(0/35)
35 lessons from 35 years: I turned 35 earlier this year. This is a list of things I've learned.
What I had + did: Good childhood friends, Books, Engineering, PhD, worked @ Si Valley start-up, Moved back to India, Started a venture, Got acquired
35 lessons from 35 years: I turned 35 earlier this year. This is a list of things I've learned.
What I had + did: Good childhood friends, Books, Engineering, PhD, worked @ Si Valley start-up, Moved back to India, Started a venture, Got acquired
(1/35) Philosophy:
Things, people, places change. And that's normal. To expect otherwise is futile.
Things, people, places change. And that's normal. To expect otherwise is futile.
(2/35) Philosophy:
You create yourself. Not somehow magically "find yourself". Action leads to discovery.
Same is with Love. You’re not gonna find ‘Love’. You need to find someone willing to create ‘Love’ with you.
You create yourself. Not somehow magically "find yourself". Action leads to discovery.
Same is with Love. You’re not gonna find ‘Love’. You need to find someone willing to create ‘Love’ with you.
(3/35) Philosophy:
Life is its own Purpose. There's no other/ external "purpose" of life.
You can define what's meaningful, instead of of looking for an inherent purpose. Which can change as you go through life.
Life is its own Purpose. There's no other/ external "purpose" of life.
You can define what's meaningful, instead of of looking for an inherent purpose. Which can change as you go through life.
(4/35) Philosophy:
Since Life has no inherent purpose, it's futile to look for "fairness". Life isn't fair. It is what it is.
Since Life has no inherent purpose, it's futile to look for "fairness". Life isn't fair. It is what it is.
(5/35) Philosophy:
You get what you put in. Well, mostly. Sometimes less, sometimes much more. Again, not fair - yes. But, that's what it is.
You get what you put in. Well, mostly. Sometimes less, sometimes much more. Again, not fair - yes. But, that's what it is.
(6/35) Philosophy:
Doing >>>> Complaining
It's easy to desperately want the world to be a certain way.
It's difficult to acknowledge how it is. And still get up and push for a change one wants.
Doing >>>> Complaining
It's easy to desperately want the world to be a certain way.
It's difficult to acknowledge how it is. And still get up and push for a change one wants.
(7/35) Philosophy:
If Life has no inherent meaning and we give it one, it follows that *we* have the responsibility to support that meaning. Blaming others doesn't work.
This is the Burden of Man: Give life meaning, Live it. Stand for it. Be ready to die for it.
If Life has no inherent meaning and we give it one, it follows that *we* have the responsibility to support that meaning. Blaming others doesn't work.
This is the Burden of Man: Give life meaning, Live it. Stand for it. Be ready to die for it.
(8/35) Philosophy:
It's all a game. The playfulness - what the inimitable Indians (my ancestors) called "Leela" - is the essence of it all.
You can't take it personally or seriously. Play it well. Know it's (only) play.
It's all a game. The playfulness - what the inimitable Indians (my ancestors) called "Leela" - is the essence of it all.
You can't take it personally or seriously. Play it well. Know it's (only) play.
(9/35) Philosophy:
We are all at the centre of our own world. The only difference is how far the circle extends. Our worldview lengthens or shortens the radius of this circle.
Leadership needs a large radius.
We are all at the centre of our own world. The only difference is how far the circle extends. Our worldview lengthens or shortens the radius of this circle.
Leadership needs a large radius.
(10/35) Philosophy:
Ubuntu: I am because we all are. When one of us wins, we all win a bit. When one of us loses, we all lose a bit. What one calls ‘we’ is very contextual, temporal, and always evolving.
Ubuntu: I am because we all are. When one of us wins, we all win a bit. When one of us loses, we all lose a bit. What one calls ‘we’ is very contextual, temporal, and always evolving.
(11/35) Philosophy:
We find the world as we are. This is oft repeated; but least understood.
The world is a mirror of our inner self. We have the ability to shape it much more than we realize.
We find the world as we are. This is oft repeated; but least understood.
The world is a mirror of our inner self. We have the ability to shape it much more than we realize.
(12/35) Philosophy:
Summary of @nntaleb's Incerto -
World is more random than we think
World has 'Black Swans' we misunderstand & can't predict
Survive first, grow later
Rational=what helps survival
To be free & grow, be Antifragile
To be ethical=to have Skin in the Game
Summary of @nntaleb's Incerto -
World is more random than we think
World has 'Black Swans' we misunderstand & can't predict
Survive first, grow later
Rational=what helps survival
To be free & grow, be Antifragile
To be ethical=to have Skin in the Game
(13/35) Philosophy:
Happiness is not a destination. You can’t pursue it. But it is aided by 3 things.
As @naval had put it: “A fit body, a calm mind, a house full of love. These things cannot be bought - they must be earned.”
Happiness is not a destination. You can’t pursue it. But it is aided by 3 things.
As @naval had put it: “A fit body, a calm mind, a house full of love. These things cannot be bought - they must be earned.”
(14/35) Philosophy:
Religion is not just a collection of fairytales, but a common story binding ppl together. Offers a survival advantage.
Pagan religions attract me most; organized ones the least.
More pagan, more robust it is – local, personal, tangible, closer to nature.
Religion is not just a collection of fairytales, but a common story binding ppl together. Offers a survival advantage.
Pagan religions attract me most; organized ones the least.
More pagan, more robust it is – local, personal, tangible, closer to nature.
(15/35) Science
Science is not a body of knowledge, let alone a fixed one. It’s a way of exploring the universe.
Falsifiability is at the centre of scientific method.
Science answers the questions ‘what, how, and how much’, and not ‘why’.
There r other enquiries worth pursuing
Science is not a body of knowledge, let alone a fixed one. It’s a way of exploring the universe.
Falsifiability is at the centre of scientific method.
Science answers the questions ‘what, how, and how much’, and not ‘why’.
There r other enquiries worth pursuing
(16/35) Science:
Since science has been able to elevate our material lives, there’s an urge to make everything sound ‘scientific’.
There’s a ‘science of xyz’ (happiness/biz/relationships/…)
That's BS
Science is a part of our lives. We are more than the science we discover/use
Since science has been able to elevate our material lives, there’s an urge to make everything sound ‘scientific’.
There’s a ‘science of xyz’ (happiness/biz/relationships/…)
That's BS
Science is a part of our lives. We are more than the science we discover/use
(17/35) Science:
Biological evolution is probably one of the most imp but most misunderstood concept
It requires (i) random mutation (ii) some selection (natural, sometimes artificial)
Unless there is differential survival, evolution doesn’t progress
Biological evolution is probably one of the most imp but most misunderstood concept
It requires (i) random mutation (ii) some selection (natural, sometimes artificial)
Unless there is differential survival, evolution doesn’t progress
(18/35) Science:
Our evolutionary past explains our behavior, instincts, fallacies, quirks. Our minds and bodies are evolutionarily successful machines, not necessarily ‘optimized for truth’.
What helps survival can only be called rational. No better definition. (h/t: @nntaleb)
Our evolutionary past explains our behavior, instincts, fallacies, quirks. Our minds and bodies are evolutionarily successful machines, not necessarily ‘optimized for truth’.
What helps survival can only be called rational. No better definition. (h/t: @nntaleb)
(19/35) Science:
Numerous times, we observe phenomena, tinker with stuff, make it do various useful (and sometimes useless) actions.
Sometimes we know how it works, sometimes we don’t.
Technology is about being able to leverage it. Science is about figuring out the ‘how’.
Numerous times, we observe phenomena, tinker with stuff, make it do various useful (and sometimes useless) actions.
Sometimes we know how it works, sometimes we don’t.
Technology is about being able to leverage it. Science is about figuring out the ‘how’.
(20/35) Science:
What we feed our bodies (and minds too) literally makes us. The closer it is to how our bodies have evolved to handle food, healthier the outcomes. Our genes love traditional food.
Variability (of timing, ingredients, quantity) is the key.
What we feed our bodies (and minds too) literally makes us. The closer it is to how our bodies have evolved to handle food, healthier the outcomes. Our genes love traditional food.
Variability (of timing, ingredients, quantity) is the key.
(21/35) Science:
Our bodies and minds both need an optimum amount of challenge and stress.
Effect of modernity: Too much comfort --> soft and lazy humans.
Modernity removes tangible harm, replacing it with the unseen harm. (h/t @GuruAnaerobic)
Our bodies and minds both need an optimum amount of challenge and stress.
Effect of modernity: Too much comfort --> soft and lazy humans.
Modernity removes tangible harm, replacing it with the unseen harm. (h/t @GuruAnaerobic)
(22/35) Science:
Muscle mass is a deposit you make in the early years of life. Building it is easy in the young age, and then you can maintain it as you age.
Aging is diminishing difference between extremes that you can tolerate. (h/t: @GuruAnaerobic)
AKA physiological headroom
Muscle mass is a deposit you make in the early years of life. Building it is easy in the young age, and then you can maintain it as you age.
Aging is diminishing difference between extremes that you can tolerate. (h/t: @GuruAnaerobic)
AKA physiological headroom
(23/35) Science:
Fasting is as integral to health as eating. It is not starvation. It has been used for thousands of years without much ‘scientific explanation’, but with robust phenomenological observations.
My longest fast of 42 hrs, taught me patience and sticking to decision
Fasting is as integral to health as eating. It is not starvation. It has been used for thousands of years without much ‘scientific explanation’, but with robust phenomenological observations.
My longest fast of 42 hrs, taught me patience and sticking to decision
(24/35) General:
Wealth and value is what we want. Money isn’t either; but is a medium of exchange of value. Good reputation means you can leverage people’s time/effort to create something great in future.
Reputation is built on what you have done; not what you plan to do.
Wealth and value is what we want. Money isn’t either; but is a medium of exchange of value. Good reputation means you can leverage people’s time/effort to create something great in future.
Reputation is built on what you have done; not what you plan to do.
(25/35) General:
Cardinal mistake startups make is to create something no one is willing to pay for. Figuring out what people need+want and what the world hasn’t figured out how to make at scale is the biggest hurdle. (h/t @naval)
Technology is an enabler, it can follow.
Cardinal mistake startups make is to create something no one is willing to pay for. Figuring out what people need+want and what the world hasn’t figured out how to make at scale is the biggest hurdle. (h/t @naval)
Technology is an enabler, it can follow.
(26/35) General:
In leadership, the size of the team doesn’t matter. Even if it’s n=1, you have to lead yourself.
Ur team, funding, resources are fuel in the tank and you – leader – are the steering wheel.
Beauty is that if you know what you’re doing, you don’t have to do much
In leadership, the size of the team doesn’t matter. Even if it’s n=1, you have to lead yourself.
Ur team, funding, resources are fuel in the tank and you – leader – are the steering wheel.
Beauty is that if you know what you’re doing, you don’t have to do much
(27/35) General
Leadership and culture is what you do, not what you say or write on the website. A leader leads by example, courage, patience, and most of all – decisiveness.
You'll never have enuf info, never be fully ready. You still have to act. That’s the leader’s burden.
Leadership and culture is what you do, not what you say or write on the website. A leader leads by example, courage, patience, and most of all – decisiveness.
You'll never have enuf info, never be fully ready. You still have to act. That’s the leader’s burden.
(28/35) General:
Being distracted is one of the worst curses of the modern life. Those who can do Deep Work will win. Cut out distractions to get in the flow, and let the magic happen. Just that it takes time.
When I quit Facebook, all news, and TV; I got into the zone.
Being distracted is one of the worst curses of the modern life. Those who can do Deep Work will win. Cut out distractions to get in the flow, and let the magic happen. Just that it takes time.
When I quit Facebook, all news, and TV; I got into the zone.
(29/35) General:
Reading is one of the lifelong habits which will transform you. It doesn’t matter what you read, but that you Do Read. It can be cultivated and strengthened.
h/t; @naval
Reading is one of the lifelong habits which will transform you. It doesn’t matter what you read, but that you Do Read. It can be cultivated and strengthened.
h/t; @naval
(30/35) General:
Learning about Mental Models is one thing; having the wisdom to apply them is whole another. It takes years to start forming a latticework of ideas in your head, and figuring out decision-making based on that. It’s a long game, and it’s worth it.
Learning about Mental Models is one thing; having the wisdom to apply them is whole another. It takes years to start forming a latticework of ideas in your head, and figuring out decision-making based on that. It’s a long game, and it’s worth it.
(31/35) General
Skin-in-the-game is not an incentive mechanism, but a filter. It tells you what you need to know when getting into a deal. Hammurabi knew it when he made builders sleep under the bridge they built. Simple and profound. (h/t: @nntaleb).
Skin-in-the-game is not an incentive mechanism, but a filter. It tells you what you need to know when getting into a deal. Hammurabi knew it when he made builders sleep under the bridge they built. Simple and profound. (h/t: @nntaleb).
(32/35) General
Courage is the ultimate virtue, especially when it takes on danger to elevate others. That’s true heroism. Sadly in the modern world we have divorced decision-making from the dangerous effects. Need to bring back skin in the game. (h/t: @nntaleb)
Courage is the ultimate virtue, especially when it takes on danger to elevate others. That’s true heroism. Sadly in the modern world we have divorced decision-making from the dangerous effects. Need to bring back skin in the game. (h/t: @nntaleb)
(33/35) General
Business is an iterated game. What you send out will come back around. Focusing on creating long-lasting values through genuine relationship-building is worth it. It comes back to us many-fold.
Business is an iterated game. What you send out will come back around. Focusing on creating long-lasting values through genuine relationship-building is worth it. It comes back to us many-fold.
(34/35) General
Two gems from @nntaleb:
-Never compare thin-tailed variables with fat-tailed ones: e.g. # of ppl dying in their bathtubs vs killed by terrorists per year.
-IQ is a filter at the low end, to help figure out if someone has a learning/thinking disability. That’s it
Two gems from @nntaleb:
-Never compare thin-tailed variables with fat-tailed ones: e.g. # of ppl dying in their bathtubs vs killed by terrorists per year.
-IQ is a filter at the low end, to help figure out if someone has a learning/thinking disability. That’s it
(35/35) General
Charlie Munger’s wisdom: Try and not be stupid. Focus on the long game. Read like your life depended on it. Spend each day becoming a little wiser – this transforms you esp. when you have a long run ahead of you. (He started early, and is ~94!)
Charlie Munger’s wisdom: Try and not be stupid. Focus on the long game. Read like your life depended on it. Spend each day becoming a little wiser – this transforms you esp. when you have a long run ahead of you. (He started early, and is ~94!)
