I bid farewell to this enchanting place tomorrow, returning to the scorching heat of Dubai where I resume routine until the next time spontaneity strikes. And yet, I’m not disheartened. On the contrary, I’m comforted by the fact that on my return to Tbilisi in the not-so-distant future, the captivating city and its residents will embrace my arrival, defending me against naysayers who dare call me a tourist again.

This past week has been a revelation for me. As someone who has written about travel experiences in the past, actually practicing what I preached made me truly grasp the profound impact of the stories I had penned down from the confines of a dimly lit room.

On this bittersweet Sunday, I find myself reluctantly but dutifully capturing my thoughts on paper. As the trip draws to a close today, with last-minute packing, key exchanges and panicky taxi bookings due tomorrow, I can’t resist meandering the unfamiliar streets once again, in the hopes them getting familiar with me.

It leaves me with a lingering curiosity, contemplating when the next opportunity to embark on such an adventure, will arise.

We resume day after.

Cheers,

Aamer

The night is darker, almost spookier than usual and yet, I find solace within.

It’s 1:44 AM on what should have been a happening Saturday night in a young adult’s life and yet, my comfort lies in the fact that my mind is free of clutter, loud music and lonely drives back home. For the most part, I’ve always been the designated driver.

Words, like the symphony of an orchestra, are falling together in perfect harmony as the clickety-clack of the keyboard overshadows all the sound in the room, falling on ears that have longed for nothing but an ominous round of applause. Success is distant but awaits with bated breath nonetheless.

A work of art has been brewing in mind for quite long, waiting for the signal to be executed but I’ve not found it yet. It’s not time. In fact, it’s something much better than the clock that ticks away without permission. It’s something that governs time, molds it, makes it dance to its tunes. With it, you can manipulate time. It’s consistency. Not finishing what one starts is dishonoring not the work but the one who starts.

And yet here I am, waiting to rejoice in the handful of moments where anything can be made possible, not because it was impossible before, but because in your mind it was. Have you ever experienced that incredible sensation? You must have. It’s rare but it pays us each a visit at least once. The one where you possess the magical touch of Midas, the strength of Hercules, the intelligence of Einstein, the wit of Wilde, and the wealth of Masa? It's a breathtaking feeling, both empowering and humbling. I’d give everything away to dwell in that state eternally. For I know, I’d regain all of it in an instant.

I don’t trust feelings, however. The fact that hides in plain sight, is that you’re not your feelings, you’re merely a carrier. The more I dwell on this thought, the more I introspect our roles are carriers—specifically the part where we’re prone to carry negative feelings longer than positive ones. Oh, how the mind has all of us fooled and yet, it’s the heart that aches because of the feelings that the mind instills. Why don’t we ever play with our minds?

What’s amusing is that inspiration strikes us as at the most undesirable hour but when we need it the most, it’s far from within our reach. Would the world be a better place if inspiration struck on Monday, the 1st of January?

We look for fresh starts, especially after fighting valiantly with a negative situation. But we remain oblivious to the relentless passage of time, which urges us to recognize that a new beginning awaits at our command, with each passing second.

I have rambled for quite some time, with each paragraph diverging from the last, yet somehow they all intertwine like the enigmatic universe we occasionally distrust. It is now 2:12 AM, and I have far from captured all my thoughts in writing. While my mind may find solace in the dead of night, my eyes do not fully support this decision.

My faith in humanity is restored as I realize that understanding and appreciating someone's work relies heavily on the individual perceiving it. Some may deem this a waste of their time, but for those who truly comprehend, I smile in tranquility, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to pen the next piece.

Journal more folks.

Yours truly,

Aamer

Eight years ago, around this time of the year, I endured unparalleled fear for the very first time. That occurrence has never repeated, before or since. Not because I’ve not had nerve-wrecking situations after that but because it takes only one traumatic experience for you to build a smokescreen around your mind and heart, which not only protects but fights this emotion in the future.

The event that transpired in March of 2015 was my benchmark—my red line and any kind of fear I’ve experienced since, I’ve compared it to those 14 days of gut-wrenching doom.

You know, when it comes to experiencing extreme fear for the first time, there are so many different ways it can happen, and it really varies from person to person. I can only speak from my own experience… it might not be the same for you or anyone else.

Having said that, every student, concerned* student has encountered this fear at least once and it’s either during their 10th or 12th board exams.

A special note to engineering students in India who’ve survived the four years and lived to tell the tale—I’m more than certain you’ve lived in fear every single day for the complete tenure.

It was the 10th board exams for me. Looking back, it feels like a refreshing breeze compared to life after university but at the time, my brain was playing all sorts of tricks with my heart. The 10th board exams was an event that was so hyped in my circle, the weight of it nearly crushed my confidence to face the world after it was over. Obviously, the months leading to it were difficult but reality struck me when the time was near and execution was key.

Genuine fear strikes the heart and burdens the mind. Every time I looked away from my books or took a break from solving mock papers, stress and fear seeped in like poisonous air that settled in slowly and grew exponentially within a matter of seconds.

Fear makes you do things that you never imagined yourself capable to do. It makes other smaller fears so tiny and benign. If anyone had offered me the opportunity to speak impromptu about the economic situation of the country in front of thousands of stalwarts at the time of my 10th board exams, I would’ve grabbed that opportunity in a heartbeat.

That’s the power of fear. And sitting here, writing this newsletter eight years later, I can’t help but imagine why the fear of one thing is such a strong motivator to do something entirely different.

There’s always something big that we’re afraid of and certain smaller things we’re afraid of. Let’s call the big fears overwhelming terrors and small fears petty concerns. Your overwhelming terror might be public speaking and your petty concern might be someone noticing a bald spot in your beard. Make a list and divide your fears into these groups—figure out your overwhelming terror… it should be only one.

To do great things, you must have fear; primarily because fear is the greatest motivator you can ever have. It’s difficult to openly admit you’re afraid of something. On the outside, it looks like a weakness that can be exploited by others but on the inside, it shapes our subconscious in unimaginable ways.

Petty concerns are easily discussed because they don’t let out what is truly inside us. They’re manageable, manipulatable, and easily subsided with simple solutions. Petty concerns are addressed by several startups that squeeze in to occupy a small share of the market. Overwhelming terrors… that’s where unicorns are made.

I digress from the matter. The goal is to keep it personal so let’s take befitting examples for you to relate. You might miss your best friend’s birthday because you’re traveling but you’ll fly back in the blink of an eye if they’ve been in an accident. Sadly, fearful moments almost always overshadow happy moments.

Siblings who’ve had a significant fight and haven’t spoken to each other for decades would visit each other without hesitation if one of them gets terminally ill. That’s the power of fear, it makes you rethink life decisions in an instant.

While we’re on the subject, think about this: Do you love God or do you fear Him?

That’s a deep question that may take years to truly answer. Let’s focus on something simpler. Is there any way you can turn overwhelming terror into merely a petty concern? There just might be.

Your mind is as strong as organ as they come—so strong in fact, it named itself. Believe it or not, the simplest way you can convert an overwhelming terror into a petty concern is for the worst to happen. You’re thinking one of three things right about now.

“That’s blasphemous. Why would I want to put myself through that?”

“Yeah right. Like I hadn’t thought of that.”

“That makes sense but it’s simple in theory.”

And in all three cases, you’re right. The worst that can happen is what everyone wants to avoid and that’s because it’s an unknown territory. You don’t know the consequences that will follow, you don’t the kind of emotions you feel and you don’t know whether you’ll be able to bounce back.

So here’s something for you.

There’s no greatness without turmoil. There’s no status without struggle. There’s no triumph without defeat. If the worst that could happen doesn’t happen, you’ve got yourself a win and if the worst that could happen happens, then you’ve got yourself a story. In both scenarios, you emerge victorious.

Cheers,

Aamer

P.S. There’s one more way you can convert an overwhelming terror into a petty concern and that’s by replacing an original overwhelming terror with a made-up one. Now that… is easier said than done. I’m trying to figure out how to do it. As soon as I get a framework, I’ll be sharing it with you guys.

We’ve all been lied to. Focusing on ONE THING and becoming experts at it has its downsides. Being unbeatable in a particular skill or field is directly proportional to us dismissing new information that contradicts what we’ve learnt previously. We no longer have Shoshin (which is key to becoming an expert).

The curse of being an expert is confirmation bias i.e. the tendency of individuals to selectively seek, interpret, or favor information that confirms their existing beliefs or preconceived notions while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts them.

This bias can be so strong that if you’ve spent upwards of 15 years in your field, you’re probably going like “Nah, that’s wrong! I don’t do that!” after reading that statement. If so, then this newsletter is definitely for you.

You’re an emulation of who you’ve learnt from—your parent, your mentor, your boss, or even books. Sometimes, you’re a culmination of all them put together. You’ve put in the effort to extract every single bit of information that they were capable of providing. For over half a decade, you were the sponge that absorbed everything around you that would help you advance in your field. As Russell Brunson describes in his book Expert Secrets, “The fastest way to turn your spark into a fire is to get around others who are on fire already.” And you’ve been on fire for a very long time.

Once you’re past that phase, and are putting your learnings into actionable results, finding success while you’re doing it, you’re an expert. And the moment that happens, you’ve lost the one thing that got you there.

Experts are made in concise steps which often need to be completed in that order, except for one step—learning. Learning is the one thing that’s constant in the pursuit of excellence.

Even if you’ve met hundreds of thousands of people in your life, there’s also going to be that one person who you’re going to learn just that extra bit from. And there’s no way you’ll be able to do that without keeping an open mindset, i.e. Shoshin.

I’m paraphrasing James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits here and it goes something like this—The issue is that as an expert, you actually need to be more attentive, not less. Because when you're already familiar with 98 percent of the information on a topic, it's essential to listen carefully in order to catch the remaining 2 percent.

Read that again. It’s a powerful statement.

So, what exactly is Shoshin? It’s a concept from Zen Buddhism that translates to beginner’s mind. And this story makes it self-explanatory.

Kaori’s Tale

Hiroshi, a renowned master potter was known far and wide for his exceptional craftsmanship and his ability to create intricate pottery pieces that captivated the hearts of those who beheld them.

Despite his esteemed reputation, Hiroshi carried a unique philosophy. He believed that no matter how accomplished he became as a potter, there was always room to learn, explore, and discover something new.

One day, a young and ambitious apprentice named Kaori arrived at Hiroshi's pottery studio. Kaori had heard tales of Hiroshi's expertise and sought to learn from the master himself. Eager to impress Hiroshi, Kaori showcased her existing pottery skills, displaying precision and technique that surpassed her years of experience.

Impressed, Hiroshi acknowledged Kaori's talent but gently urged her to embrace Shoshin. He explained that true growth and creativity lie beyond the boundaries of expertise. Intrigued, Kaori decided to open her mind to this philosophy.

Under Hiroshi's guidance, Kaori embarked on a transformative journey. Instead of relying solely on her learned techniques, she began observing the world around her with fresh eyes. She would sit amidst nature, watching the gentle dance of leaves in the wind, listening to the soothing melodies of birds, and observing the subtle hues of the changing seasons.

Intrigued by the delicate interplay between nature and art, Kaori experimented with new clay compositions, unconventional glazing techniques, and innovative forms. She allowed herself to make mistakes, embracing them as stepping stones on her path to growth.

As Kaori delved deeper into the realm of Shoshin, her pottery pieces transformed. They carried an air of enchantment, a unique essence that breathed life into her creations. The villagers marveled at her newfound talent and the sense of wonder her pieces evoked.

No matter how skilled or knowledgeable we become, approaching each endeavor with a humble, open mind can unlock unexplored realms of creativity, innovation, and endless growth.

How Can You Do It Too?

• Be the sponge. We’re often excited when we’re in a gathering that discusses a topic that we’re experts at. The need to contribute far surpasses the need to listen. There’s a major drawback when you start speaking and that’s other’s willingness to share. They become the sponge and you, the water. Almost always, be the sponge.

• Be interested. Ask questions, probe further, investigate as much as you can. Your job as an expert is to extract, not add. There’s no one way of learning and there’s far more than one source of knowledge. Designations, ranks, experience are hindrances in your pursuit of knowledge. Look beyond that and learn as a nobody.

• Be an idiot. You were one when you first started out in hopes of reaching a phase where you consider yourself not to be. In the larger scheme of things, you’re a nobody that merely knows 1-5% of all knowledge on a subject. Be self-aware and assume that you’re merely an idiot in a gathering full of other idiots. The moment you position yourself or someone else as someone who knows more than you, you’re in trouble. You’re not superior. As a matter of fact, no one is.

Shoshin everybody. There’s a liberating feeling in beginning again.

Cheers,

Aamer

Opportunity doesn’t knock at your door only once. If you probe the Internet and look for the statement’s origins, it’s going to be as vague as the existence of the Loch Ness Monster. Even ChatGPT had no answers.

The exact origin of the phrase "opportunity knocks on your door once" is unclear, but it is commonly attributed* to various authors and speakers throughout history, including Mark Twain, Paulo Coelho, and Anthony Robbins. —ChatGPT

*that’s as vague as it gets.

My belief is simple and quite provable. Today, there exist opportunities aplenty. They’re on every turn in a meandering road. They’re in such an abundance that they not only knock, they barge in at times. However, they’re not always right for you and even if they are, they’re not the ones that help you in the bigger scheme of things.

Today, it’s about grabbing the right opportunities rather than hoarding all of them because they will burn you out if they’re not exactly what you were looking for. We’ve instilled the notion that every opportunity is good and yes, sometimes, they might be, but how do they fit in your game plan?

If you’re en route to becoming an investment banking guru (your larger goal) and someone comes up to you saying, “I’d hire you for my real estate business without an ounce of thought, you’re that good,” guaranteeing you a commission of over $200,000 a year, would you take it up? It sounds enticing, it may even be better than what you’re currently earning and you might see yourself going nowhere in the investment banking route. Intrusive thoughts start populating your brain. The question, ‘What if?’ starts looming over you while you rethink important life decisions.

That’s when you seriously consider foregoing a long-term game plan for a short-term advantage.

But, if you’re really focused on what you want to achieve i.e. your larger goal, you wouldn’t give up what you already have to become something that you might excel at. Sticking to ONE THING and becoming unbeatable at that, takes time and we might feel like we’re running out of it. We fail to realize that we must be packed with failures to become a success.

Being loaded with options is confusing. There’s so much to look at on the internet, so many people making it big in different fields that switching jobs or goals has become the single biggest reason for mediocrity. We’re victims and culprits of giving up at the wrong time.

And even if we’re steadfast on our path, with an unwavering commitment to excel at whatever it is we want to achieve, we’re not ready when the big opportunity comes by.

Opportunities are like wildcards, they come in different flavors and sizes, making it a bit tricky to spot the ones worth pursuing. Some of these opportunities might be small, yet with a quick payoff, while others are larger and have more long-term benefits.

So, before taking on any opportunities, it's crucial to take a step back and examine your goals and priorities. Ask yourself what you wish to accomplish in both the short and long term. After that, evaluate each opportunity and assess how it aligns with your objectives.

Consider the potential risks, rewards, and any compromises you might need to make. It's also wise to seek advice from trusted mentors or peers who have a wealth of experience in your industry.

Above all, when selecting an opportunity, stay true to your values and beliefs, and pick the path that feels most authentic and fulfilling.

Remember, to prepare yourself for the big opportunities that come your way, keep munching on the smaller opportunities. There's no shortage of opportunities today, but readiness is what's lacking in most people. Don't get caught off guard when the big opportunity presents itself. That's the kind of hurt you don't want to feel.

For instance, a small opportunity might be a chance to attend a networking event in your industry. Although it may seem like a minor occurrence, it could lead to valuable connections, and you might even land a new job or business partnership. Similarly, taking on a small freelance project might help you build your portfolio and gain experience in a new area.

On the other hand, a big opportunity might be an offer to join a prestigious company or organization in your field. Although it might require significant effort and time, it could lead to substantial career advancement and financial rewards.

Regardless, BE READY. Prep, work hard, burn the midnight oil but don’t hesitate when the big dog knocks on the door.

Let’s go back to that first statement.Opportunity doesn’t knock at your door only once.

While that maybe entirely true for the smaller ones, I can’t say with absolute certainty, that it applies to the bigger opportunities too—sometimes, they come only once a lifetime.

Cheers,

Aamer

Many a times, I’ve adopted different personalities to face unique situations in my life—situations that were foreign to me and that I had never encountered before. The first time it happened was when I actually got on stage to emcee an event that the organizers believed I was fit for. I didn’t know how I was going to fare and if it weren’t for my blazer, the gush of underarm sweat would’ve exposed my nerves in front of an audience of merely fifty people—which obviously consisted of some very important and influential individuals.

Now, my innate personality is actually unknown to a lot of people and I secretly admire the unpredictability I’ve maintained over the years but it was only recently that I stumbled upon a scientific or a mainstream term for what I had done and that was ‘Character Invention.’ My father sent me a LinkedIn post of Sahil Bloom explaining this phenomenon which included Beyoncé adopting ‘Sasha Fierce,’ a character she portrayed on stage or even the late Kobe Bryant embodying ‘The Black Mamba’ at will. And it fascinated me for two reasons.

The first because it explains why I switched personalities in unknown situations. I just hadn’t given it a name but I was doing it. I believe we all do it at some point in our lives. We possibly couldn’t survive in this wrathful world without trying out the occasional alternate personality. And to everyone who says, “I’m the same wherever I go, whoever I meet,” I’m not here to debate you. I’m here to nudge you to try this out in a land where no one knows you; see if it works for you and if it doesn’t, well, then you were on the right path all along, weren’t you?

The second reason is because it gives you leeway to fall back on your original personality. When you adopt a personality in a new situation, you can easily gauge whether it’s working for you or not. The things you’ll say and do will not be you in that scenario—it’ll be the alter ego you’ve adopted and you can go on to unabashedly experiment with this character until you’ve hit the sweet spot.

For me personally, I wouldn’t want dents in my original personality because that’s me. I’ll unapologetically defend myself because I wouldn’t want anyone to mess with my core values, the stuff I wholly and solely believe in until death do me part.

But it’s not the case with Character Invention. What that allows you to do is be open to others, listen to them, maybe even take from them and integrate within this character you’re building and the best part is you won’t even feel guilty about doing it because your original personality is still intact.

More importantly, it’ll get you out there, doing things you otherwise wouldn’t have done. I can’t count the number of times I’ve declined doing something because that would have a chance of hampering my ‘image’ in front of people.

What would people think?

Will it be in line with how they see me?

Is this fitting to what I normally do?

We’re all about conservation when no one out there even gives a damn because they’re all so busy focused on themselves. Damn it, even Beyoncé has to adopt a character to go out on stage. Imagine!

If you’re the person that can live with regrets at the end of their lifetime, more power to you. To all of you who’re willing to go out there and give it a go, you might just unlock a part within yourselves that may surprise even you.

A lot of talented individuals miss out on being what they are supposed to because they weren’t witnessed enough by the world.

Do you know who Michael Jordan is? Everyone does.

Do you know who Sal Brandon is?

Yeah… neither do I. But I’m assuming he was great at something. Guess we’ll never know.

Goodbye,

Aamer

P.S. Apologies to any Sal Brandon out there.

Believing, being grateful, learning, and trying could be considered as the four simple tasks that summarize the world's secrets to becoming the best version of oneself.

Belief can take many forms, whether it's in yourself, your company, your true purpose in life, your values, a higher power, or everything all at once. When you have strong belief, it solidifies your mind and allows you to work without distractions or worries because it gives you a sense of confidence. This confidence pushes you forward and assures you that you will succeed. If you lack belief, you may second-guess every decision and miss the right opportunities. Although the path to success may not be straightforward, you must believe in yourself and have the courage to take the right path, even if it twists and turns. You must convince others of your abilities, but this can only be done if you believe in yourself first. Otherwise, you risk poorly selling a great product, which should sell itself.

Practicing gratitude every morning is an underrated yet highly effective task. Relying on motivation alone to get through each day is not sustainable because motivation is not linear; it ebbs and flows. The rule of thirds states that on the journey to your dream, you will feel great one-third of the time, okay one-third of the time, and miserable one-third of the time. However, when you practice gratitude for what you have every day, it increases the ratio of feeling great just a bit. Even on the days when things are not going your way, being grateful reminds you of all the achievements and successes you've had along the way. It helps you realize that things are not as bad as they seem, and it motivates you to work harder to achieve your goals. Before you ask for more, take a moment to be grateful for what you already have.

Learning is essential, even if you've just graduated from university. You must continue to learn and, more importantly, unlearn to move forward. Knowledge acquisition is key to setting yourself apart from others. It is the accumulation of years of computation by some of the most brilliant minds who have walked the same path as you. The best part is that they've already tried and failed, learned from their mistakes, and passed on their knowledge to you through words. What more could you ask for? To develop skills that universities cannot teach, spend your time, energy, and effort reading, taking courses, and attending valuable events. Learning should be a lifelong pursuit that differentiates you from others.

Trying is a crucial part of achieving success, but the harsh reality is that you may not succeed on your first attempt, or even your second or third. It's impossible to predict. However, beyond each attempt, something is waiting for you. You don't have to wait for it; it's waiting for you. The journey to success is different for everyone. Some find success on their first try, while others may take three or even forty attempts because destiny plays a role. Rather than fixating on the destination, fall in love with the process. Instead of solely focusing on the goal, develop habits. Instead of waiting for the satisfaction of achieving your vision, break it down into smaller achievements and celebrate them daily. It's a long road, but enjoy the scenery along the way, and eventually, you'll find comfort in your journey. Once you do, the destination becomes less important.

Our other vertical, under the Zed Medium umbrella, It’s That Easy! is the podcast partner of Wolf Den. Let’s get them introduced.

Venture Wolf’s sole objective is to help businesses of all stages meet their funding needs. Venture Wolf works with more than 5000 investors across the globe that include HNIs, Private Investors, Angel Investors, Family Offices, VC Firms, International Funds, Micro VCs, Impact funds, CSR Funds, Banks, NBFCs, Corporate Houses and more.

Venture Wolf is coming up with their flagship event "Wolf Den" across 7 cities in India.

Starting with Mumbai the events will be followed by Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.  Wolf Den Investors Summit - Mumbai is scheduled to take place on 20th of May at Mayor Hall - Andheri West, Mumbai, India. This event is expected to see around 100 entrepreneurs and quality startups pitch to more than 100+ investors attending the event from across the globe. 

The event will see 2 formats of pitching - Open Stage (10 mins pitch) and Closed Door (30 mins).

The tickets for startups in Open Stage are priced at INR 10,000 for Indian Startups, INR 15,000 for Non-Indian Startups and INR 25,000 for Closed Door pitching.

Wolf Den will be a great opportunity for startups and entrepreneurs to network and raise funds.  

If you’re an early stage startup, growth stage startup, SME or MSME and looking to raise funds, contact manav@venturewolf.in for more information.

We are proud to mention that the It’s That Easy! podcast is the podcast partner of the event.

That’s our four minutes for today.

Ciao,

Aamer

Life may be unfair, uncertain, haphazard, rollercoaster-y and even fragile at times but it’s far from complicated.

If you’re outworking your peer but are constantly overlooked during promotion, that’s life being unfair. If you’re leaving your job to start your own thing without having a concrete plan in place, that’s life being uncertain. If all the problems you envisaged get dumped on you at the same time, that’s life being haphazard. If you’ve had rampant ups (happy moments) and downs (not-so happy moments) in a very short period of time, that’s life being rollercoaster-y. If you’ve recently lost a loved one, that’s life being fragile.

Life’s not complicated, it takes time for us to figure it out at times. Every new negative experience in our life puts us on edge and stresses us out until we find a solution to it. In that moment, we label life as tangled, confusing and irreparable. What we view as complication is actually all about duration—the amount of time it takes you to put two and two together and come up with a solution. More often than not, what you think is a crisis, is actually not but you need to go through a process to reach that conclusion for yourself.

Life’s as simple as you imagine it to be. The problem today, however, is the mindset. With all of the information available at our fingertips, we’ve also been led to believe that complicated is good; that if you’re not struggling, you’re not progressing, that if you’re not living each moment thinking about the next, you’re not developing, that if you’re not doing something productive every single minute of your life, you’re wasting it altogether.

And so, we’ve all been trying to complicate things so that we don’t end up either unhappy, unintelligent or unsuccessful, proving, that life is actually simple but we want to view it as being complicated for our own satisfaction.

Which is what I did for a good chunk of my life.

I’ve always had a problem with things being too simple. Maybe it was the fact that simple things didn’t yield the same amount of satisfaction that difficult things did after you’ve accomplished them, which is true in a certain sense… but that doesn’t mean everything has to be difficult for us to attain it.

Which is why I complicated the contents of this newsletter in past issues, to a point where things didn’t really make sense till you read them thrice. But complication is what I wanted, not what you wanted. Your subscription meant learning about things without having to waste 15 minutes reading a 5-min write-up.

And I get that now.

Which should also explain my two week gap. I was figuring things out.

Expect simpler, more effective and direct content moving forward.

Ciao,

Aamer

We’re a mistake-making, walking-talking, in-flesh-and-blood machines. We can’t do without wrongs in our life and if you think your life is going perfect at the moment, it’s either because you’ve gone through the period of wrongs or… and we’re sorry to say this, you’re about to.

This newsletter is all about positively making an impact in your life but sometimes you must be hit with tough truths that you just cannot escape. This one is for parents, godparents, mentors and guardians more than anyone else.

A Story For You

Airports are melting pots, filled with people who are haphazardly looking for either their gates, cheap restaurants or if their loaded and a little too fancy, a lounge. It was at an airport that I once had the fortune of meeting a wise, old man. I deemed him wise because he was philosophical in his speech and eloquent with his choice of words.

His advice seemed as if it were coming from someone sitting under a large, old tree. I felt an overwhelming sense of liberation in his company but I recall him reprimanding me as I attempted to surreptitiously jump ahead of a person in a long queue by stating, "Not one person has reached where they were supposed to by skipping steps on the way". Although I initially dismissed his words, I soon learned their significance as I was apprehended by the security and asked to return to my proper position.

We’ll take a detour from the story here. Don’t worry, we’ll circle back to it soon.

Occasionally, children have a clear vision of what they want to pursue in life, while others become rebellious and some eventually find their way in life. Elders play a crucial role in guiding children towards their calling. I have great admiration for those who recognize their children's strengths and allow them to pursue their dreams. Personally, I have the privilege of pursuing what I want and therefore, I refrain from making unwarranted assumptions.

The reason I raise this issue is because I firmly believe that everyone has their own path to follow. Our elders followed a path that led them to where they are today, and so must we, their children. Experience is the best teacher, not mere words. If people learned solely from what they were told, they would never make mistakes. Although there is much to be learned through speech, the problem lies in the silent statement every elder tells themselves: "He/She will be the best kid." This statement marks the beginning of a rigorous process of molding and shaping the child.

In striving to be the best at everything, people fail to understand that they are merely average at everything. No one wants to see a B, C, or D on their child's report card. Nobody desires their offspring to be less competitive than others. Everyone compares their child with others. However, not every child is the same and once you understand that completely, you’re far above the rest in terms of mindset.

Allow your child to stumble, learn, and rise again. Do not misunderstand me - if things go awry, do intervene but not before. Your offspring will be missing out on some magical progress if you intervene too early.

Let me return to my earlier story. Teach your child right from wrong, good from bad, and instill morals, values, and beliefs. Do not try to shortcut your child's journey by intervening unnecessarily. Preventing them from making mistakes now is the same as guaranteeing that they will make them in the future. Everyone reaches their destination in their own way, and their fate cannot be altered, only their learning experiences.

So, as the wise, old man said, “Not one person has reached where they are supposed to be by skipping steps on the way”.

Leave a comment

Goodbye,

Aamer

The last week of February seemed to have flown by for us. It’s the end of yet another successful month for Zed Medium, our parent company and we can’t wait to unravel everything in store of us in the coming months of 2023.

Our podcast, ‘It’s That Easy!’ churned out four inspiring episodes on Indian startups and their founders, the links of which you can find below:

Khalihaan, a startup that’s building India’s fastest farm-to-kitchen grocery platform - by Aalok Rajput

Bold Care, a startup that’s virtually ‘erecting’ an all-inclusive store for men’s health and wellness - by Rajat Jadhav

Medkart, a startup that’s aiming to be India’s most trusted generic medicine pharmacy - by Ankur Agarwal

Kiko Live, a startup that’s using video calling and live shopping to bridge the gap between you and your retail store - by Alok Chawla

If you’re interested in any of the above startups and want to get in touch with them for investments, send us an email on aamer@zedmedium.com!

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter for more!

A Story For You

Family gatherings can be complex events that evoke varied emotions in people. Some individuals cherish these gatherings, while others detest them; some eagerly anticipate them, while others completely ignore them.

The emotions that surface before and during such events are influenced by one's past experiences with family members. This dichotomy of emotions is not uncommon and is observed among many individuals. Interestingly, similar mixed emotions can be observed in a business context. From a different perspective, a family gathering can be likened to a business or a business event, to some extent even an exhibition. This write-up aims to elucidate this comparison for those who find it perplexing.

Business events, like family gatherings, have their admirers and detractors. One's experiences with specific individuals who attend these events can shape their perception of them. The presence of people often dominates such events. Some people are congenial and easy to talk to, like an open-minded aunt who finds humor in everything. On the other hand, some people are best avoided, such as extended family members who gaze at your family with suspicion.

Similarly, in a business event, the focus is on networking, expanding one's business connections, and building rapport with clients. However, it is also necessary to keep an eye out for competition and new entrants in the industry who may pose a threat.

At family gatherings, one may encounter peculiar situations that can seem unfamiliar if they are not accustomed to them. Every family has its own issues, and when conflicts arise, someone must intervene to resolve them. Certain individuals wield significant influence in the family and are tasked with resolving disputes and restoring harmony.

Similarly, in a business context, the top management is responsible for ensuring that the company runs smoothly. When things go wrong, they step in and rectify the situation. They are respected and hold a certain degree of power due to their accomplishments, which is why they are entrusted with the final say in crucial matters.

Family gatherings are an opportunity to interact with individuals of different personalities. However, it is crucial to treat everyone equally and avoid offending anyone. This applies to the social environment in a business context as well. Each employee has their own preferences and dislikes, and it is important for the employer to treat everyone fairly to promote a cohesive work culture. When employees get along and complement each other's work, the business is more likely to succeed, just like a family.

There are several ways to compare the ideologies of a family and a business. From politics to mindsets, everything can be scrutinized for similarities. For instance, mafia families are considered one of the most successful organizations and serve as a perfect example of what businesses could achieve if everyone were in sync.

A Story From You

Families can be tough for some and easy for the others. The way you treat them is dangerously similar to how you’ve been treated by them over the years.

So, what’s it been like for you in family gatherings?

Leave a comment

See you on Thursday!

Aamer

Every once in a while, the uncertainty of the future and the rigorous routine gets to you. You’re just down in the dumps and nobody can pull you back up—not friends, not your family or your spouse.

It’s not burn out, it’s a feeling of wanting to uncontrollably weep because things aren’t going your way. Everything you’re doing isn’t translating to the results you expected your actions would yield. And although James Clear, Simon Sinek, Robin Sharma, Tony Robbins, Louise Hay and Chris Gardner have been your guides on YouTube for a while, you could care less about ‘grinding no matter what’, ‘following the routine’, ‘trusting the process’, ‘taking massive, determined action’ and ‘mastering the art of loving yourself’.

We do not wish to discourage crying or experiencing dejection; indeed, it can be a cathartic and transformative experience. But after you’re done with your bawling session, look to the past. Rejoice in the beginning of your journey. The feeling of having come this far is a very unique kind of joy. And you won’t believe it till you try it!

In the spirit of the movie, ‘Inception’, we would like to share a story from our past about transcending time while gazing out at the ocean.

A Story From Our Past

The ocean has an uncustomary familiarity to it. Even with our inability to gauge anything beyond, it bestows upon us peace and harmony; except for when it’s furious. I’m not a sailor, nor do I live in Japan, so I presume myself safe, until the ocean decides otherwise one day.

On numerous occasions, I have found myself transcend into the past. More often than not, this transcendence has taken place when I’m staring at the vast expanse of the ocean. And although I believe, a harmless flashback is not all that bad, I refrain myself whenever I can.

That’s because I am divided unevenly between the present and the future, leaving not even some elbow room for the past. Is that bad? Maybe. But who is the judge of that? And to be honest, I have had my tiffs with the past. But that’s just me.

My memory is abysmal—it’s both deep and bad. It’s deep because I can recall feelings—how I felt at a certain point of time in my life. It’s bad because I cannot remember the events that led me to feel that way. And if you put two and two together, you’ll realise that that might be the worst possible combination because if you don’t remember what caused all the negative feelings at the time, how would you make sure they’re not repeated?

But that day was different. Standing by the shore, facing the ocean, taking in the striking seaweed stench, the transcendence hit and I was transported back to a time I had completely forgotten about.

I was 12-years-old and I could see myself surrounded by everyone I loved. The feeling was indescribable... I didn’t know I had this memory, I had never thought about it before. I breathed in and out and smiled... while passerby changed their routes because they assumed I was insane.

That moment was special because I don’t remember anything that happened before or after. My subconscious had decided to capture only that moment and I’m glad it did. I was least interested in what preceded or followed.

And just like that, I was teleported back to the present where I spent the rest of the day content.

The mind plays beautiful games, perhaps to fool the heart. A silly thought had been pestering me that day and I can only assume that was my mind’s way of showing me where I’d come from and that, at the end, it was all going to be okay.

My relationship with the past ripened, just a smidgen that day.

Leave a comment

See ya,

Aamer

Copping out of tough situations isn’t the ideal route, even though it’s the path with least obstacles. If anything, it’s widely recognized as an act of cowardice. Having said that, not everyone is adept at handling such situations. Being able to handle a crisis like a pro when the future is berserkly unpredictable and standing your ground when s&%* hits the fan, is a skill that’s cultivated and nurtured by only a handful of people.

A research team from Japan created a new polymer, ‘polyether-thiourea’—a new type of glass that heals under pressure rather than cracking. We haven’t reached that stage in evolution where we can start healing under crises but we can sure as hell learn more about it to avert the unwarranted damage that it comes with.

A crisis, personal or professional, is one of two things. It’s either a breeding ground for phoenixes—a bird that burns itself every five hundred years to be born once again; or it’s a battlefield that damages you just enough to shatter your confidence into irreparable shards. And even though we all want to be knights and knightesses in shining armors and rise up to the occasion, tackling the problem head-on, not all of us can.

However, as stated above, it’s a skill and not talent. It’s something to be learnt, not something you’re born with. If not practiced enough, it can be forgotten.

And that begs the question—Even if someone wants to practice the art of dealing with a crisis, how do they do it when it’s not something that happens that often? In addition, why would someone wish for a crisis just to practice dealing with it?

Well, we knew someone that was just about a genius when it came to toughing out the difficult times and he didn’t need several crises to become a master at it—he needed only one.

A Story For You

James had always been the one to go the extra mile. As soon as he graduated from college, he set his sights on mounting the corporate ladder quickly. He wasn’t your run-of-the-mill employee who would immediately slam his laptop shut when the clock hit 5. He went above and beyond to get the job done even if that meant burning the midnight oil and then immediately reporting back to office at the break of dawn.

He didn’t come from poverty or humble origins, but he was extremely ambitious and incredibly hardworking and that, according to a majority of his seniors, was a lethal combination. James had never experienced a difficult or testing time in his life. Not that someone else took care of the situation for him; he was fortunate enough to have never gone through a ‘crisis’. And he was aloof to his peers who envied him for where he had reached without going through certain obstacles they had been subjected to, during their journey.

His efforts in the company paid off and he was picked up by a Fortune 500 company where he cemented his place at a high-ranking position in a very short period of time. Great salary, beachfront home, an amazing office, rubbing shoulders with the most powerful people in the industry, the works.

The fact that he was always at peace topped the list of things that his peers, juniors, and seniors secretly envied about him among a bunch of other things. He was never too ecstatic when things went right nor was he too depressed when things weren’t going his way. The most they ever got out of him when he cracked a $2.5 million deal, the biggest of his career at the time, was a grin that lasted for precisely 9.5 seconds.

It wasn’t that he purposefully concealed his feelings but he had this innate ability to not want to celebrate the highs and moan the lows. He wasn’t a prude or a killjoy; in fact, his presence always calmed people down. But James was yet to face a situation that challenged his peace of mind. And when everything seemed to be hunky dory for him, that’s exactly when the situation went south.

The company was accused of stock manipulation and the CEO, of embezzlement. The news rocked the industry and the entire top management was brought under investigation. James was caught in the crossfire—his rapid growth within the company drew the spotlight to him. The intimate relationship he shared with a lot of powerful people across various industries was cause for suspicion. And even though James was innocent, there wasn’t anyone around him that could concretely prove that he, in fact, had done nothing wrong.

The pressure was intense. James had to answer difficult questions, navigate a complex legal system, and deal with the constant scrutiny of the press. With very little support from his colleagues, who were also battling for their livelihoods, he was on his own and what was worse, was that this was his first time in a crisis. He had never been subjected to such horrid accusations before and the situation was getting overwhelming. For someone who hadn’t gone through a lot of hardships in life, this felt like a convergence of all the accumulated bad luck over the years.

Subscribe now

The thought of giving in crossed his mind, after a terrible sequence of mishaps which included 75% of the workforce resigning followed by the company going belly up and almost all of the top executives indicted for their shady activities during their time at the company. The only person from senior management left to be formally charged, was James. It went without saying that he lost his job, his home and car. Apart from the savings and investments from the time at his previous company, he had nothing left.

James appeared in court one day, with a stoic demeanor, similar to the one he always had when he made his way to the top of the food chain. Something about him had changed completely. It didn't even feel like he was accused, it felt like he was there as a witness. In the next 2 months, he was acquitted of any wrongdoing. The lawyers couldn’t put together any burden of proof to support their claims. He left the court a free and falsely and partially stained man.

Years later, after James rebuilt himself from scratch, he was asked, by one of his juniors, about his court case and how he managed to keep his calm during the crisis.

That’s when he spilled the beans.

“That was my first big crisis. I had had smaller issues before, but that was a biggy so it took time for me to get a hold of the situation. I’ve never celebrated when I did well, nor have I sulked when things haven’t gone my way. I’m not a fan of extremes. Extreme happiness, extreme sadness has never been my cup of tea because one always comes with the other. If you’re really happy one day, you’re bound to compare that with another day and feel sad. It’s something I’ve learnt over the years.

No matter how good things are going, it’s eventually going to end, so I always closed my eyes and skipped right to the end, acting and deceiving my heart—telling it that it’s already over. You might think of it as sadistic or stupid but my ambition allowed to me celebrate small wins for a very short period of time. And over time, even the big wins. But that also allowed me to use this very skill to make sure I got over the bad times quickly. I closed my eyes, skipped right to the end and pretended like everything bad that had to happen, had already happened.

It’s only after a crisis that you heave a sigh of relief and scoff at how trivial the issue was. Imagine if you thought about it before. That’s what I trained myself to do. I’ve had obstacles in my life that no one knows about and I’m not one to really show what I’ve been through. But it was all trivial compared to what people imagine and make it up to be in their heads.

The next time you’re in a situation where you feel there’s no way out, close your eyes, skip to the end and believe that’s it already over. That’s when you clear your mind and start actively finding ways to handle the situation instead of clouding your thoughts with doubt, anger, sadness and guilt.”

Leave a comment

Until next time,

Aamer

“Each of us—we are each our own worst critic.” —Ellen Hendriksen, in an interview with The Guardian.

We’re all stalwarts of the critiquing organization. We’re either neck-deep in self-criticism or we’re inevitably doing it to others. To those that deem this calumny, we’ve got credible reason to prove otherwise.

Of the thousands of different voices we have in our heads, it’s the critic we give the most importance to. We barely listen to the voices that tell us we look good today, or that nudge us to appreciate the people around us, or even the ones that tell us to speak up in front of our bosses. However, we’re all ears to that one tiny but powerful voice that tells us we’re not deserving of everything that’s coming our way; that we shouldn’t walk up to someone we like because they’ll think we’re ugly or that we shouldn’t speak publicly because we might make a fool out of ourselves.

This puny voice commands us to think about things we’re better off without and it’s hysterical because we listen to it! It’s been with some of us for so long that giving in to it, has become an involuntary reaction. It’s taken over our lives, prohibiting us from progressing because we wholeheartedly believe that it’s right when in reality, it’s just a bad seed.

The mind, especially that of a youngling, is fertile land. The only drawback is that the owner of this fertile land, i.e. you, isn’t in control of what is sown. You can reap the benefits, but what is planted is in the control of those around you. If someone appreciates your intelligence, it’s a good seed sown in the fertile land. Your parent calls you beautiful, that’s another good seed. A friend compliments your problem-solving skills, that’s yet another good seed in the bank. Like these, the fertile land is planted with all sorts of seeds that people around you are willing to contribute. But not all contributions are benevolent.

Bad seeds are potent. They infest fertile grounds and grow faster and more aggressively than the good seeds. Research has proven that criticism has a more long-lasting effect than appreciation, because we’re subconsciously programmed to water the bad seeds more often than the good ones. With time, bad seeds grow into bad trees with their roots firmly set in the land that’s slowly but persistently losing its fertility.

Self-criticism is not just a problem for us, it also affects how we see others. We’re quick to judge, and our thoughts are usually centered around our own insecurities. The negativity that we sow inside ourselves is a reflection of ourselves rather than of others. Have you ever thought about how the faults you find in others are, in some ways, the shortcomings of your life?

If someone doubted your intelligence when you were young, any reiteration towards that, even the slightest of criticism in that direction, reinforces the fact that you’re stupid. There then comes a point when, even if someone compliments your intelligence, you doubt their credibility and tag them as a foolish person because they weren’t able to identify you correctly.

It’s funny how we’re the only species capable of thought and speech, producing sounds that formed, what we know today as, ‘language’, but the inner voice uses these sounds to ridicule and criticize instead of appreciate and love. On the contrary, look at animals—they howl, fight, scratch and bite but can never scar another animal for life, with a bark, roar, meow, coo or cackle.

Never mind the futile comparison with animals, bad seeds, that turn into solid trees with their roots firmly set in the land, can’t be uprooted. They can, however, be overshadowed, by watering the good seeds profusely. And you can do that, by accepting one fact:

Nothing that someone else does or says is because of you.

They’ll criticize you because it makes them feel better.

They’ll appreciate you because it again, makes them feel better.

The only difference is that one spreads hate, while the other one spreads love.

A Story For You

There was once an amateur painter who had recently completed his art course. He used his bristly paint brush to manifest his imagination onto canvasses, in ways that mesmerized onlookers. He was ambitious, young and talented but despairingly insecure.

He craved for appreciation and loathed criticism. Yet, he always sought people’s opinions on his caliber and painting skills. Validation from strangers would keep him at peace and reassure him of the path he was taking. However, even a hint of criticism would blister his ego and his wrath would immediately take precedence.

The complicated fella was aware of his shortcomings but still wanted to get ‘constructive’ criticism for his work. He found a way around it.

One morning, he put up his creation at a bursting street junction and placed a sign board below that read — I have painted this piece. Since I’ve recently completed my course, I might have committed a few mistakes in my strokes. Please put a cross wherever you feel there’s a mistake.

And so, he left.

When he came back in the evening, after running a few errands, he was furious to see the whole canvass filled with Xs (crosses). Some individuals even took the liberty of writing comments on the painting. He ran to the master that taught him at the course, his self-belief dwindling and his confidence hanging by a thread, and burst into tears.

“I placed my creation into the hands of the audience and the verdict is out,” he said, taking out the painting, now completely red with crosses. “The people have rejected me.”

The master smiled and said, “My son, I want you to know you’re a good artist and are on your way to become great. Paint it again and bring it to me, we’re going to the junction to display your work again.”

The young painter reluctantly agreed and two days later, presented the replica to the master. "Come with me," the master said.

They reached the bustling area once again and displayed the uncanny replica in the same place as the youngling had done a couple of days earlier. The master took another board and wrote — I have painted this piece. Since I’ve recently completed my course, I might have committed a few mistakes in my strokes. I have put a box with brushes and paint below this painting. If you see a mistake, kindly pick up the brush and correct it as a favor to me.

The master and disciple walked back home.

They visited the same place in the evening. The young painter was surprised to see that not a single thing had been changed in the painting. The day after that too, the painting remained untouched. In fact, they kept it at the junction for one whole month to see if anyone would pick up the brush to correct anything in the painting. But no one did.

“There are several critiques in the world,” the master said, “but only a few, who’ll actually help you. Those that crossed your painting, did it not for you, but for themselves. And in case someone had helped you, they’d be doing that for themselves too. The only difference would’ve have been that one would be spreading hate while the other, love.”

A story adapted from SpeakingTree.in.

Until next time,

Aamer

We call ourselves creatures of habit but we come with our own sets of terms and conditions which, like on any other product, are invisible to the naked eye. A closer look at the humankind manual and you’ll find the statement, 'we might be creatures of habit but we’re quick to latch on to the wrong ones,’ written with a tone of mockery.

Our brain is capable of so many beautiful things. It has the ability to be eloquent in numerous languages, control thought, memory, emotion, motor skills, vision, breathing, hunger and every process that regulates our body, store almost 2.5 petabytes (or 2.5 million gigabytes) of information and even decode the secrets of the universe. But when it comes to refusing a smoke, or a drink (even coffee), not snoozing alarms, not clicking Next Episode on Netflix or not scrolling endlessly on social media, the brain conveniently yields. Our brain is powerful but gullible all the same.

The complex, and remarkably only organ which has named itself, is aware of the fact that bad habits are easier to adopt, primarily because they provide immediate reinforcements.

• Spending money triggers a rush of endorphins while saving it triggers zilch.

• Even though reading a book mentally stimulates your mind, binge-watching your favorite series requires minimal effort.

• Unhealthy food is delectable and spikes dopamine but healthy food is less tasty and doesn’t give you the same feeling…

…productivity versus procrastination, sleeping early versus partying, similarly waking up in the wee hours versus wasting half the day asleep, lazing around versus sweating it out at the gym and the list goes on. Each negative activity is rewarded with dopamine, endorphins, buzzes, hits almost immediately.

Breaking bad habits and replacing them with virtuous ones is a challenge, fundamentally because the latter is a slower process. When you smoke a cigarette, you’re likely to experience an immediate buzz, which reinforces the effect a cigarette has on you. Unfortunately, when you hit the gym, you’re not going to see results on the very first day, or the second day, may be not even for a week, sometimes for a month. That doesn’t mean your body isn’t undergoing change—it’s just taking its time. But we’ve lost our patience. We need instant gratification; we put in the effort and we’re waiting for the result right there and then. And that’s where we all falter.

The irony is that we all want a life that embodies the perfect routine, similar to the ones we see on Instagram reels or on TikTok. Waking up on time, grinding some coffee, going for a run, taking a shower, reading a self-development book, spreading a throw blanket on the couch, aligning the books on the wooden table, making the perfect breakfast, washing it down with smoothie, all before 9 AM. It’s a good dream to have, there’s no doubt about that, but execution’s where a majority of us give up.

It takes time and effort; more importantly, it takes repetition and a strong will to do the same thing every single day. And it’s a given that you’re going to fail on some days, but what’s going to separate you from the lot is the ability to move from one failure to the other without losing enthusiasm.

That was Winston Churchill, by the way.

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”—Churchill, not Zed Letter Day.

It takes a great deal of tenacity to show up every day and put in efforts that aren’t leading up to immediate results. There will be moments of anger, of frustration, of feeling tired, exhausted and drained and it’s all part of the process. Good habits may be easy on the eye, but they’re the most difficult to maintain; and it is their maintenance that propel you to what you’re looking for.

That’s why not everyone can do it. How many people do you know that follow their routine to the T? It’s likely you’re going to miss a few things from your list but the overall goal is to do as much from your daily routine as possible. Your efforts might be met with a reward after a long time but if you stick to the process, they surely will be rewarded. And sticking to the process is universally applicable to anything—it doesn’t only relate to habits. Let’s share a story with you to tell you what we mean.

A Story For You

This one’s relatively known but goes a long way to demonstrate what we mean when we say, “Good things need not give you instant gratification but in the long term, they’re far better than puny spikes in hormones.”

“Once, there was an older man, who was broke, living in a tiny house and owned a beat up car. He was living off of $99 social security checks. At 65 years of age, he decide things had to change. So he thought about what he had to offer. His friends raved about his chicken recipe. He decided that this was his best shot at making a change.

He left Kentucky and traveled to different states to try to sell his recipe. He told restaurant owners that he had a mouthwatering chicken recipe. He offered the recipe to them for free, just asking for a small percentage on the items sold. Sounds like a good deal, right?

Unfortunately, not to most of the restaurants. He heard NO over 1000 times. Even after all of those rejections, he didn’t give up. He believed his chicken recipe was something special. He got rejected 1009 times before he heard his first yes.

With that one success Colonel Hartland Sanders changed the way Americans eat chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken, popularly known as KFC, was born.

Remember, never give up and always believe in yourself in spite of rejection.”

(Credits: Thought Catalog)

And to end today’s newsletter, here is a tip to create good habits—just tell yourself a good story.

If you want to create a new exercise habit (for example), you might tell yourself something like this:

“This is going to be amazing, I’m going to get fit and look incredible and be super healthy!”

This is a story you’re telling yourself. It’s not real, but it has tremendous power to affect your feelings about your habit, and to change your action. You have a positive story about the habit, and it motivates you to take action.

But perhaps the exercise you did one day was really tough, and you didn’t enjoy it. Your story might change, to something like, “Wow, that was super hard. It sucked!”

Now your story about the habit is not so good, and you’ll be less enthusiastic about doing the habit from now on.

Maybe you also missed a couple of days of exercise because you got busy. Your story changes to, “Damn, I screwed up, I’m not as good at this habit as I thought, why am I not disciplined?”

The story isn’t so good. Now you might actually try not think about the habit, and you are much more likely to skip the habit from now on.

The story you tell yourself about your habit matters more than most people realize.

So the key is to shape the story, become your own habit storyteller, and create a story that will make you more likely to stick to the habit.

(Credits: Zen Habits)

So what habits do you want to adopt?

Leave a comment

Until next time,

Aamer

The socially recognized fact that we’ve only used 10% of our mind, is actually a myth. It’s been disputed by experts and research has prevailed over what we predominantly learnt from Hollywood. What’s not been disputed, however, is the claim that the main function of the brain is dreaming. During an average lifetime, we spend 6 years dreaming. You know how we transcend to the exquisite beaches of Maldives in the middle of submitting a work report—yeah, that’s not even counted.

This isn’t an exposé, it’s the context to the issue we’re focusing on today; not the literal meaning of dreams—the figurative one.

It’s our prerogative to dream. We might not have as profound a dream as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Walt Disney, Oprah Winfrey or even Henry Ford but our dreams are dear to us and that’s all that matters.

In a society where it’s become mandatory to live on social media, displaying all the good while negating all the bad, dreams remain the only air of mystery around us. They can’t be held captive in pictures on Instagram or in 280 characters on Twitter; they eclipse time, space and reality to make the world a more livable place for us.

“Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.”

—Langston Hughes

Dreams do feel better when they’re realized though. If dreaming is our prerogative, then setting out on the path to achieve them is our duty. Yes, it is deemed as a privilege to follow your dreams today but even those with the privilege hesitate a million times before starting out.

Regardless, the brave ones that’ve packed heavy and are already on the path—there are certain things you must be wary of. Everyone has their own journey, their own ups and downs but there’s always stories for you to learn from; stories you can use, to hopefully avoid the same mistakes those that came before you made—it helps you navigate faster around the roadblocks. The passion of realizing your dream sometimes deludes you from seeing what’s right in front of you. This is one such story.

And because this anecdote is relatively controversial, we’ll respect the privacy of the individuals and name them Ken and Ben. They were from the independent music industry, that was bustling in India a couple of years ago.

A Story For You

Ken and Ben coincidentally relocated to Goa around the same time, back in the dark ages of 2020. They met at an eco-stay, run by a very influential name in the music industry. Unlike the traditional meaning of the term ‘eco-stay’, the idea behind such an accommodation was to stay and volunteer there; and in return you learnt about music and boosted your chances of being recognized by the established players.

COVID-19 was spreading like wildfire and it birthed the idea of being a digital nomad so the relocation to Goa was a smart move.

Basking in the knowledge of other musicians was everything they ever wanted—the matching of wavelengths with like-minded individuals would bolster their musical abilities. Their tastes in music and their vision were quite similar. Not only that—they both were ambitious, dared to dream and were willing to do anything to realize that dream. Their passion and hunger was what made them thick as thieves from the very beginning.

Share Zed Letter Day

This eco-stay was loaded with the most beautiful sound systems, the best of equipments and unrivaled talent from across the nation. It looked like the place to be if you were ever going to make it big in music.

Ken and Ben had thoughtlessly pounced on the enticing offerings the eco-stay had promised. Who wouldn't? They only had to do a few chores to keep the place clean and after, learn from the best in the industry. It wasn’t a bad deal at all. However, things began unfolding as they moved in.

All that glittered wasn’t gold.

They were made to sweep the floor, clean dishes, make beds, launder clothes all day and were only allotted 30 minutes with the shiny equipment. They slogged for 10 hours every day in return for an abysmal reward. What looked like a sought-after kingdom was a torture chamber in reality. Everyone labored to make the king’s stay as comfortable as possible. And the king was the so-called influential musical genius running the place.

Parties were scheduled every single night. These were events where big labels scouted talents and offered them life-changing contracts. It was their dream to play there but they could only watch from afar. The fact that they were in such close proximity to events of that magnitude, and were yet denied a chance to play, deeply hurt them. They rebelled but all they got was “You’re not there yet. A little more work.”

They were exploited and taken advantage of every day for the next couple of months in hopes of someday, playing for a significant crowd. They became slaves for their dreams. But they were in the situation together. That’s what kept them going.

The influential musical genius saw their bond growing and sensed trouble. He started favoring one over the other to make sure they didn’t rebel any further. Divide and rule as every tyrant once did to keep his kingdom intact. He took Ben under his wing and started teaching him stuff he already knew.

A naive Ben fell for the trap, elated with the efforts of his newfound mentor. Ken awaited his turn but soon realized that it was never coming. He tried talking to Ben about it but the latter was blindsided with what he thought was a bright future ahead. He ignored Ken and they eventually fell out.

Within a month, Ken was kicked out. Everyone around him saw it coming. He had taken a stand for himself. He still dreamt but he knew what was wrong and confronted the concerned person about him. He stopped doing anything that was unrelated to music and proudly stood his ground by rejecting tasks that were beneath him. The promises made by the eco-stay weren’t delivered so he demanded what was rightfully his. He set clear boundaries and made sure no one was given the liberty to cross it. He had had enough.

Ken left with a stronger will to achieve his dream.

As of today, Ken is a well-established artist in the independent music industry, maturing and evolving day in day out. Meanwhile, Ben’s consistently improving on his chopping skills at the eco-stay.

Until next time,

Harsh & Aamer

Welcome back to another Monday! If you’re feeling invincible today, we couldn’t be happier for you. But, if you’re down in the dumps…

A Story For You

One of the perks of growing up in a small community, especially one populated with defense households, is that age doesn’t play a role in who you choose to be friends with. It opens up the opportunity to mingle with people elder to you and learn from their experience. I definitely had the option to dominate the younglings but I would’ve learnt nothing there. Instead, I befriended two seniors. That way, I would always be ahead of the curve. A mastermind indeed.

They were thick as thieves before I met them but they never treated me like an intruder even though I was late to the party. It was an interesting dynamic at the beginning—they did the talking and I, the listening. I enjoyed their daily squabbles and their constant need to challenge each other. It always made my day when they chose mundane tasks that everyone was too lazy to complete, and turned completing them into a crazy competition.

Even though they had taken me in as a relatively immature, impressionable kid, an onlooker would beg to differ. Their quarrels made me look like the babysitter. Their intrinsic need to make everything a competition might have been perceived as childish by the outside world, but it actually benefited them immensely. I saw that when examinations were around the corner, right around the end of the second semester, in 2015.

At the time, everyone was given 2 weeks to prepare for the final examinations of the 10th grade and it was during this period that both my senior counterparts used their innate competitiveness to prepare. I was elated just to be a bystander. They’d start with discussions and end with arguments, every single time. They’d then settle their arguments by challenging each other to find the correct answer to the question at hand.

There were times when the situation got heated and I would tell them to cool or walk it off but they’d discard my suggestions and continue with their confrontations. They were so obsessed with proving each other’s point that they would go to great lengths to do so, irrespective of how it would make the other feel. It wasn’t normal, it was toxic behaviour and the saint in me accepted them for who they were, not that they ever asked.

Come to think of it, they were like pieces of the same puzzle. One could grasp things faster whereas the other could recall long answers quite easily. Their unique styles of preparation complemented each other. That’s why, no matter how bad things got, they always studied together.

Examinations ended and results were out. To everyone’s surprise, they both got the exact same score—the percentage equivalent being 98%. It was momentary disbelief before everything returned to normal for me, so I didn’t really bother asking them how. They eventually left for high school soon after and we didn’t speak again till the pandemic.

The three of us hopped on a video call during the peak of COVID-19 and walked down memory lane for a while. More than anything, it was nostalgia that made me ask them about the scores they got and how they did it. It wasn’t lingering on my mind but I loved learning from them—old habits die hard.

“Guys, how’d you guys score so well?” I asked.

“You really want to know?” They grinned.

After a few seconds of smiles, silence and subsequent snickering, they said, “Well, we were just jealous of each other so we used that to our advantage to get better.”

They knew each other’s configurations so well that it was impossible for them to keep something a secret. They had listed down all their insecurities when they were younger and realized that they were jealous of each other. When I heard it at the time, I was overwhelmed with their sadistic behaviour but again, time makes you understand things you probably wouldn’t in that moment. Instead of making things messy and weird, they used this to their advantage.

The petty challenges they gave each other was to accelerate the rate at which work was getting done. They always feared the other completing it faster or better. Competition got things done and that’s exactly what they were looking for - a game.

It is stupid if you think about it now but give it time. It actually makes a world of sense. Jealousy almost always has a negative connotation to it because of the stories in the news or otherwise.

But…

For Professor Sarah Hill (Texas Christian University,) feelings of jealousy and envy are bittersweet. They’re negative in that they tell us where we’re failing. But they also serve a purpose. They help us envision a better version of ourselves; an indicator of what could be if we put our minds to it.

Hill completed a study to measure its effects. Across several studies, she found that:

“Each experience of envy [and jealousy] actually increases our attention to and our memory for information about our competitors or our close social others.”

In short, it makes us realize how well other people around us are performing. And that helps us to acknowledge our own potential. After all, if they can do it, why can’t we? For example, in one study, participants performed better on a memory test when it included details about their rivals.

(Credits: Jon Hawkins on Medium)

Jealousy is like a dark force that can be wielded and used as an ally but if you have more than you control, it engulfs you. You’re consumed by it and that’s not necessarily a place you want to be in. So tread lightly.

That’s exactly why I leaned to thought of having older friends. One’s an officer in the armed forces and the other’s working in Tesla in the states. They both still challenge each other, at least twice a week.

A Story From You

Childhood stories have always labeled jealousy as a negative emotion and although we can, in part, raise a toast in agreement, we can’t help but think about the benefits of the emotion.

It might be negative, but it’s an emotion that gets work done. A breakup is a good case in point.

Do you think we should cut jealousy some slack?

Leave a comment

See ya,
Harsh

We’re back with another story! If the weather’s good, you’ll definitely feel like going for a walk after this.

A Story For You

I’m in the company of a cloth stand, a crackling fan that’s responsible for the flapping of the chipped-off paint on the wall and a flickering lamp light that’s barely going to make it till the end of the week, as I write this. The present, however, eludes me. Ever since the breeze that escaped the harsh monsoon rains, brushed against my cheek, I’ve been nostalgic—I’m reminiscent of the 3780 kilometers of purity and vulnerability, of solitude, and of an incessant drive that led to me discover some things I knew all along.

It took me 3780 kilometers to understand the significance of the words my parents once enlightened me with. “You need to break it down,” they said. Break your journeys, goals, ambitions down to small denominations. Build checkpoints—start with 100 meter jogs in your quest to complete a 100 kilometer marathon. Increasing your checkpoints makes the goal smaller, and always believe the start is going to be slow. Motivation doesn’t last… the sense of achievement at every step significantly compounds over time and you’re left with triumph at the end of it all. Increasing your reliance on short boosts of motivation is actually more helpful than waking up feeling like there’s still a long way to go. 3780 kilometers seemed like a lot when I first started out. It really wasn’t.

It took me 3780 kilometers of contemplation to understand gratitude. Looking up at the mountains that somehow mocked my tiny existence as I meandered through the curves humankind once built to navigate their way, I was grateful to have been born in a family with innately beautiful souls… grateful that the presence of my forefathers had passed down to my immediate elders who made sure they protected me. They clothed me, fed me, loved and cared for me. And in the short stint of growing up and realizing that a certain world existed outside, I’d forgotten, for a second, that the people who brought me to this world, were still waiting for me. It made me realize how fickle life was—that the number of years we have, we spend on questions like, “How am I ever going to make my place here?” when it’s already answered for you by the people around.

It took me 3780 kilometers of introspection to comprehend the true value of things. There’s a certain joy in witnessing the first rays of sunshine as you ride on clear roads, having strained your eyes through obstructing fog. You tend to value the warmth of a woman serving you a cup of tea at the end of long and empty winding roads, hugging and sprawling through mountains. You tend to seek comfort in the clear skies after the unforgiving rain pelts down, as you blast through the wind and water at 100 kilometers an hour. You’re reassured in the safety of your journey as you cruise past strangers waving at you; and you’re humbled as you share your stories with locals who can barely understand a word you’re saying because of your thick urban accent. They’ll laugh with you and gasp at the right time to make sure your excitement doesn’t fade away, but it’s only out of courtesy that they don’t mention having seen the world more than you. They will wave you goodbye as if they’ve known you for years and they will offer you more than just the goods and wares they sell.  

It took me 3780 kilometers of straight roads and hairpin turns to appreciate change. Bone dry to sweating like a pig, no problem. Belly-happy beer to delicate but surprisingly tasty homemade wine, bring it on. Meeting a few friends along the way to being taken out for dinner by complete strangers, hallelujah! Somewhere, change truly had become the only constant in my life. There was one true constant, however. At 8000 RPMs, 120 kilometers an hour, you’re drowned in the noise of the wind, that eventually turns into a calming hum, and the repetitive thumping of your engine against your thigh. They’re somehow related but I couldn't never figure out how.

At that speed, enveloped by what’s around you, you’re taken aback by a 13-year-old you, smiling and waving frantically at a 24-year-old you. Smiling in pride and in joy. Smiling, because you haven’t let him go yet. Smiling, because you let him come along on this journey; because maybe if it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t have begun anyway.

It took me 3780 kilometers to fathom the fact that some things don’t need to make sense.

“Are you crazy!?”

“Why don’t you take the bus, train or flight for God’s sake?

“What’s so fascinating about being on two wheels for such a long journey?”

“Wait, what? ALONE?”

It didn’t really have to make sense. You know what else doesn’t have to make sense? “Ambition, goals, making it big in life!” Because you may not. You strive for greatness, dream to be the face on the front page of newspapers and online articles. Some die in the process of living unsatisfied while others make it. Live with the fact that many don’t. You may not be famous or you may not be the greatest. But none of those things matter as long as you’re happy. You might find happiness in using your resources to do something good. To do an act of kindness for someone who’s suffering. To mend a broken heart with a smile. To be the guiding hand for a lost soul. Focus on what you want as long as you’re grateful for what you already have.

It took me 3780 kilometers to understand that it takes only an unprecedented fall, a wrong turn or a tiny puncture to ruin just about everything you set out to do. And that it’s as easy to fix the small things as it was for them to ruin your plans.

A Story From You

We’re all wanderers. I’m different when I’m traveling. The feeling is unlike anything I’ve experienced when I’m back home, sticking to the routine and being part of the grind in the hopes of making it.

Who do you become when you’re traveling? Are you someone who loves spending time in their hotel or are you on for constantly experiencing something new?

Leave a comment

See ya in the next one,

Anuraaj

Look, we endured the ups and downs of yet another year! Who else thought the world was ending on the 21st of December, 2012?

As we pen down the first issue of 2023, we wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

A Story For You

There is a popular postulate that resolutions made in December are going to be held sacred by January or even February. The optimism of mere humans cajoles them to believe that they can embark on a new phase in their lives, with another digit placed precariously at the end of the regular 2022. Gosh, people in 1999 must have thought that the world is going to change in just one day.

This is not a sadistic attempt to burn your motivation down to the ground, that too, on the second day of the year… we just wanted to introduce the notion that phases in our lives are not defined by dates (we must have taken the introduction a bit too far).

We’re unable to recall every single event that occurs in our lives, therefore it is near impossible for someone to remember exact dates or even time periods. So, we hate it to break it to you but ‘2023 is going to be my year’ isn’t really set in stone. You’ll always have to sneak up on the past to label a certain time in your life to be triumphant or kaput. What we, as humans, do remember, however, are major events; and especially those events that had a significant mental, emotional or even physical impact on us.

Let’s make it simpler.

Are you more likely to remember the year of your graduation or what happened to you between May 2017 and December 2017?

Phew, we had to make that clear that up before moving on with the actual story.

High school seems like the pinnacle of achievements before you graduate but it’s only the day after you’ve got the coveted certificate in your hands, that the expanse of possibilities that lay ahead dawn upon you. The pressure of being the best version of yourself is multplied umpteen times as every teenager around looks to do the same - the competition has increased significantly.

Amidst the morass of big human emotions, ambitions and social life, we hone our abilities to become rebels, challenging anyone and everyone looking to correct our wrongs. After all, at that age, we know everything, don’t we? We listen to only those who nod and acknowledge our rambunctious statements and claims; and neglect those who oppose our naive and unauthenticated beliefs. Discarding people’s opinions becomes second nature as the obsessive need to colonize people’s thoughts, sets in.

I wasn’t entirely in that phase, but I definitely had a foot in.

I’ve had my fair share of yes-men, who would ingenuously strengthen my delusions and even support my shenanigans. That wasn’t helping anyone, given that their level of knowledge was at par with mine. It had become imperative to seek guidance from someone who’s already been in the phase of life I was in at the time and not from people who were living it with me!

An additional reason stemmed from the fact that I was stuck in an endless loop of announcing my goals and doing zilch to achieve them. When I confronted my social circle about it, they realized that they too, were clueless about their action plan. Substance-less goals, if that were ever a word. We even wrote an entire piece about it!

Zed Letter Day

Intention-Behavior Gap & How Shutting Up Might Lead You To Success

Hiya Zedites, Another day, another quote and another story. A Story For You “Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.” - Frank Ocean Ever so often, we are met with yet another life-changing quote that we offhandedly skim through, halfheartedly implement and belligerently disregard. While the aforementioned quote embodies a beautiful sentiment, …

Read more

3 years ago · 4 likes · 2 comments · Aamer Khan

The word ‘dynamic’ is often used to describe the business world today. Making quicker decisions, failing faster and avoiding major blunders are key to making it big before someone else emulates your idea (psst… major corporations with loads of money to burn). It’s not the time to make your own mistakes, rather, it’s time to learn from others (what a Zed Letter Day and It’s That Easy! plug in).

Mentorship was what I was looking for, when I decided to get out of the rut I was helplessly slithering in. I needed a lodestar to assure me of my success.

A mentor is a seasoned professional who informally guides a less experienced person in their professional endeavours.

A mentor is someone who dope slaps you when you’re going wrong and pats your back when you return from your detour. Having a mentor is NOT the same as having a smart friend who can guide you. While that’s great too, having a professional mentee-mentor relationship goes a long way! Unlike your friends, mentors only look at you from the professional standpoint… all other biases are eliminated. You’re a protege, someone who will carry the professional genes of the certain someone you’re learning from. It’s a beautiful combination of their mistakes and your learnings, their raggedy path and your highway, their failures and your success.

Most of it might sound fairly obvious to you, but at the time, this was a genuine game-changer for me. I needed to hear from my mentors and soak their experience in, no matter how harsh their delivery was. It was, as it is today, easy to get carried away with endless distractions but they ensured I stuck to the course and more importantly, completed it.

I seldom believe you’re lost on your journey. It’s a matter of seeking someone to guide and direct you; the important word being ‘seek’. Be open to the possibility of being mentored - only then you’ll be able to find one.

If you’re reading this, it may be a sign for you to seek a mentor or for a mentor to seek a mentee. The satisfaction goes both ways.

Even Indeed agrees.

A Story From You

We, once again, are not coaxing you for a story this time.

Rather, we’ll let this be a platform for anyone who is seeking a mentor or a mentee.

Leave a comment

Happy New Year everyone,

Harsh

Solaced by the blessedly decorated Christmas tree, the rare yet heartwarming family gatherings and the buoyant exchange of gifts, a newsletter might seem like an intrusion that you would be better off without. As business tapers off and time adopts Usain Bolt’s spirit during this time of the year, we’d love nothing more than to cut-back on the word count and let you bask in the warmth of the holiday season.

A Story For You

Origins play a significant roles in our stories. Where? What? How? Why? When? Context is imperative, to understand the nitty gritty of a situation, to derive morals and to answer any questions that wander in the readers’ minds. It therefore becomes a choice, not an unsavory omission.

Subscribe now

However, this time, we make an exception to the credibility of the origins of the phrase - This too shall pass.

This made for a beautiful story; authenticity and reliability aside, it touches the right chords and sometimes, that’s all we’re looking for.

In fact, it was Abraham Lincoln’s favorite saying too.

When the British still had an Empire (ruled by Queen Victoria), a rising Republican politician climbed the stage to hold a speech in the U.S. His name was Abraham Lincoln (not yet elected president, at this point. In fact, he thought that his career had been – in his own words – “a failure, a flat failure”).  Addressing a large gathering of entrepreneurs and farmers in Wisconsin (1859), here is what Lincoln said:

“Some of you will be successful, and such will need but little philosophy to take them home in cheerful spirits; others will be disappointed and will be in a less happy mood. To such, let it be said, “Lay it not too much to heart.” Let them adopt the maxim, “Better luck next time;” and then, by renewed exertion, make that better luck for themselves. And by the successful, and the unsuccessful, let it be remembered, that while occasions like the present bring their sober and durable benefits, the exultations of them are but temporary (…); and that the vanquished this year, may be victor the next, in spite of all competition.

It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: “And this, too, shall pass away.” How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction! “And this, too, shall pass away.” (Credits: LeadershipWatch)

Things not going according to plan… This too shall pass.

Snowed under with mails, follow-ups and calls… This too shall pass.

Stuck in a dead-end job… This too shall pass.

Spending an amazing New Year’s with your family/friends, hoping that the night never ends… And this too shall pass.

In times of distress, the phrase provides comfort and reassurance but when life’s good and everything’s perfect, we do our best to avoid its recollection. Regardless of us saying it out loud, time eventually sweeps in and takes those moments away from you. This isn’t a sadistic attempt to dampen the mood on such a beautiful occasion; rather, it’s a way to avoid the blues after the cheerful shrieks of “Happy New Year!” fade away. Our lives are filled with moments, some that we’d like to forget, and some, that we’d want to live in forever.

This too shall pass is one way of consolidating and neutralizing ourselves to remember that everything is short-term. Grief as well as joy. Failure as well as astounding success. Sadness as well as happiness. Loneliness as well as companionship. We’re creatures of repetitions, looking for patterns, trying to live our lives at the peak, hoping that the moment freezes, every single time.

If there were no troughs in your life, it’s blatant that the constant peaks we’re trying to replicate, will eventually become a straight line. There’s no peak without troughs - it’s not possible. What makes this time of the year so memorable, is the fact that it’s only ‘this time of the year’. You can’t replicate Christmas or New Year’s in June - that defeats the purpose and it just won’t feel the same.

Moments of joy come by without you trying too hard. And moments of sorrow go by without you trying too hard as well. It’s when you realise that everything eventually sorts itself out, is when you start living, and we mean, truthfully and earnestly living in the moment.

We learnt a new word - Halcyon.

So, are the halcyon days of the past a recurring state?

When you’re in university, you remember how simple life in school was. When you get a job, you realize that university wasn’t that bad either. As you climb the ladder, you recollect your days as an intern and how easy it was to just learn. When you start a new company, you think about how convenient a job was: 9-5 and you could go home. The company takes off and now you’ve got an added responsibility to your team - life really looked good with a smaller team that was making a difference. And the story could go on but as some point, you stop, bewildered yet mindful, that every moment passed with one being equally good or better than the other but you appreciated it only after it had passed.

No, we’re just too consumed with the past and the future to realize that we’re living it.

To all those of you who’re currently in an unfavorable situation - This too shall pass.

To all those of you who’re currently in a favorable situation - This too shall pass.

A Story From You

Resolutions, promises, gym subscriptions, a reduction in cigarette sales and a momentary rise in productivity await our arrival on Sunday.

The year and this week ends with new beginnings from Monday (let’s be honest - no one counts the 1st day of the year in their plans).

What are you most looking forward to in the coming year?

Leave a comment

With moments passing,

Aamer

We’re exploring the trenches of manifestation today. Gainsayers will repudiate the idea of it being useful but we’ve got a story to back it up!

Manifesting is a practice that benefits literally every area of your life because it empowers you to become the very best version of yourself that exists, embody the person you most want to become, and help you to unlock the infinite potential that you have to create the life of your dreams. - Roxie Nafousi (Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life)

A Story For You

Creation was my desire as a youngling. It be any form of art - music, sketching, storytelling, I adored the idea of building something from scratch. It was empowering and at the same time, humbling. Empowering, because my creation spoke for itself and humbling, well, because my creation spoke for itself. After all, people rarely ever go gaga over a creator unless they’re big names in their respective fields.

I always knew I was meant for the creative field but at the beginning, I felt like a façade because I genuinely believed I lacked skill; and that I wasn’t cut out of the same cloth as the people I adored growing up. Listening to, or searching up the journeys of my favorite artists was one way of motivating myself but I didn’t know where to get started. And once I got started, I lacked the confidence to display my work. And once I gained the confidence to display my work, I didn’t feel that it was good enough to be out there.

This went on for a couple of years until, and nature always has a way of solving your problems, I read The Secret.

Your whole life is a manifestation of the thoughts that go on in your head. - Rhonda Byrne (The Secret)

If I didn’t believe my work was good enough, why should anyone have? The mind has a way of looking at things and immediately categorizing it as good, bad, difficult, easy, a success or a failure. What you can control and guide, are your thoughts. And that’s exactly what I started doing. I started believing in my abilities and the work I was putting in to build beautiful creations. Affirmations started kicking in and the only thing I had to do was reiterate.

“My creation is the best out there.”

“It deserves to be out in the public domain.”

“I’m confident that others will resonate with what I’ve created.”

Give a gift subscription

What that gave me was confidence and this unfazed mindset to succeed. My work was speaking for itself and along with it came compliments and criticism. No matter what you say about criticism, it’s much better than compliments in my opinion. Compliments are affirmations, sometimes, to mediocre work. Criticism can be used to your advantage - to hone your work, prove naysayers wrong and to just put in that extra effort to be the best at what you’re doing.

Compliments don’t do that for you… they keep you reaffirmed, like an addiction where you constantly want more. More of the same thing, however, eventually makes you dependent and once you’re dependent on compliments to function, you’ve given up an enormous amount of power.

Criticism helped me grow. Manifestation did too. The growth has been compounding over the years and it’s helped me reach a stage where I can look back and smile at my beginnings.

Manifestation, however, isn’t an alien term. It’s something we’ve heard several times over the years but have taken the word, like any other, with a pinch of salt. What is it, really? I’d like to think that it has something to do with bringing one’s goals into existence. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking you to be delusional and believe things that aren’t real. By all means, it’s important to stay in touch with reality but…

…while ‘seeing is believing’ is the ‘ideal’ way to go, manifestation looks the other way. It’s about believing in something, in order for it to come your way.

Manifestation, as a concept, has become really popular in recent times. There are gurus and self development pages all over social media that claim that the benefits, of believing in yourself, are simply magical. If that doesn’t get you going, this might - believing in yourself and your goals, costs absolutely nothing! It does, however, require consistency.

I’m not here to tell you that it’s easy because it’s not. Defining a goal, believing in yourself and doing everything you can to achieve it, may not yield immediate results. Nothing is set in stone but that doesn’t mean you have to accept your fate at the first point of failure. It’s free because not everyone can commit to the process; it’s free because not everyone can stick till the end and the ones who do, are written about and revered across the world. With that being said, here are a few tips on the process.

1. Understand the specifics of what is it that you want to manifest: It’s imperative for your objective to be crystal clear in your mind and on a piece of paper that you will hold most dear in the world. Do not complicate things and do not overcrowd your plate. Focus on the ONE thing that you want to achieve and take immediate action to contribute to the process of making it happen!

2. Your ability to wake up with the same mindset every single day will determine your success: It might seem crazy, and even impossible at first, but try resetting your thoughts. It’s absolutely normal to think of this as utter hogwash at first but you’ll have a change of heart once you get in the rhythm. Thinking and planning, as long as it takes, will not give you what you’re looking for. Working on it - execution will. Every. Single. Day.

3. 70% is planning but all the planning depends on the 30% of execution: If you can think about it, you can do it! Don’t just sit there, think about it and assume that the job is done. Get out there and make it happen. Don’t be bogged down by outcomes, it’ll all come at the end. Let me put it this way, you can’t run 10 kilometers on the very first day, if you haven’t ever run before. The growth is gradual, but it’s there.

4. Practice gratitude: Learn to be grateful for what you already have and learn to accept things that are out of your control. If you focus on things that are beyond your control, you move away from your original goal and then get stuck in a loop.

5. Be open and receptive to other people’s input but don’t budge on your core values and your ultimate goal: You will definitely face obstacles and it’s not going to be a smooth ride. There are several ways to reach one place. Be accepting of people’s comments, suggestions and feedback - it may set you on a faster path to your goals than what you had originally planned. But, stick to your gut in times of confusion - you always know what to do.

A Story From You

There is always that ONE thing that heart desires more than anything else in the world. The ONE thing that you absolutely will do anything to get your hands on or achieve.

If you want to share it with us, what is the ONE thing that you’re working towards and where are you in the process of achieving it?

Leave a comment

Manifesting the growth of this newsletter,

Harsh