Connecting with thoughts - My thoughts and Me

It was early in my career. I was swamped with work — something important my Director had asked me to complete. In the middle of that rush, a few candidates had arrived for their interviews. I kept them waiting. My Director walked in, looked around, and asked gently, “Why are the candidates waiting?” I explained, a little defensively, “I’m working on the task you gave me… it’ll take me another half an hour or so.” He nodded, then said something I carry with me to this day. “Never keep candidates waiting. It’s our need — we called them here. It’s our responsibility to honour their time. Never make them wait — not for the interview, not for the outcome. Internal work can wait. A bad candidate experience? That leaves a scar. They may never come back.” He wasn’t angry. Just... clear. And right. That day, something shifted in me. Since then, I’ve followed that lesson to the T. Today, when I see posts asking candidates to "be patient," "be understanding," or "trust th...

कभी किसी रोज़ उस मोड़ से गुज़रता हूँ यादों का एक झरोखा-सा खुल जाता है। और वो बीते लम्हे याद आते हैं, जो सम्भाल के रखे थे... शायद ऐसे पलों के लिए या कहो तो तन्हाइयों के आलम के लिए। मानो बीते लम्हों की महफ़िल ही सजी हो, फिर भी चेहरे पर एक मुस्कान-सी आ जाती है। थोड़ी-सी नादानियाँ हमने भी की थीं, शरारत भरी गुस्ताखियाँ — जाने-अनजाने, हमसे भी तो हुई थीं। आज जब उन्हें याद करता हूँ, तो लगता है — वो दिन भी क्या दिन थे! हम ज़िंदगी क्या ख़ूब जिए थे। मशरूफ़ पलों को यादगार बनाने में अनजाने में दोस्त भी जुड़ गए थे। जब किसी रोज़ उस मोड़ से गुज़रता हूँ, तो बीते लम्हे फिर याद आ जाते हैं। There’s a story behind this one. It happened in the mid-nineties—an era when mobile phones hadn’t yet become an extension of our palms, and streetlights were more wish than guarantee. Back then, borrowing a friend’s bike for a quick ride wasn’t odd. It was friendship 101. Every week, we’d gather at Girij ( a place in Vasai) —a quiet little place in Vasai—for our Diocesan Youth Council meet. One such evening, with time ...

Fear is often painted as the villain in the business world—the force that holds us back from taking risks, making bold decisions, or stepping into uncharted territory. But what if we’ve misunderstood fear all along? Fear, when harnessed correctly, is not a weakness; it’s a powerful signal. It tells us what matters, sharpens our instincts, and forces us to prepare better. From startups to Fortune 500 companies, understanding fear can be the difference between reckless decisions and calculated risks. Fear and Decision-Making Fear plays a crucial role in business decisions. A CEO contemplating an acquisition fears overpaying or making a wrong strategic move. An entrepreneur fears market rejection. A salesperson fears losing a big deal. But these fears, when analyzed, can guide better decision-making. Instead of dismissing fear, we must ask: What is this fear telling me? Is it highlighting a blind spot? Is it pushing me to prepare better? Successful leaders don’t eliminate f...

In any conversation, debate, or discussion, we often find ourselves fixated on who is speaking rather than on what is being said. The easiest response is to judge the messenger, dismissing their words based on our perception of them—their biases, history, or even our own prejudices. This reflexive focus on 'who' rather than 'what' creates barriers to understanding and blinds us to the essence of the message. The Judgmental Trap When we become obsessed with the speaker rather than their words, we risk falling into a judgmental trap. We start assessing their intent rather than engaging with their argument. We question their credibility, label them based on past interactions, and dismiss their perspective outright. In doing so, we fail to listen. Every speaker, no matter how well-intentioned or knowledgeable, is inherently flawed—just as every argument, no matter how sound, carries its own set of assumptions and imperfections. But if we allow our perception ...

  Fear is an uncomfortable word. In business, it’s often swept under the rug, dismissed as weakness, or masked by bravado. Yet, whether we acknowledge it or not, fear is a constant companion in the boardroom, the startup garage, and every decision in between. It’s the quiet pulse behind risk-taking, the shadow lurking in innovation, and the unspoken tension in every handshake deal. Far from being a mere obstacle, fear is a powerful force—one that can paralyze or propel, depending on how we engage with it. So why does fear matter in business, and what happens when we stop pretending it doesn’t exist? Let’s start with the obvious: fear keeps us alive. It’s hardwired into us, a primal instinct that signals danger and sharpens our focus. In business, this translates to a healthy skepticism—think of the entrepreneur double-checking cash flow projections or the CEO hesitating before a massive merger. Fear, in this sense, is a guardian. It forces us to ask hard questions: What if this fa...

The world often glorifies the eloquent speaker, the charismatic orator, and the constant contributor, a quiet wisdom whispers a different truth: the profound power of listening. We are bombarded with messages, encouraged to voice our opinions, and often equate speaking with influence. Yet, beneath the surface of this vocal frenzy lies a deeper, more transformative force – the art of truly listening. The Greek philosopher Epictetus wisely observed, “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” Similarly, the biblical book of James advises, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” These age-old teachings challenge our modern perception that speaking carries more value in communication. The Speaker vs. The Listener: A Fundamental Difference At the heart of every conversation, there are two roles—one who speaks and one who listens .  The distinction between speaker and listener is far more than just ...