warikoo Wanderings

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THE MOST IMPORTANT "COURSE" IN LIFE

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Last evening, I was addressing the ISB PGOPro Class of 2023, a month into their program. These are a bunch of senior professionals (12+ years of experience), who are going for a mid-career MBA program, in a part-time capacity through ISB.

At the end of my monologue, one of the students asked me what was the most important course I went through while at ISB (for those who may not know, I did my MBA from ISB in 2005-06).

Here was my reply:

"The most important course that I went through at ISB was the one that was never taught.
How to deal with people.
Within the first week of landing at ISB, I saw people forming groups.
Groups with people who were like them.
Who looked like them, spoke like them, dressed like them, came from the same experience as them, had the same views as them.
So, engineers were hanging out with engineers, CAs with CAs, Delhi folks with Delhi folks, Mumbai with Mumbai, South Bombay with South Bombay (because there isn't any other Bombay for them. And no, it isn't Mumbai. It is Bombay!), Chennai with Chennai, musicians with musicians, dancers with dancers.
People wanted to be part of a group where they felt they belonged.
Where their views would be accepted.
Where there will be minimal confrontation.

But I saw it differently.
ISB had handpicked the most capable, experienced, talented and diverse set of 330 individuals from across the world.
It would be a pity if I stuck to those who were like me.
Because, I will never learn anything new from someone who agrees with me.

Instead, I went about looking for people who were very different from me.
Different experiences, different worldviews, different mindsets.
Not to agree with them. But to understand them.
And to know, through them, something about the world that I did not know.

ISB taught me how to deal with people.
That was the most important course of that year!"

And this is the most important course in life.
How to deal with people.
Everything, EVERYTHING boils down to interpersonal relationships.
Think about it - most of our joys and our sorrows are because of our relationship with people.
Whether our parents, our siblings, our friends, our colleagues, our managers.
And most of all, our own self.

And the truth is - all collectives that we are a part of - whether school, college, work and even our families - give us an opportunity to take this "course".
And yet, all we do is focus on how people do not work for us.
We focus on the conflict, we focus on our ego, we focus on our insecurities, we focus on our jealousy, we focus on our inadequacy.
We had an option of learning from people. Instead we chose to judge them.

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BOOK I AM READING THIS WEEK

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This week, I picked up Everything Is Out of Syllabus: An Instruction Manual for Life​

This is a book by Varun Duggirala, who runs an extremely awesome podcast called "Advertising is dead", where he was generous enough to feature me way back in April 2020. He has now written this book, which I love simply for the title. I have just started reading it - it is an easy read and I am enjoying it thus far. A detailed view of it next week.

Pick it up if you are missing instruction manuals in life :)

If you are not actively into reading, or have never read a book, my first book "DO EPIC SHIT" was written for you. It has no start, no finish and can be opened to any page to start reading. You can order it here :)

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QUOTES TO SHARE

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One of the best ways to win in life is to own our happiness.
​(Share on Twitter)​

If you don't know how to achieve it again, it happened because of luck!
​(Share on Twitter)​

If you do not have the money, yet buy expensive items to show you have the money - you will never reach a spot where you will say "I have enough".
​(Share on Twitter)​

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RESPONSES TO LAST WEEK'S QUESTION

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Last week I asked you:

Do you play any sport actively (at least 3 times a week)?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Planning to start

Here are the responses:

Observations:

1. 18-30 is the age when most of us go into the "tomorrow is the day when I will change my life" mode!
2. Work, relationships, family - all become important - and then the next thing you know - you haven't taken care of your own body!

And here are the sports most people have mentioned. Surprisingly, Badminton tops it and not cricket, as I was expecting.

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PICTURE OF THE WEEK

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Moved to a new office and this is the setup. Similar to the old one, except for a few cosmetic changes. I like my offices as homely, as against corporate like. Was the same at nearbuy too - plants, soft lights, quotes etc :)

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

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How much do you sleep every day, on an average?

1. Less than 3 hours
2. 3-5 hours
3. 5-7 hours
4. 7-9 hours
5. 9+ hours

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

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CONTENT I SHARED THIS WEEK

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Podcast:​
Title of episode: When was the last time you cried
​Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcast, Apple Podcast, JioSaavn or Gaana.

YouTube:​
Title of video: 7 things that make you poor
​You can watch it here.​

Instagram:​
Title of video: My favorite quote of all times
​You can watch it here.​

Twitter:​
Title of thread: 20 things I wish I was told in my 20s
​You can read it here.​

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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.
​​​(Breakfast mein kabhi kabhi bread pakode khaane ki kasam!)

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