Tag: self

Strategy, Tactics, Logistics – you need all three to achieve your goals

You need strategy, tactics, and logistics to reach your goals. Strategy is knowing where you’re going and why. If you’re clear on these two, you’ll achieve your goals. A tactic is a road map, a detailed plan to get you there. Last but not least, logistics is the support system.

Let’s look at a few examples.

You’re thinking of buying a house. Think about why. Is it for your growing family, an investment, or retirement? Each reason changes what you expect from a house. If you’re buying for investment, maybe you’re looking for a city property with high rent potential. A peaceful community away from the city bustle might be best for retirement.

Dig deeper into the “why” to refine your strategy. If you’re buying a home as an investment, is it better to get a residential or commercial place? Or invest in an index fund? Uncertainty can lead to struggling and procrastinating. Decide what you want and why.

If you are unclear about your why, you’ll never achieve your goal.

Then comes tactics – your road map. Let’s say you want to buy a house for retirement. Start looking for good locations, nearby amenities, and potential development. Set a deadline for making a decision and figure out how much you’ll need. Break down your tactics into smaller steps: visit potential locations, consult with real estate agents, and compare mortgage options. Each step brings you closer to your goal.

Last but not least, logistics – the support system. What’s the budget and when do you need it? Are you going to take out a bank loan, how much money are you going to put down as an initial payment? Are you going to use an agent, if so, who? Can friends who bought recently in that area help you with info? To buy a house on time, you need all these things in place at the right time.

By understanding the strategy of your goal, crafting a detailed tactical plan, and building a solid logistical system, you’ll be well-equipped to turn dreams into reality.

Or consider this: you want to create a product. Why are you doing it? For fun, learning, supporting your lifestyle, or planning to sell later? Each purpose affects what features you’ll include and how you’ll manage them. The tactics include choosing the language, determining features, setting a launch date, validating the product, and getting feedback. In terms of logistics, think about the tools you’ll use and who’ll help you get to the finish line.

To achieve any goal, you need strategy (knowing what and why), tactics (a detailed roadmap), and logistics (a support system). If all three align with clarity, you’ll make your dream come true.

January 8, 2024

Manliness Redefined

My father never hit the gym, mastered martial arts, or sculpted a six-pack. Yet, I can’t think of anyone more manly than him.

He dove headfirst into raising our family. He’d stand by my mother, chopping vegetables for dinner. Every Saturday, he washed clothes with me by his side. Once a month, we scrubbed our home clean together.

But his dedication went beyond family; he cared for our community too. Summers brought drought and water scarcity to our neighborhood. Dad worked tirelessly to find solutions along with neighbours, like digging wells or exploring other options. He also devoted himself to our church, serving as treasurer for the St. Vincent de Paul Society for years.

At work, my father faced a cunning boss from a rival community who tried to trap him with tricks. But Dad never complained or lost heart; instead, he outsmarted his boss and earned promotions until he retired as headmaster.

When my mother, a school teacher, faced issues with promotions or pay hikes, Dad wrote letters and petitioned with officers to ensure she got her due.

Today’s definition of manliness often revolves around gyms and bulging biceps. While there’s nothing wrong with feeling good about our bodies, manliness is so much more than that. Our society needs a broader view of manliness that goes beyond physicality.

It’s about how you treat your wife, raise your kids, participate in the community, and face the challenges of life.

We must see manliness as more than muscle and bone; it’s a journey of heart and soul.

January 7, 2024

Let go of the good to embrace the great in life

As a junior project manager, I won an excellence award. I worked with the CEO, CSO, and CFO of the company. At that time, I got an offer to work for the Government of India for six months. It was risky, and I would be in an unfamiliar, bureaucratic environment. My mentor told me to take the chance, so I did.

My CFO called me an idiot for leaving my rising career behind when I said goodbye. I joked that if it didn’t work out, I’d come back.

That job turned out to be the best decision. Those six months turned into five and a half years. I served my country, earned well, and learned how to deal with bureaucracy. Getting to work with top officials was a great experience.

By letting go of that good job, I found something great.

Five and a half years later, another opportunity arose: starting a startup. Leaving my comfort zone meant taking the plunge into the unknown, again.

Despite putting my heart and money into my startup, it crumbled. I found myself in an unfamiliar city, Panchkula, where I knew no one. Despite the darkest nights, life took a turn for the better after a year.

I landed the role of chief technology officer and began homeschooling my kids. The city has parks to stroll through, trails to trek, and nice restaurants for family lunches. I serve in two churches.

If I hadn’t let go of that secure government job, none of this would have happened. That’s like holding on to a good branch but not reaching for the great one.

Are you hanging on to good things when great ones are right around the corner? Do you let golden opportunities slip through your fingers because you’re stuck in your comfort zone?

January 6, 2024

Learning English, as a non-native speaker

As a 21-year-old fresh out of college, I couldn’t speak English well. Mastering it was crucial to my career. I’ll tell you how I did it.

I started by reading the Bible in Tamil and English. I’d compare each sentence in both languages so I’d get a sense of the words and grammar. In order to learn English, I memorized passages and recited them.

Second, I watched the TV series Friends. People say you’re fluent when you can crack jokes in a language. I learned their phrases and slang and cracked jokes with my colleagues. It helped me improve my English.

But I turned to writing to express myself. I started a blog 15 years ago – not for money or branding, but to learn English. Writing let me play around with sentence structure, metaphors, and more. Editing and re-editing helped me perfect my skills.

At last, I grasped speaking. Forming sentences quickly while speaking is tougher than writing. Pronunciation and delivery are important too. In my room, I practiced repeating phrases from great speakers like Martin Luther King and Billy Graham in front of a mirror.

Even now, my English isn’t perfect, but it works. Every day, I keep improving it to communicate better and follow the four practices I mentioned earlier.

And that’s how I mastered English as a non-native speaker.

January 5, 2024

I’m not reading books this year

This year, I’m not reading books. Rather I’m focusing on ideas.

Books can be a good way to improve yourself, and it can be enlightening to engage with the thoughts of great minds. But, this pursuit can become empty when reduced to mere statistics – reading a book a year or 100 books a year. Instead, I’d like to focus on one idea and explore it deeply.

Pick an idea, implement it, and let it grow on you; examine it from every angle so that you understand it better.

Here are 12 ideas that have transformed my life; pick one or all.

  1. When you figure out your calling, everything else falls into place. Many people wander aimlessly, copying others’ dreams. Find your true calling, and chase it relentlessly with courage. The moment you figure out what you’re here for, you can silence the world and live your life to the fullest. You might find your calling by writing your obituary.
  2. Nurture your soul – it’s where all growth comes from. As a Christian, daily Bible reading, prayer, and church involvement nourish me. Your external progress is directly proportional to how much you grow on the inside. Without a solid foundation inside, all your growth is just a sham.
  3. Make memories – happiness blooms from them. Don’t chase fleeting pleasures; instead, create lasting memories. We don’t find happiness in solitary pleasures like movies or cricket matches – they’re fleeting. Create lasting happiness by making memories with others. Get your friends together and enjoy hiking, jogging, or helping the underprivileged. All these things will increase your happiness.
  4. Think probabilistic, because life is rarely precise. Precision matters sometimes – during surgery, landing a plane, or connecting calls – but most of our day-to-day lives are based on probabilities. Learn to decide based on probabilities and weighing the odds of various outcomes.
  5. The quality of your life depends on how many uncomfortable conversations you’re willing to have. Many of us face tough situations with a fight or flight attitude. Whether it’s confronting a bully boss, negotiating a raise, or soothing an angry partner, we don’t know how to deal with it. Either we avoid or we argue. Learn to deal with these situations with confidence and peace.
  6. Build skills that generate and exploit options. Develop a daily system for honing your abilities, focusing on skills that open up multiple possibilities. Then figure out how to take advantage of them. You’ll go from strength to strength as you grow and take advantage of these opportunities.
  7. Embrace the mindset of “I am okay, you are okay.” Many of us struggle with feelings of inferiority-I come from a village, I can’t speak English, and I don’t look as handsome as someone else. All of us have inferiority complexes, but the first thing you need to know is that you’re okay. You’re perfect as you are. Self-esteem and confidence soar when you embrace who you are. Remember, others are okay too. Embrace their flaws and respect them. You’ll be able to deal with life better this way.
  8. “Cloud or dirt”. Don’t be afraid to dream big, but also roll up your sleeves. Some people only think big but can’t execute, while others work tactically and let someone else call the shots. Develop both your 10x thinking and skills to bring those dreams to life.
  9. Don’t listen to people who don’t have skin in the game. Most people give advice without any experience or investment in what they’re talking about. Seek out people who will benefit from their ideas or suffer if those ideas fail. You’ll flourish if you surround yourself with these people.
  10. Create intentional leverage points in your life. Like Archimedes, give me a lever, and I’ll move the world. When you find your leverage, your life will transform, grow, and flourish. It’s not just about money; it’s about every aspect of life. So, carve out your own leverage points. You can take it a step further and aim for permissionless leverage. You can put your creativity out there and gain leverage without anyone’s approval by writing, podcasting, or creating visuals.
  11. Luck is the other side of risk. We often focus on risk – taking out insurance or having risk departments in companies – but not enough on luck. It’s just the flip side of risk. Think about how you can cultivate luck in your life and expand your luck surface.
  12. Build a flywheel in your life. This concept comes from Amazon’s shareholder letters – improving one component leads to improving the next. It’s tough to get started, but once it’s going, it spins faster and faster, bringing you more leverage and luck. I’ve crafted a flywheel for my life: Wealth, Insights, Network, and Self-Control. When I enhance my wealth, I gain more insights; when I gather more insights, I connect with better people and opportunities. I’ve nurtured this WINS flywheel for four or five years, and my life has changed for the better.

Feel free to adopt any of the above ideas, or even choose a different one. Live it, breathe it, absorb all its knowledge, and act on it. You’ll have a great life.

Wishing you a magical year.

December 31, 2023