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:
