Promotion ?

 First, let us look at how Peter’s principle works. Peter principle - Wikipedia.

It states that the selection of a candidate for a position is based on the candidate's performance in their current role, rather than on abilities relevant to the intended role.

Thus, employees only stop being promoted once they can no longer perform effectively, and "managers rise to the level of their incompetence".

---

• The biggest career mistake that people usually make is that they tend to over estimate their worth in the short term and underestimate their worth that is possible in the long term.
• Often many people end up in a sub optimum job (where they do not like either of work, co-workers, or boss), and do not move out of it, and think that they will get a promotion next year or so.
• Then when they do not get a promotion, they think that they have incurred one more year in the sunk cost, so they should stay for one more year, wait for a promotion, and then move.
• If they still not get one, then they tend to give up, and lower down their own performance(second biggest mistake) which is when it is even harder to get a promotion and that is exactly how they get stuck where they are.
• Then, family and multiple other obligations come up, and the likelihood of getting promoted or to find a better job goes down even further.
• Then, they enter a stagnation mindset, in which they spend multiple years.
• Eventually, companies do promote them, and this can all happen at least two to three times until eventually they make it to a position where they are not the most competent persons for the job, they are actually incompetent for them.
• Unfortunately they take up those roles(third biggest mistake) and ruin the companies they work for.

---

How not to make these mistakes?

Thinking:

• In the initial years, it is often very tempting to think that you are really amazing. Unfortunately, you actually are not, so stop thinking you are amazing.
• Instead, focus on what will actually make you so amazing that you can do a job two levels above your job. Sure this will not happen overnight. This will happen in 10 years, but one must plan like that.
• In short, people should actually prepare themselves for two grades above where they are in terms of their thinking.
• That is, always think like your boss’s boss.

---

Doing:

• To actually do the work, you should work as if you are your boss.
• Learn the technical things very systematically, and try to make everything really easy for your boss.
• Become the person who can train all others around you as if your boss was to do this task.
• Work very closely with customers and find out how you can satisfy them.
• Network with as many people as you can, and grow this way as much as possible in your current job.
• That is, always work like your boss.

---

• If you succeed in thinking like your boss’s boss, and doing like your boss, then be assured, that you are sure to get promoted sooner than later.
• As soon as you get promoted, start thinking again about your boss’s boss and start working like your boss. Perhaps they are still the same persons, or probably different persons.

---

• Always keep the enthusiasm alive, and never ever give up in your life.
• Sometimes promotions will happen on time, and sometimes not.
• Your work ethics are in your hands, but promotions really are not.
• Also, never tie your happiness with your promotions, otherwise you will never be happy.

---

Now some people will say why not work on your own start-up? And I will say - sure that will certainly be amazing, but even then, this is how you really need to inspire people in your organization and you are sure to succeed.

---

Stay blessed and stay inspired!

-Rohit Malshe 

Blessed are those...........

“Blessed are those who got a chance to study”

“Blessed are those who have books to study”

“Blessed are those who have a roof and light to study all night”

“Blessed are those who are healthy enough to study all night”

“Blessed are those who don’t have to study empty stomach all night”

What is your definition of pleasure? 1. Netflix all night 2. Chatting all night 3. Staring at the wall all night etc. etc. etc. All these things are temporary pleasure, whereas study all night can give you pleasure for the lifetime.

Increase the beauty of the night by spending it with books.

Happy Studying !

-Nikhil Panwar

Be Happy Be Cheerful !

 

1. Past performance has minimal role in future success: You can be successful even if you were a failure in the past. So don’t fret on your failures, just work on present and make your future successful.
2. Every second matters: Utilizing every second of your time matters. For e.g. travelling in metro and looking here and there is unproductive, rather watch some productive podcast or your favourite TV show.
3. Family over friends: Family is the one which will remain with you all the time both in your good and bad (it includes some very good friends which are like your family). Normal friends will come and go. Even your best of friendships work on give and take principle but your family works on only give, give and give principle.
4. Marks in School are just a number: What marks you got in school have zero impact in your career. So, those tensions and crying over marks were useless.
5. Value of Fitness: What you eat and do today will reflect 10 years later in your body.
6. Art of saying No: Learning to say no is an art, the early you learn is better. Unnecessarily remaining available for people for their stupid stuff is useless.
7. Side income during college: We genuinely have some spare time during our college days. Having a online side income may give a sense of confidence and independence.
8. Solo Travelling: The early you start travelling, the better it is. You will have a lot of time and energy to cover places all over the world. Preferably starting from college days with the help of side income.
9. Selective Friendship: Give your effort and time for only few friends who will remain with you for the lifetime.
10. People Pleaser: You don’t get anything but regret in doing this.
11. One lifestyle Sport since childhood: I wish I could have known that playing one sport religiously and daily helps a lot in your future college and work days. I started late in college.
12. Relationships are healthy: Not all relationships waste your time like our Indian parents advice and warn. So don’t hesitate in getting into one.

Nonetheless, Be Happy and cheerful !

-Nikhil Panwar

Experience at IISc in one sentence

The best you will have in your lifetime.

Expectation Vs Reality:

1. People studying there will be geeks: But the reality is just the other way around. People there are no doubt good in studies but they are equally good in having fun in different activities.
2. The study life will be very difficult: But the reality is that you will have good support of peers, and it will not feel very difficult (but still it will be difficult).
3. Competition among peers: At IISc you don’t compete with each other, rather you grow together.
4. Exams will be serious: Not at all, Your prof will ask the class when do you want to give exams. And even if you get ill, you can take permission of your prof to give exam later in his cabin.
5. Will not find Hardcore Gamers: You will find hard core gamers in your labs. Research in day time and DOTA during night. This was the routine.
6. No time for Cultural Festivals: People from all around India make sure that all the festivals are celebrated with the same vigor and enthusiasm.
7. Hostels will be bad: But they are nice, and food is also respectable as compared to other institutes.
8. After classes you will go to hostel: But after classes you go to your lab and remain there till midnight or late. Even sometimes sleep in lab.
9. Hostel will be fun: But in reality, labs are fun. Maximum time of students goes in labs. Hostels are only to sleep.
10. Life will be boring: But the life is way to exciting and beautiful inside the campus.

To summarize, IISc is a different world. A world of dreams.

Picture Credits: CSA 2011–2013, IISc

-Nikhil Panwar

My boss is offering me a higher position with higher responsibilities but without a raise in salary, should I take it?

Who says the responsibilities are greater? The same boss that won’t give you a raise to take the job? Any chance there are some reasons why the job is not desirable, reasons you haven’t been told about?

Jobs are worth what someone will pay for them. If the pay is the same, it is arguable there’s nothing really superior about the job. If the boss is giving you a song and dance about “growth potential”, be sure to ask him to put that boast in writing.

-Kurt Guntheroth

The definition of entertainment of today's youth has become flawed

Now for them the entertainment is

1. Clubbing with friends and consuming alcohol.
2. Smoking weed.
3. Playing virtual Games like Pubg.
4. Get into relationship at a very early age
5. Watching useless TV serials like Big Boss.
6. Shopping for things which they don't need.
7. Social media scrolling for long hours.
8. Scrolling Dating websites.

Rather the entertainment has to be like:

1. Playing your favorite outdoor or indoor sport.
2. Dancing, singing, painting, sketching etc
3. Reading a good story book
4. Hitting the gym for daily fitness
5. Listening to podcasts on YouTube
6. Writing your experiences.
7. Creating some new Content for others to consume, like blogging etc.
8. Planning your next trip, which you want to do in near future.
9. Going out for an adventure activity with friends.
10. Learning some new skills like photography, musical instrument, cooking etc.

I do believe that today's youth has to be guided in the right direction. If youth themselves are reading this, then please try to change your definition of entertainment in line with the above 10 points.

Live life like a King !

-Nikhil Panwar

IISC or IITB?

I will have a totally different perspective in answering this question.

First of all both the institutes are the top notch institutes of India. And if you talk about quality of education, placements, package etc., then both of them are more or less equal.

The real difference which is there is the culture. One of my professors used to tell us that you are not here just to gather the knowledge, it can be gained from the books, online lectures etc. Rather you are here to learn other important life skills, and learn from your peers. Academics is just a path towards your social development at this institute.

Taking forward from the statement of my professor, I will tell my own analysis about both the institutes.

If you are talking about the Bachelors course, then IIT Bombay is a better choice because IISc is still developing its UG course which is considered to be a new feather in its hat (9 years to be precise) as per IISc standards.

But if you are talking about M. Tech or PhD course. IISc will always win hands down. I am not making this statement out of thin air or just because I am from IISc. Let me explain this to you.

The importance of the degree within the institute is the first parameter on which the institute has to be judged for a particular degree.

There is no doubt that UG students of IIT Bombay have cracked a tougher exam than the PG students. It normally gives them a sense of superiority. Even the professors know this reality and they also act accordingly.

Now, it will not be wrong to mention that in IIT Bombay the most valued course is B.Tech. M.Tech people there have to fight for their existence. Also, UG students outnumber PG students by a huge margin. In IIT Bombay, M.Tech people are nick named as “Matka”. It clearly shows the sense of superiority among the UG students.

Now lets get straight to the point that how IISc wins hands down over IIT Bombay:

Each department at IISc has limited number of PG and PhD students. No UG students at all. IISc admits only one batch of UG (60 nos) students every year and they have completely separate department and building for them. That means UG and PG don’t share any resources.

PG and PhD students are more in number than the UG students at IISc. Hence, unlike IITB, PG people are the king of the institute.

Talking about the student-professor ratio. In IISc it is around 7–8 students per professor. which is around 25–30 in IIT Bombay. Hence, in the most important resource for any institute i.e. Professors, IISc is a clear winner.

Talking about the lifestyle. IISc doesn’t restrict its students in any way. Dining halls are common for both men and women. Women entry is allowed inside the boys hostels. There is no late night entry restrictions in women hostels. The freedom you get at this institute is incomparable. Whereas in IITB, PG students will also be treated like kids coming out of school.

Every department has a huge building infrastructure. M. Tech students get a desk for themselves with a desktop PC, just like you get in a corporate MNC. Even all the PG students spend most of their time in their department labs. We used to go to our hostel rooms, only to sleep. This kind of luxury life, you may not get in IIT Bombay.

I have a lot of other things to say as well, but cutting short to conclusion, if you want to spend your 2 years in PG living like a king then you should definitely join IISc. And it is confirmed that you will be second to UG in IIT Bombay. But you will be second to none at IISc Bangalore.

Last but not the least, the best thing you get at IISc is the peace of life. If you are a peace and nature lover, then definitely IISc is a better place to be at.

PS: Since you are making a life decision. I really advice you to visit both the places before taking any decision. And I hope you will yourself get your answer.

--Nikhil Panwar

All too often, people want specific habits and strategies for self-improvement.

But these questions are inherently flawed.

Because the specific manifestation of a habit or strategy or not universally applicable…but the principles ARE

E.g. While everyone should adhere to the PRINCIPLE of staying physically fit, this will look different for every individual based on their background, body type, and lifestyle. One person might do well with a 5x5 weight lifting routine whereas another prefers a daily trail run.

So, now that you understand the importance of the way you asked your question, here’s my answer…

Principle #1 - Optimize Your Meat Vehicle

At birth, we are all given a vehicle through which we can explore, create, and engage with reality around us — our bodies (or as Joe Rogan calls it, “Your Meat Vehicle”)

And NOTHING, let me repeat…NOTHING will have a bigger impact on the quality and longevity of your life than the way you treat your body.

Therefore, the first and most important self-improvement principle you can follow is to optimize your meat vehicle…while finding a way to balance both performance and pleasure.

The specific way in which you go about optimization is (and should be) intensely personal.

Your body is unique. And for it to perform at the highest levels, the way you treat it must be equally unique.

However, inside of this overarching principle, there are a few “sub principles” to get you moving down the right path.

• Prioritize Recovery: Get at least 7 hours of sleep a night (ideally do a genetic test like 23AndMe or Self-Decoded to determine the exact number of hours you need to perform at your highest levels (and when you should get those hour)…yes, you can find this out by looking at your genes.
• Move More, More Better: I don’t just mean going to the gym and pumping iron (although that’s great). I mean prioritizing movement on a daily basis. Going on more walks, hanging from trees, doing handstands. Engaging every muscle in your body and learning how to efficiently move yourself through space. (Pick up a copy of The Align Method for some great strategies on this). You should work up a good sweat for at least 30-minutes a day, but think bigger than just your workouts.
• Eat Whole Foods: I recommend you do a gut biome test like Viome to get actionable insights into what your body needs. But if you don’t have the cash for something like this, start by simply eating only whole foods for 30-days. Then, as your body adjusts, start to pay attention to how specific foods make you feel and eliminate anything that makes you feel sluggish or low energy from your diet.
• More Nature, Less Bullshit: In your free time, one of the best things you can do for your body is to spend more time in nature. Go for a hike. Swim in a lake. Walk on the beach. Get out of your house and into the real world. The benefits are many.

Principle #2 - Relationships > Money

The second overarching principle I encourage you to follow (based on my own experience with financial success and men in my network with 10-figure net worths) is that you should ALWAYS prioritize high-quality relationships over making money.

I don’t mean that you should not prioritize financial or professional success—you should.

Simply that it should never come at the expense of spending time with people you love.

When it’s all said and done, your relationships matter more than anything else (Harvard proved this empirically with the longest-running study of human behavior/fulfillment ever conducted).

Unless you’re below the poverty line, adding an extra 0 to your bank account won’t improve your life as much as finding the partner of your dreams, building a social circle filled with high caliber people, and going on regular adventures with people you love.

Make money, yes. But make friends, have lovers, and live your life.

You might be surprised to find that you actually make more money in the long run when you do this.

Principle #3 - Mastery is Everything

The simplest and fastest way to become successful is simple…

MASTER a high-income skill that you love.

Devote thousands of hours to honing your craft. Educate yourself on the best practices. Learn, learn, and then learn some more (more on this later).

When you have a highly refined skill that makes other people’s lives easier, you never have to worry about keeping food on the table.

If you can write words that sell…negotiate like an FBI agent…lead people to pursue a joint vision…speak in a way that moves others to action…

You’re set for life.

Find a skill you love and master it.

Master it for the sake of mastery, not for the sake of money. And with enough time, the money will come.

Principle #4 - Move TOWARD Adversity

Today, our lives are far too easy.

We live in comfortable climate-controlled boxes where things like boredom and discomfort are the exception, not the rule.

We can order food, find easy sex, watch endless streams of dopamine-producing content all with the click of a button.

And it’s slowly killing us.

People have become afraid to take risks…terrified of experiencing discomfort…and thrown off by the most minor of setback.

Don’t follow the masses.

Embrace discomfort and move toward adversity.

When you look at the pain you are experiencing in your life, it is ALWAYS a direct reflection of your willingness or unwillingness to embrace discomfort.

If you’re single and lonely…you’ve avoided the pain of rejection.

If you’re broke…you’ve avoided the pain of hard work and acquiring new skills.

If you’re sick and overweight…you’ve avoided the pain of discipline, exercise, and healthy living.

And by moving TOWARD the pain you’ve been avoiding, you can dissipate the pain you are currently experiencing.

No matter what, you have to face pain.

You can choose to face the pain caused by inaction…or the pain of taking action.

One path leads to ruin and regret. The other to liberation and joy.

Pick your pain wisely.

Principle #5 - Remain a Student

No matter who you are or how successful you become…always remain a student.

Never stop learning, growing, and challenging your beliefs and assumptions.

Pursue growth and expansion at every turn and NEVER rest on your laurels.

The perpetual student is alive, engaged with life, and filled by curiosity.

As Henry Ford said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”

Hope this helps.

Stay Grounded,
Andrew