Taking someone for granted is easy. We become experts at home. In our circle of love. We start by taking small things for granted. Then, we move on to taking bigger things for granted. Soon, taking for granted becomes our second nature. Once that happens, we become blind to the fact that we are taking… Continue reading
The Graceful Slap
A few weeks ago, I got a call from a friend from the other part of the country. I was supposed to send her something a week ago and totally forgot about it. I realized that right when I started talking to her. She was extremely graceful in conveying about the delay and she said,… Continue reading
The four flavors of seeking feedback
They say “feedback is the breakfast of champions.” It’s true. Only if it is done with the right spirit. Here are the four flavors of seeking feedback. 1. To judge This is probably the feedback approach that has seriously questionable intent. Here you are really not looking for feedback. Instead, you are looking to judge… Continue reading
The time-tested way to create resonance about your product
As my one of my brilliant teachers Toby Hecht used to say, “Birds fly, fish swim and human beings tell stories.” Resonance starts with a powerful story. Not any story. But a story about the relevant use of your product in ways that will create an aha-moment in the minds of your audience. Let me… Continue reading
How to Increase the Odds of Creating a Positive Bias
You are ready to discuss an idea with someone important – someone whose actions will have an influence on the outcomes for you. This could be an investor you are courting. Or a potential partner Or a future employee Or a prospect If it is a fresh idea with a lot of risks, there is… Continue reading
The one unquestionable filter for people in your network
Right out of the bat, let me share this quote from Oprah Winfrey even at the risk of giving away the essence of this article Here it goes: Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo… Continue reading
The one HIDDEN assumption that might cause a lot of pain
Over the years I have heard a lot of friends about their disappointment (and sometimes, pain) about someone in their network. Somebody in the network did not understand them fully. Somebody didn’t care for them as much as they should have. Somebody said something they should not have said. Somebody said something about them in… Continue reading
Relevant Difference vs Noise
You can distinguish yourself in a number of ways. But, if what you do to distinguish yourself is not relevant to the context, then it is pure noise. For example, you decide to stand out by getting on a punk hairstyle. The next day you will get a lot of attention from colleagues at your… Continue reading
Three Barriers to Breakthroughs
Breakthrough is defined as “a sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development.” A lot of things have to come together for a serious breakthrough to occur. However, here are three barriers to witnessing breakthroughs 1. Lack of heterogeneous networks When your network is homogeneous, there is a good chance that the backgrounds, beliefs, values and… Continue reading
The Invisible Fear of Depth
No, I am not talking about the depth of an ocean. What I am referring to is learning. Earlier this year, I wrote about Why Many Smart People Don’t Complete Reading Business Books They Buy. The key concept in the article was that as they progress through a good business book, the commitment required to… Continue reading
