’s failed founder can become tomorrow’s unicorn.

Being nice costs nothing but brings an ally.

insecurity

Why do we get insecure about others’ success? Is it because we are incapable of competing with the world? Or are we too weak to be part of this competitive world?

Most of us are insecure about one or the other things in life. Be it job or raltionship. Our happiness depends on the failures of others.

We should be more open-minded and competitive instead of being insecure. It will help the civilisation.

unknown

Our everyday life is no less than a mystery. Everything we do has an impact on everyone around us.

We still use our brain sub-optimally; our DNA fingerprints and vast knowledge are still unknown.

In personal or professional life, our progress is still unknown. We are walking with all the unknowns.

In short, living our life is about walking in the unknown and giving our best.

stuck

Some of us get stuck in the past. We sit still with the hope of everything becoming normal. As a result, all newer opportunity gets missed.

Could it be our ego or obsession that letting go becomes tough? Some founders go through multiple journeys before becoming successful. One has to go through many relationships before finding their soulmate.

Our life on this planet is limited; not moving on is a curse for humanity. Your expertise is a waste because of being stuck.

clean

Marc Benioff, the author of ‘Trailblazer’ talks about beginners’ mind. The concept he brings from mindfulness in living, building companies, and product development.

I liked the concept. It is all about emptying ourselves from the past and taking things today as it comes, like a young kid being curious, asking questions, and living in the now and making the best of it.

It is essentially starting the day with a clean slate.

Chaos

Running a startup is sailing through utter chaos.
Every day comes with its surprise.
It is not for a faint heart. We have to live each day as it comes.
Keeping a castle or future hope makes life more miserable.

What helps is knowing the challenge and belief of moving forward and learning from the mistakes. It is also about not letting everyday rejection or small wins get over our heads.

Eating well, yoga, exercise, and the company of dear friends act as medicine. And if you end up with a good team as a byproduct of robust culture, sailing becomes less painful.

We all have incentives for stating our own: knowing what we don’t want also helps.

yes

As startups grew, so did the aspirations of founders. At some point, the culture turned to one man/women show. It resulted in everyone ending up as a resource working for money.

In the early days of my career, I enjoyed psychological safety, and money came next. I had a say and was free to point fingers. It was not like I was working for a boss and following everything they said. At times, we did question their decisions.

I see more and more cases of psychological safety replacing founders’ egos: people are fired left and right for asking questions.

sorry

Our Ego has taken over us.
We don’t accept our mistakes.
We burn in anger. We are not empathetic.
All gets us what? A show of our face: I am right feeling?
In the bigger picture: are we lying to ourselves just for our Ego?

Is it worth it? How difficult is it to say sorry and accept our mistakes?