Notes
What started as a note-taking obsession turned into the occasional post. Then came a long hiatus, a few lost domains, and now I am here again. Another attempt to give the world a peek into my head and a place where I can be my unabashed self.
The Tale of the Wild Ducks
Wild ducks migrate every winter—not because of the cold, but because of food. If you start feeding them where they are, they stop flying south. Do it long enough and they’ll forget how to migrate altogether. Then one winter, if […]
Mood follows action
You can’t think your way into the mood you want or the state of mind you hope to be in. You can sit around waiting for motivation, for the right vibe, for your head to feel clear. But it almost […]
No plan survives contact with the enemy
The U.S. Army, a planning think tank if there ever was one, knows this better than anyone. Every manoeuvre, action, and reaction is mapped out. But there is one drawback. The moment the first shot is fired, the plan can […]
Deception
I just started watching The 13th Warrior. There’s this scene where Herger kills one of the Prince’s henchmen in what looks like a sham duel. Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: You… you could have killed him at will.Herger the Joyous: Yes?Ahmed Ibn […]
A Pilots Gaze
Ever stared too long at one spot while you’re moving? Try it. Your side vision just gives up. That’s motion induced blindness. Pilots know this inside out. The first thing they teach you once you’re in the cockpit – don’t […]
The Swimmers Body Illusion
Professional swimmers don’t have perfect bodies because they train extensively. They are good swimmers because of their physiques. How their bodies are designed is a factor for selection and not the result of their activities. ~ Rolf Dobelli (The Art […]
Starting the year off right: Deleting wants.
Want is not a part of my new vocabulary. It is not how I will decide priorities or live my life. The brain is like a stubborn child. It can ruin the best of plans. It will always try to […]
Lessons learnt from my grandmother: Routine and a Sense of Humour
My grandmother just came back from a vacation and something was amiss. She could barely climb one flight of stairs to our apartment. Her left leg looked like it was in a lot of pain. After a doctor’s visit we […]
Attention Please
I went to #Sunburn Noida and it was fantastic. Great crowd control – injecting faith in the Delhi party circuit. Getting drinks in a place like this is typically a nightmare and sure enough they didn’t disappoint. You have to […]
Share dont sell
This piece has been written by a colleague, Luke Dewars. When you run a brothel of thoughts, letch at ideas that you wish you made and realize that most conversations people have with you end with the, ‘so give it […]
The Gen Pop
Or better known as the general population. The mango people (aam aadmi), if you will. The age-old “to be or not to be” has a rather simple answer. You vs. the gen pop. Simply put, what percentage of the gen […]
Influence vs. Me
How influential is influence? Kind of a stupid question, don’t you think? Well, bear with me for a minute. What you let influence you will one day define you, my child — I’ll say to my bright-eyed son or daughter. […]
The Ball vs The Wall
Was just bouncing a stress ball (yes, the bright yellow smiley face ones) off the wall and it got me thinking. What happens when you bounce the ball off a wall? Try throwing it low, around chest height, and fast. […]
Love it, Hate it
Just bought a new swatch. Everyone who has seen it either loves it or hates it. 2 reactions. Limit the possibilities to 2 reactions and you’ve got yourself a winner. Guess that’s why the saying is ” winner winner chicken dinner” After […]
Glow in the dark
While growing up, almost every kid in the neighborhood with some amount of street credit to their name had a glow-in-the-dark sticker, star, or toy. It was a must-have, a definition of cool, a basic benchmark of wow. Gender neutral, […]
The Laal Batti
I was driving from Chandigarh to Delhi after a long day of press conferences and everyone who has traveled on Indian roads, especially in the bureaucratic by-lanes of Delhi, is aware of the laal batti gadi. The laal batti gadi, […]
Ready. Fire. Aim
Watching Iron Man for like the tenth time, and Stark’s evil business partner says to him, “Enough of this ready, fire, aim business. It’s bad for business.” That got me thinking — is it really bad for business? Let’s make […]
Job Lists
DB, my super senior boss, once gave me probably the best work-related advice I have received so far. Come to think of it, it was one of those “right under your nose” situations. First off, make weekly job lists. Every […]
The French Maid
Apart from all the sexual connotations, did you ever wonder why the French maid doesn’t walk around with a huge vacuum cleaner, mop and bucket? All she needs is a little duster, because she’s always cleaning. Dusk till dawn, that […]
Smile Please
Which line do you chose in a crowded Donald’s?Simple. I always chose the one with a smiling attendant
The Phone Wire
You know how when you talk on your phone too much — an actual telephone, not a cell — the phone wire gets tangled after a while? Every once in a while you need to disconnect the handset from the […]
The perils of too much information
What happens when we want to start doing something new? What’s the most common piece of advice you hear? “Beta, find out everything about the market situation. Do your homework. Unless you understand every tiny detail, you will never be […]