Maintenance/change. The goal of maintenance is to ensure that things don't get worse. Maintenance is getting a haircut, doing the dishes, getting to inbox zero. Maintenance is what "doing your job" mostly means. Ensure that you don't get fired. But maintenance doesn't bring
Spec making skills. "I wish someone else would do this for me." This is not an unusual request or wish. We say it all the time. Maybe we mean it, or maybe it's just a way to feel lighter for a second. But what if we run with it?
Short no or long yes? It's hard to say no. Especially for something we don't feel like doing. It's easier to rationalise and compromise and adjust. To make an exception. To say, "How does this hurt?" Saying yes when we want to say no can become a
Where are you at? If I ask you about your phone, it would be easier to tell. "I am at 68%" or "I am running low, it's about to switch off." But what about you? Your brain, your body, your mind? The body allows us to push it
Strategy work. It's tempting to just jump into the next thing - We will figure it out once we get there. Sometimes, it might be helpful. But mostly it's not. We become so busy trying to win a battle that we don't even consider what would
Spinach in your teeth. "There's something in your teeth." This is generous feedback, even though it might not feel like it. We can act on it. Sometimes it's a stranger that gives it. Mostly it's a friend. Rarely do we see it ourselves, even in a
The hope in maybe. Choose one: [] yes [] no [] maybe Ambiguity feels safe. A "maybe" feels more hopeful than a "no". But, even though it feels like possibility, it mostly closes the door on possibility. Clarity, on the other hand, allows us to move forward. Even if it might hurt in
EOD Where does the day end? At what time? And what do we do once it ends? The birds are clear about this. The day ends at sunset. It's time to head home. Time to sleep. Time to rest before becoming the early bird which catches the worm. What
What if it doesn't work? What if it doesn't work? This one thought, almost always half-baked, stops us in our tracks. It forces us to prepare more, plan more, and most likely, delay things. The truth is that anything that might work might also not work. What does not working look like? In
Starting afresh. A fresh start brings in a breeze of energy. Whether it's moving to a new city or the beginning of a new friendship or relationship or starting a new project, a fresh start feels blissful and exciting at the same time. A blank page, a blank canvas, all
Without a queue. It's challenging to be consistent with a blog, podcast or newsletter (or any other channel) if you are unable to build a queue. There would be days you are tired, or sick, or busy, or just not ready to deliver at the level of professionalism you seek. Heroic
Manufacturing non-urgency. Urgency comes from having an urge. It needs us to stop everything until we get the urge fulfilled. Important work rarely is urgent. Rather, when we try to make important work urgent, it might end up losing its importance. Important work requires us to be calm. Calmness helps us get
Two truths and a lie. Pretension may be a requisite for our social etiquette. We stay in meetings long after our body gives up. We go to parties that drain us. We hangout with people who make us miserable. We rationalise. We adjust. We cooperate. In short, we lie. We pretend to be comfortable when
Trying harder. My friend Sonja once came up with some useful advice for men who would like to improve their performance in the bedroom. “Here’s a hint,” she said. “If whatever you’re doing isn’t working, don’t do it harder. This applies in every area of life, but most
The ask. "Do you want fries with that?" "Should I pack this for you?" "Can I take you out for dinner?" If you make the ask, you may get a no. But if you don't, there's no yes.
White lies. We lose touch with the truth, our truth, when we start rationalising. These are our white lies. The ones we use to justify doing what we don't want to do, that our whole self doesn't want us to do. The thing is, when we start listening
Messy. It's going to be messy. Chaotic. Scary. It will bring out your fears, insecurities, anxieties. It will change you. It might even destroy you in a way. You would need to surrender and dissolve. It starts with you.
Fill in the blank. Once you have a blank, it becomes irresistible but to fill it. A daily blog creates a blank every day. So does an empty meeting room, a bookcase, a ticket for two to a play... And because there's a blank, it's likely to be filled. Mostly,
Self-compassion journey. It's tempting to continue on our journey of hustle, of our way of dealing with the world, without looking inward, without making space for the parts of us that need attention, love and compassion. Most of the world is doing that. It takes a lot of courage to
Sweet or salty? When ordering a lemon soda, you have to choose. Do you want it sweet or salty? You can also have both? Or none? Each person has their own preference. Same goes with your project. You have to make choices. Is it for the masses or people who want to go
Irreversible. What's the one thing that you can do that will move things irreversibly forward? That will give you evidence for the identity you desire? Not the larger, hairy goal, but the smallest action forward. Not getting healthy, but going to the gym ONCE. Not reading more, but reading
A few questions... ...worth asking yourself. Have I slept well? Have I eaten? Have I had enough water? The body is equipped to work even without them, but not very well and not for very long. A well-taken care of body takes care of us well.
The innocence of joy. I met a six-year-old a few days back. One of the most creative human beings I have met in some time. Out of nothing, she built a game for us to play using an A4 sheet and a pen. And it was so much fun. She used clay to build
Two signs of possibility. One, you stop distinguishing between yourself and the others. The We Story is all you can see. The question "what about me" takes a backseat, and "how can I be a contribution" is all there is. And two, you stop trying to seek control. You make
A rainy day. I took a flight a few days ago on a rainy day, half asleep. As we gained height, the plane started moving through the clouds. Suddenly, quite unexpectedly, sunlight hit my face. Sunlight? But wasn't it raining? It turns out that the sun is always there, shining as
