There’s a quiet tax we pay when we choose to do something different, meaningful, or ahead of its time. It's not money or effort or even risk, though those are part of it. The real cost, the one no one prepares you for, is being misunderstood. Not briefly, not occasionally, but often for long, … [Read more...]
You Taught Me the Long Game: My Mom. My Architect. My Coach. My Mentor. My Inspiration.
There are moments in life when we pause and reflect on the people who’ve shaped us. We often look to teachers, leaders, or great public figures for guidance, but for me, the most profound and enduring influence has always been one person: my mother, Pushap. It’s no accident that her name, which … [Read more...]
Better Than Yesterday: The Quiet Science of Becoming Exceptional
No one is born a top performer. It’s tempting to think otherwise - to assume the most impressive people we encounter are just wired differently, gifted in ways we aren’t. But when you look closer, you see a more ordinary, more hopeful truth: they’ve simply built themselves differently. Not … [Read more...]
The Quiet Power of Playing the Long Game
There’s something oddly comforting about short-term wins. They give us something to point to - proof of progress, signs of momentum, applause. But in the obsession with now, we often forget that most of what truly matters happens slowly, invisibly, and without ceremony. The long game doesn’t … [Read more...]
When They’re Almost There: The Turn Back to Familiar Paths
People turn. Not because they’re cruel or careless, but because they’re human. In moments of doubt, uncertainty, or discomfort, most of us will return to what we know - even if it’s less exciting, less visionary, or even less rewarding in the long run. It’s not a flaw. It’s a survival … [Read more...]
Mentorship is Not a Meetup: On Readiness, Reciprocity, and Respect
Lately, I’ve found myself hesitating when asked to mentor someone - not out of unwillingness, but because of a recurring issue: a lack of shared understanding around what mentorship really entails. It seems many people seek out a mentor as if it’s the next logical step, without pausing to reflect … [Read more...]
The Apprenticeship Was Never Meant to Be This Fast
Co‑ops and internships have been misunderstood. In my humble opinion, the co‑op - and by extension, the internship - was born from the spirit of the apprenticeship. A concept built not on transactions, but on transformation. For generations, people who were curious and serious about learning a … [Read more...]
If the Next Twelve Months Look Like This One
Every once in a while, life hands you a question so clear it almost stings: If the next twelve months looked like the last one, would you be proud of where you end up? It’s an uncomfortable question, mostly because it leaves no place to hide. It doesn’t ask whether you're busy or trying hard or … [Read more...]
Backbone Over Comfort: The Quiet Bravery of Conviction
Leadership is rarely glamorous in the moment it matters most. It’s not the boardroom photo or the inspirational quote; it’s the silence that follows an unpopular opinion, the long pause before someone says, “I disagree,” and the lonely stretch between dissent and decision. True leadership, the … [Read more...]
I Don’t Dream of Retirement, and That’s Not a Problem
Recently, I came across another early retirement post on LinkedIn - the kind that comes with heartfelt reflections, sincere gratitude, and a new chapter wrapped in a bow. I paused, smiled, and genuinely appreciated the discipline, intention, and optimism it takes to design a life that allows for … [Read more...]