32 years — 32 unfiltered thoughts

the last year has been a whirlwind for me — personally and professionally, so i’ve been staying away from putting my thoughts to words, thinking ‘who has time for that’ or ‘it’s too late now’. but you know what? it’s never too late.

i wrote about my 30 years around the sun 2 years ago and promised i’d do this more often so i have something to go back to and chuckle when i’m older. missed a year in between, but oh well — here we go again.

4 months late, here are 32 learnings and thoughts i hold close to my heart today, in no particular order:

1. write things down and make a plan — even if it’s loose, it’s crucial. pen and paper or a google doc if you’re me — the only way to move forward is to start. and iterate lots along the way! an imperfect project is better than the perfect project that never sees the light of the day.
2. say no to mediocre — thoughts, things, work and people.
3. the worst-case scenario rarely happens. i spent (and sometimes still spend) a chunk of my time prepping for the worst case scenario. overthinking and perfecting every step along the way. the truth is — it almost never happens. the sooner you realise this, the more differently you start doing things.
4. too many challenges make life hard. but so do too little.
5. don’t force anything. if it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t fit. this applies to everything — partnerships, jobs, friendships, and more.
6. working for yourself is daunting 360 days a year, but once you get used to the peace and control (or the lack of) over your own life, it’s invaluable. cherish it > crib about it for as long as you can. not everyone gets to be that lucky.
7. enjoy the little things you’ve earned. use those nice candles. pour that expensive gin. andy bernard once said “i wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them.” these are the good days, my friend - live them more often.
8. there is no 5 am or 12 am club rule — productivity is energy based. every one of us have spurts of energy through our day, and that’s what we need to hone into. when does your spurt of energy come? how long does it last? once we understand this, we start to manage our time very differently. for me, an hour before 9 am is worth 3 hours after 5 pm.
9. everything passes. the good and the bad — and sometimes that’s the best/ worst part!
10. getting dressed makes you feel better. whether you’re stepping out for a coffee, a launch you worked hard for, working from home on a shitty work day or catching a flight at 8 am! always dress the part, you (almost) always feel better.
11. the hardest thing is to focus. the easiest thing is to complain.
12. pick your ‘kitchen table’ and keep it real. the older you grow you realise how important it is to have strong friendships — folks who can show you the mirror and will cheer for you from the front row.
13. everyone hates processes. but you know what they hate more? lack of processes.
14. nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. follow up on that cold email, push harder to get that headstand right, reapply for that job interview — remember you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
15. always, always be on time — it’s ridiculously fashionable. let no one tell you otherwise!
16. the truth is, for most of your life, your work will fill a large part of your daily, and the only way to be satisfied is to do what you believe is great work + what gives you meaning. and the only way to do great work is to love what you do. if you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. and if you think you’re 80% there — learn to cherish it more often.
17. optimise for good bosses who show you the mirror + hungry > experienced colleagues. don’t chase comfort in your 20s/ 30s and don’t invest time on energy takers.
18. whenever we’re in a tough spot, our tendency is to add something new to the system (a new workout, a new project, a new process++). usually, the solution is in removing something.
19. when you flip the data, you see a very different thought process and next step. always flip the data before making an important decision.
20. be dependable and learn to commit. the world needs more rahul dravids.
21. shower thoughts are the best thoughts for a reason. spend more time doing nothing. if you feel like you can’t ’cause of a hectic schedule, block time on your calendar to do nothing.
22. be likeable. opportunities come through people and people are only likely to nominate folks they genuinely like. also — pay it forward!
23. stand up for what’s right. even if you’re standing up for it alone. you sleep better at night.
24. the better someone does their job, the easier it looks. you never realize how hard it is / how many years of practice it takes for it to look that way till you do it yourself. nothing is a 5 min task, respect that.
25. rigorous > lazy thinking. here’s a great read by wes kao that breaks this down well.
26. talkers talk, doers do. skip taking advice from the person who hasn’t done the thing you want to do.
27. get yourself a dog if you can in your 30s. getting jimmy has been the best part about coming back home from work! i didn’t know i had so much love to give. also be the person your dog thinks you are :)
28. impatient with execution, patient with results. write it down on a whiteboard. but also know when to pivot!
29. most of your mental health is your physical health. pick that game of football over a tub of ice cream!
30. drop that text, check in on the friend who’s been mia, make a nice dinner at home when your partner gets that promotion, speak to your parents more often — give a f* and take out time for what’s important.
31. ‘mentorship’ is overrated. find a bunch of people you respect/ admire and give them a life update every 6 months + offer to help from time to time. good karma always catches up.
32. be a hugger. people need more hugs than you think.

onto 33! 🏃‍♀️