warikoo Wanderings

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YOUR FIRST JOB WILL BE TERRIBLE

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I wrote my first blog post in May 2005.
I posted my first LinkedIn video in Aug 2016.
I sent my first newsletter in July 2020.
I recorded my first podcast in March 2021.

And guess what was common to all of them?
I think they were all TERRIBLE!

I was an amateur, I was nervous, I was rambling, I was not precise.
And whenever I look at my earlier work, I am always left embarrassed.

Someone asked me earlier this week, "Hey Ankur, I read your blog posts from 2005 onwards and they were quite unlike who you are today. Why do you still have them posted there? Don't you care that people will judge you for who you were?"

And that set me thinking - how is it that I have NEVER cared to delete any of my previous work?
How is it that I NEVER care to even edit the mistakes I make in my videos - so many of them!

Here is why:

My first work, reminds me, that I started.
My first work, reminds me, that I took the plunge.
My first work, reminds me, of how far along have I come.
My first work, reminds me, of this fascinating quote on courage:
​"Courage isn't about being ready for what you are going to face. It is knowing that you aren't ready and yet moving forward to face it."

Here is something you already know of:

Your first work will not be your best.
Your first work will leave you embarrassed.
Your first work will make people laugh, cringe, judge or mock you.

And yet, until there is no first work, there is going to be no other work!

Don't ask yourself, "Am I ready to start?"
Ask yourself, "Am I ready to improve?"

:))

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HOW COLLEGE FAILED US?

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In this week's podcast episode of "Woice with warikoo", I share my thoughts on how college failed us to teach the most important skill for today's world.

I realized this, as I was addressing the incoming batch of students at Ashoka University earlier this week.

Listen to the episode to know which skill I am referring to.

Give it a listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcast, Apple Podcast, JioSaavn or Gaana.

ANNOUNCEMENT: My podcasts are now on YouTube as well - because so many of you asked for it.

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BOOK I AM READING THIS WEEK

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I picked up a book that I had wanted to read for a really long while, but didn't get around to. And then someone (I don't know who) gifted me this book recently! So clearly this person knows me :)

​Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger​

It is an expensive book, but for good reason. It is considered to be one of the best books ever written that seeks to explain how humans think and behave, and why.

Starting from our biology and why we feel more pain than joy, to the biases that govern us - everything is presented in a manner that attempts to simplify the complexity.

Give it a read, if you care to know about the world.

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QUOTES TO SHARE

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Accepting or rejecting feedback is your choice. Making yourself aware of the feedback isn’t a choice.
​(Share on Twitter)​

The biggest joy of building a startup is building the team.
​(Share on Twitter)​

Don't leave inspiration to chance.
​(Share on Twitter)​

There is nothing more liberating than being debt free. That you owe nothing to anyone else.
And I don't just don't mean money. I mean, everything!
​(Share on Twitter)​

Attitude >> Experience >> Education
The only hiring principle I know of.
​(Share on Twitter)​

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RESPONSES TO LAST WEEK'S QUESTION

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Last week I asked you:

What makes you most jealous of people?

1. They have more money than you
2. They are more good looking / fitter than you
3. They are usually happy in life
4. They are professionally more successful than you
5. They are in happy relationships

Here are the results:

Observations:

1. Notice how early on happy relationships make us jealous, it dips and then peaks again once we are old. Almost showing what we consider as important.
2. Jealousy due to looks/fitness continues to dip, as we grow old.
3. Professional success peaks between 18-22 (which is when we tend to be most lost), remains so until we are 40, and then slows down.
4. Jealousy due to happiness increases as we grow old.
5. Money makes us jealous as we are young and then flattens.

I loved the results. Such a great peek into how age determines how we compare ourselves to others.

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THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

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Who have you learnt from, the most?

1. Your family
2. Your friends
3. Your peers/colleagues
4. The Internet
5. Books
6. Your teachers

​Click here to let me know your answer (anonymously)​​

You can, of course, always write to me, by simply replying to this newsletter. I love reading all your emails, even though I may not be able to reply to them all.
Yes! I READ ALL MY EMAILS. ALL OF THEM.
​​(September mein Dilli ki baarish ki kasam!)

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