2012: Learnings, Facing Fears, Peak Experiences & Marriage

Things I learned and loved in 2012:

• Live in day tight compartments, be with family, work hard, enjoy life and not focus on past or future.
• I am building a $100 B company, because I want to have that 'experience'. I want greatness and so I have to face the struggle.
• All rich experiences/ideal lifestyle can be had in $ 100 k a year max. Dont run after an arbitrary number in bank to start living your dreams. Cost it, make it and live it.
• Always play to your strengths, think big and let the weaknesses remain.
• Being rich is all about discretionary time, money, attention and mobility. 
• For me, richness is all about your time and cashflow to do exciting things, have memorable experiences and sharing them with friends & family.
• I love my wife: Priyanka
• Marriage has been the most peak experience of my life :)
• Practice misfortune: face your fears regularly.
• Be full of gratitude for being wealthy, amazing wife, great parents, brothers & bhabhis, friends, relatives, employees, directors, company.
• Never let your insecurities hurt the business: health, cash-flow, self-esteem. Don't be emotional about separating Cash-flow & self-esteem from contribution
• Practice Dying.
• You don't have to make the money the same way as you have lost it.
• Accept weaknesses and mistakes. Saying sorry requires a lot of courage.
• I am judgemental, argumentative and negative, even when I am left alone.
• Cost of a thing is equal to the amount of the thing called 'Life' you are willing to give up for it
• Startup = Growth. Revenue is the only indicator.
• Follow revenue growth rate just like truth in science and you will reach someplace cooler.
• Work hard, take regular breaks: daily reflection, weekly relaxation, week long vacation every half year.
• Interest and energy are cyclical.
• Don't worry and be emotional about things which are not in your control: other's perceptions, ownership etc.
• Tell it as it is and saying that you cannot do it: effective and liberating.
• If you really want to do something, you will find a way of doing it.
• Stress is the difference between our expectations and reality. Co-operate with reality.
• Simplest (not the easiest) way to practice patience: Be silent.
• Sunday afternoons I am very unhappy & anxious: Work or go out.
• I have zero possessions: No car, No house, No smart phone, No laptop.
• Always trade material wants for experiences. Interesting experiences = Life. Record experiences.
• Your success in life depends on the number of difficult conversations you are willing to have.
• Beware of vanity, judgements, feeling holier than thou.
• Always remember that you will miss out on things, experiences. So be cool with it.

Fears I faced in 2012 and survived:

• Running a bankrupt company: facing and deferring creditors.
• Hearing criticism, facing heat and accepting that I cannot be the CEO of EnNatura.
• Undergoing heart scan and realizing that I do not have any heart condition
• Telling Priyanka that I am broke, cannot make enough money to take her on a Honeymoon.
• Asking dad for money to fund company.
• Working on the side, being answerable to someone (boss), to earn money while running the company.
• Riding a bike down the snowy, slippery slopes from Chang La to Pangong Lake in Ladakkh.

Peak Experiences in 2012:

• Marriage
• Trip to Ladakh
• Honeymoon
• Getting featured in India Today
• Meeting friends often

The Peak after the peak

Why does everything have to keep moving and progressing towards a finite objective? What if there is nothing to move forward to but a struggle to stay where you are.

I once told my friend that I'm scared to move forward as I've achieved A high in life and want to cherish the moment before descending down for my next climb. I'm scared of leaving what I've achieved for the unknown. I'm confused because if I don't start now, I may lag behind in the path called life. But I don't know where my next High would be. I have to start and explore all over.

I realize now that life is a constant movement from one peak to the other. The travel starts with a caravan of people with a race to each one's peak; where there is a place for only one per peak. Moreover, it becomes lonely up there. 
But, the Life never ends there, more journeys awaits you. Let's put this in an example, you produced a successful venture and as soon as you were done, it is already preparation time for the next one. You don't even know whether the next one will be as successful or more than the last one. So what should you do?

Move on and keep moving until you stop breathing. Don't ever stop because this is not the end yet. Don't worry whether you'll succeed or not. It is important to tread this journey. And wait for the life to take its course.

So let the Times fill our lives with interesting journeys and memories. Because these journeys can never reduce your worth or experience; they know only one way and that is forward looking. Always expanding like our universe.

Focus on Contribution

My mantra for living a happy, virtuous and effective life is: Focus on contribution, follow excellence and practice dying.
The best starting point towards effectiveness is the question: What does this (world/country/company/institution) needs and What can I contribute? rather than what I want to do?
The way I have answered this question with my career is, India and world needs sustainble energy & materials and I can contribute by creating a materials and energy technology company. (and not to be the next Energy Tycoon)
When I ask the same question for EnNatura, I find myself answering: Over longer term, EnNatura will need more technology innovations to grow and I will continue to contribute there. (and not to be the long-term CEO).

2011: Looking back, Looking Forward

I survived 2011 and am very much alive and kicking :)

Company progressed to full commercial level with a 5MT/month plant.

We became a multi-million dollar market cap company, which got a lot of media this year.

Became a lot fitter at 80 kg.

Learnt about my BP and heart condition and had some events throughout the year.

Have become more self-aware and learnt to manage my condition. :)

Quit smoking completely and cut down on drinking :)

In all adopted very healthy lifestyle.

Found time for myself, managed my time, energy and efforts better.

Learnt to be more patient, lively and less worried.

Became calmer, more thoughtful and mindful.

More content with what i have with less focus on possessions. Could get away without buying a car. ;)

Attracted a lot of women and realized that i could talk to really attractive women at will.

Read some great books and blogs: Zen Habits, Prize, Managing for results, 4 Hour work week, Ascent of Money, Epictetus.

Traveled a lot: Chandigarh, Bangalore, Pune, Thailand, Barreilly, Rohtak and Bombay

Wore some good clothes, visited coffee shops often, and lived a good life.

Met my friends often, sometimes flew to meet them. Had an awesome time in Bangalore.

Enjoyed Rishi's, Cheti's, Rishabh's, GG's and DJ's wedding.

Had some great one-on-one conversations with Khera, Sharma, DJ, Sareen, GG, Rishi, Mishra, Bhatia and Don. And equally great ones with Bhabhis.

Learnt some great lessons:

• 'tell it as it is',
• 'live in day tight compartments',
• 'Wealthy is a person who has time and money'
• 'Act without expectations'
• 'Breathe, smile and go slow'

Spent good time with parents. Helped them transition to a post retirement life.

Met interesting people, helped the underprivileged and became generous.

& finally,

Found someone to spend my life with. :)

Quite an year!!!