HabitStrong

Is it within your power to reshape your life in a single year?

This manual is tailored for those with a burning desire to make a U-turn in life and are prepared to dedicate a solid 12 months to the cause.

I won't sell you on any quick fixes or magical shortcuts. However, in this no-frills guide, I'll illuminate the path for you.

If you stick to it, I assure you – your life will transform.

This 12-month commitment is no walk in the park, but you have the capacity to see it through.

Download this guide only if you genuinely intend to trigger a change in your life.

👉 https://habitstrong.ck.page/oneyearplan

At McKinsey, the skill I needed the most was not maths. In fact, the most advanced maths I used was a simple regression.

Surprisingly, even more than ‘problem-solving’, the skill I used the most was 'articulation' - writing, explaining, and crafting persuasive stories using data.

And not just McKinsey - throughout the business world, success requires strong articulation skills, not the least because clarity in speech comes from clarity of thought. If you can’t articulate, you can’t persuade. And if you can’t persuade, you can’t lead.

And this is one area where students in the US are far ahead of Indians. And not without reason.

In school, I never got a chance to do any quality writing or presentation. And even when we wrote some beaten-down prose, our teachers were incapable of correcting or guiding us. E.g., nobody ever told me that passive voice should be avoided like plague. Pun intended :)

Tragically, our schooling conditioned us to give the answer the teacher wanted to see, down to the exact words, where possible. It was deadly effective in snuffing out any critical thinking.

If the schools don’t change, we need other solutions. We can’t keep doing this and then say that the new generation lacks critical thinking.

We are doing our best to kill their critical thinking, tragically, with good success.

- Rajan

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Change your life with HabitStrong’s 4-week bootcamps. Build powerful, lasting habits: https://cutt.ly/N77JeTZ

“You want to change the world? Start by making your bed” – famously spoke Admiral Bill McRaven, the former head of US special operations command.

How you start your day is often how your day goes. And how your days go, is how your life goes.

So if you want to change your life, start by changing how you start your day.

When we wake up and start working without taking the time to recharge our batteries, we often feel lethargic, distracted, and dull. But instead, do a vigorous morning workout and see what it does to your mood. You will feel infinitely more optimistic and energetic.

Similarly, a short meditation, even for as little as 15-20 minutes, can totally change the state of your mind, giving you calm and peace.

When you start your day with optimism and energy, you respond to the same situation differently – you are now a different person.

Having trained thousands in building a morning routine at HabitStrong, I can say this – take the time every morning to meditate and work out. Make it a daily habit. It will totally change you.

And you don’t have to take my word for it – just try it out and see. Your own experience will never lie.

- Rajan

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Ready to own your mornings? Join HabitStrong’s 4-week bootcamp and create a routine that fuels your day: https://cutt.ly/977KK40

I have started doing equity investing in a small way – as much for the learning and the intellectual challenge as for wealth creation. And here is my framework:

1. Invest for at least a 10-year timeframe. I don’t care whether the stock goes up or down the next week, month, or even year.

When your timeframe is 10 years, you are liberated from the daily noise and can focus on what truly matters – the company’s underlying business and its competitive advantage.

2. Don’t invest in anything you don’t understand and can’t articulate in simple language. So most of the time, I won’t invest in stocks with low ROIC/ROE, unless I find compelling undervaluation (which is fairly unlikely).

3. Don’t invest in anything which does not have a fundamental value. So no crypto for me – ever. I am not saying others should not do that – this is just my personal choice.

4. Don’t invest just because your broker (or anyone else) says, “XYZ stock is likely to go up in the next few months.” The truth is, nobody knows what will happen over a few months, unless, you possibly have insider information.

I don’t know how well I will perform – I am sure there will be ups and downs. But if I acquire this skill over the next decade and become good at it, someday I would like to run a fund.

The one thing I am very clear about is – no shortcuts. Think long-term – that is the only way to do anything meaningful.

- Rajan

***

Ready to transform your life? Build lasting habits with HabitStrong’s 4-week online bootcamps: https://cutt.ly/N77JeTZ

Fixing your productivity problems is easier than you think – and I’ll show you how.

First, though, you have to recognize why you’re struggling in the first place.

95% of productivity issues can be traced back to 10 key factors, which we cover in this 20-minute webinar (link below). Once you identify which ones are affecting you, you can focus on solving the right problems, instead of wasting time on things that don’t work.

Sign up for the free webinar here: https://habitstrong.ewebinar.com/webinar/unveiling-10-productivity-killers-16195

During my school days, sometimes I used to get into a rut of inaction and laziness. Every day, I would resolve to get serious ‘tomorrow,’ but the next day, I would repeat the same thing.

Then, to break out of that rut using ‘shock therapy,’ one day, I would study the whole night. Even if I was not efficient that night, it strangely motivated me the next day to push harder.

Now, I am pretty sure that what I did was unscientific and today, I am dead against doing all-nighters. But one lesson I have learned is that when we push ourselves hard towards a challenging goal, it can sometimes be strangely motivating.

If you ask me to train for a 5 km run, I may not be that motivated. But if you ask me to prep for a 25 km run, strangely, I might be much more motivated.

Sometimes, to unleash your energy, all you need is a tough challenge. Maybe, easy is not always the answer.

- Rajan

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Want to transform your life? Build life-changing habits with HabitStrong's 4-week online bootcamps: https://cutt.ly/N77JeTZ

After my father dropped me off at the IIT Kanpur hostel, for the next 4 years, my parents did not even once ask about my grades.

Nor did they bother about my career plans, until one day I told them that I would be joining the IPS. And when I quit the IPS, they were totally cool with it.

Their approach always has been, “If you need something, we are here to support you, but you are in charge of your life. Do what is right.”

I never realized the value of this independence until I met this IPS batchmate of mine, who was a doctor by training. His dream was to practice medicine but his father, an ex-IPS officer, forced him to join the service.

Ultimately, my friend quit the IPS and moved to another country to again become a doctor. You cannot suppress the human spirit forever.

This hands-off parenting taught me a big life lesson: If you want something, pay the price -- go through the grind. Earn it, and have it.

You have the freedom to shape your life. So don’t blame your circumstances, don’t complain. If you don’t like something, change it.

I think this is true for all of us. We are the captains of our ship -- nobody will bail us out. There are no backup captains in this game.

It is our life. And we are responsible for what we do with it.

Responsibility is the price of freedom.

- Rajan

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Want to transform your life? Build life-changing habits with HabitStrong's 4-week online bootcamps: https://cutt.ly/N77JeTZ

Saranya joined us almost 9 years ago, in my previous startup, for some data entry work. Today, she heads our operations at HabitStrong – she makes dozens of things happen every week like clockwork, to keep our bootcamps running smoothly.

She has many exemplary qualities but the one that truly makes her stand out is this – I have never heard her say, “It was not my fault.”

Saranya epitomizes ‘extreme ownership’ – if she takes up something, she owns it and gets it done. The buck stops with her. And in many ways, this is the number one quality of a leader.

I expect that Saranya will stay with us and keep rising.

Nothing can stop a person who stops at nothing to get things done.

- Rajan

***

Want to transform your life? Build life-changing habits with HabitStrong's 4-week online bootcamps: https://cutt.ly/N77JeTZ

Can your life take a different turn in just one year?

This manual is for those of you who genuinely aspire to level up your lives and are prepared to invest 12 months in the process.

I won't make any pledges about quick fixes or magical tricks. However, in this direct guide, I will guide you along the route.

If you adhere to it, I guarantee – your life will undergo a metamorphosis.

This 12-month commitment is demanding, but it's within your reach.

Download this guide only if you genuinely desire to initiate a change in your life.

👉 https://habitstrong.ck.page/oneyearplan

When I took charge as the Trivandrum Police Commissioner, my predecessor was kind enough to ask me if I wanted to take charge at an auspicious time, after the ‘Rahu Kaalam’ was over.

In Kerala, every day, there is some period called ‘Rahu Kaalam’, which is apparently not a good time to do important things. My predecessor was just trying to respect my preferences, if any.

I politely declined and deliberately took charge during the ‘Rahu Kaalam’, just to see what happens.

So what happened next?

Nothing. While I ran the City Police for the next few years, I had my share of ups and downs. If I wanted to, I could always claim that all the difficult moments were due to ‘Rahu Kaalam’ and all good moments due to my innate luck. But that is nonsense.

As human beings, we all feel uncertain and insecure occasionally – I certainly do. And that is when we look for certainty, and that is where we fall for superstitions. But let us not allow our mind to do that.

Scientific temper is the first prerequisite for progress.

There is no good or bad time to do anything. The best time to do a good thing is now. Don’t wait for an auspicious moment – if we are ready to act, every moment is auspicious.

- Rajan

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Want to transform your life? Build life-changing habits with HabitStrong's 4-week online bootcamps: https://cutt.ly/N77JeTZ

About a decade ago, when I was working in New York, I once started getting heavy hair fall. I consulted a doctor who couldn’t figure out anything – he said it was probably the start of male-pattern baldness :)

However, when I changed jobs and moved to India, the hair fall stopped immediately.

What changed? My stress levels.

The trigger for my hairfall was the massive work-related stress. When I changed jobs, my stress levels plummeted and the hair fall stopped instantly.

Stress is a killer. It harms our body in ways we can’t imagine.

If your job is laced with stress, you need to think about it seriously. There is no 2nd life, nor can we get an additional lifeline, like in video games.

Let us not normalize absurd levels of stress – no job should cost us our health.

- Rajan

***

If you feel burdened by chronic anxiety, check out “Freedom From Anxiety & Stress” - our online self-paced program based on cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), world’s most popular therapy: https://cutt.ly/ywtQrZm8

During one of the Prime Minister's visits to Kerala, I saw first-hand what keeps the PM safe. No, it is not the guns or high-tech gadgets - instead, it is what Buddhists call a "Beginner's Mind". Let me share a story.

Before this particular visit by the PM, a high-ranking team from the PM's security (SPG) was visiting Kerala for a coordination meeting with the local officials.

One senior local police officer was getting annoyed with the micro-level details the visiting team was getting into. He told the visiting Inspector General (IG) from PM's security, "Sir, we have done VIP security many, many times. Don't worry about these small things - we are experts. We can handle it."

The IG replied, "This is probably the 500th time I am coming for a PM's visit. And even I don't consider myself an expert. I approach every visit as if I am doing it for the first time."

That, in short, is "Beginner's Mind." It is an antidote to arrogance, which kills willingness to learn, ultimately leading to mediocrity.

In business, finance, and many areas of human endeavor, we don't need an IQ of 160 to be exceptional. All we need is a child-like curiosity, humility, and openness to learn.

In other words, we just need a beginner's mind.

- Rajan

***

Want to transform your life? Build life-changing habits with HabitStrong's 4-week online bootcamps: https://cutt.ly/N77JeTZ

If you're struggling with productivity, you can turn it around – I guarantee it.

95% of productivity issues stem from just 10 core problems, all of which are covered in this free webinar (link below).

We surveyed hundreds of people to craft this concise 20-minute session, and you won’t find this level of insight anywhere else. Now, it’s available to you – completely free.

In just 20 minutes, you'll walk away with a clear understanding of exactly what needs to change.

Sign up for the free webinar here: https://habitstrong.ewebinar.com/webinar/unveiling-10-productivity-killers-16195

If you ever feel guilty about not figuring out your career path quickly, please take heart – I graduated more than two decades ago, and I still feel like I am just exploring life.

Maybe some of us take more time than others. Or maybe we are all like that – I don’t know.

But there is no due date before which you ‘have to arrive.’

We are humans. We explore. We look for adventure. We make mistakes. And sometimes we get lost.

That is ok.

It is ok to take time. It is ok to feel lost. At the very least, you are not alone – we are in the same boat.

- Rajan

***

Want to transform your life? Build life-changing habits with HabitStrong's 4-week online bootcamps: https://cutt.ly/N77JeTZ

I know you love your smartphone more than you should -- but this is not your fault really.

Between 2010 and 2012, Facebook made two changes that kicked off our smartphone addiction. Here they are:

1. Before 2010, everybody on Facebook had a ‘wall.’ Anything I posted, would go to my wall. If you wanted to see what I was up to, you would come to my wall and view it.

So Facebook browsing was an active process and you chose the content you were exposed to.

But post-2010, Facebook changed – instead of a wall we now got the ‘News feed.’ Now you did not decide what content you saw – Facebook’s algorithm did.

From all the content out there, the algorithm would pull the content most likely to keep you hooked, even if it negatively impacted your mental health or enraged you. And that content would come to your newsfeed.

All of us became passive consumers of whatever ‘the algorithm’ decided to show us.

Once you add the ‘infinite scroll’ (which came later), we could now browse mindlessly and indefinitely. Other social platforms also copied this and our transformation from a human to a zombie was complete.

2. The other major change was Facebook’s introduction of the ‘Like’ button. Facebook did not invent it but it was the first to popularize it.

As simple as it sounds, the ‘Like’ button changed something fundamentally. Before the like button, you went to Facebook to see what others were up to. But now, you were more curious about how many people liked your vacation picture!

Since we all crave social validation, we absolutely love to know who all liked our picture – it is practically irresistible. That is why, after you post a picture, you click again and again.

The more you click, the more advertisements you see. The more ads you see, the more money Facebook makes.

Is it any surprise that you can’t resist your phone?

The end result was that Facebook’s revenue shot up and we lost control over our life.

Don’t be a passive target of an algorithm – fight back and reclaim your life. Every day counts.

- Rajan

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Break free from phone addiction. Improve productivity and mental health. Online self-paced program to beat digital distractions & build laser focus: https://cutt.ly/WwtlkA5S

At my last job with a private equity firm, we had retreats at some really fancy hotels.

At one of them, as part of the ‘evening service,’ the hotel staff would leave an array of small perfume bottles on the bed to help you sleep better.

For sure, it felt like luxury. But would it make you sleep better? Unlikely.

If the mind is racked by anxiety and worry, no perfume will help with sleep.

We try to solve a lot of problems with money and luxury. But quite often, the answers are much simpler.

In fact, a workout during the day would be a much better enabler of sleep than fancy perfumes.

Whether it is to sleep well, stay healthy, or more generally, live a good life, money and luxury can only do so much – the only thing that truly changes our life is building good habits.

Sometimes, the answers are much simpler than we realize.

- Rajan

***

Want to transform your life? Build life-changing habits with HabitStrong's 4-week online bootcamps: https://cutt.ly/N77JeTZ

Is it possible to alter your life within a year?

This guide is designed for those who are eager to make a turnaround and are ready to commit for 12 months.

I won't guarantee any shortcuts or magical solutions. However, in this straightforward guide, I will guide you on the path.

Follow it, and I promise you – your life will change.

This 12-month commitment is demanding, but it's within your reach.

If you just read and forget about it, it is useless.

Download this guide only if you truly want to make a change in your life.

👉 https://habitstrong.ck.page/oneyearplan

On day 1 of my first job with the Indian Police Service – I was quite useless. I had some theoretical knowledge of law enforcement but I am pretty sure I was good for nothing. But people tolerated me and with time and exposure, I learned.

The same thing happened at McKinsey – on my first day as a consultant, I think I made terrible PowerPoint slides. But someone was kind enough to tolerate my unpreparedness, and coach me.

Nobody is born a genius. We all start our careers clumsy and useless – we acquire skills only with exposure and practice.

When new people join any organization, they need the runway to take off. They need kindness and guidance.

We all start our life stupid – competence is acquired, not inherited.

- Rajan

***

Want to transform your life? Build life-changing habits with HabitStrong's 4-week online bootcamps: https://cutt.ly/N77JeTZ

One of my best managers at McKinsey announced on day-1 of the client engagement, “Guys, let us aim to make it a 9 to 5 engagement – I mean 9 to 5 pm, not 5 am!”

We had never been able to do that on any engagement – least of all, on a super-intense, two-week due diligence, which this was.

The best thing about this manager was that no matter how much pressure came from the top, he would never pass it down. I know very few people who can do that – personally, I have also failed at that.

Since we liked him so much, he was the one person for whom we would have happily worked till 5 am. And we did – and everybody was happy doing it.

If a leader genuinely cares about the team, people will typically do anything for that person. Hard work is rarely a problem – all people want is respect and their bosses to care about them.

- Rajan

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Want to transform your life? Build life-changing habits with HabitStrong's 4-week online bootcamps: https://cutt.ly/N77JeTZ

In our office meetings and group discussions, sometimes, the most outspoken and the loudest voice prevails.

But just because someone is quiet doesn't mean they have nothing remarkable to say. Some people take time to reflect and answer. Others are plain shy.

We have to engage everybody, including the quiet ones. Their ideas may be just as good -- just that they are not that used to speaking our first or speaking out loud.

- Rajan

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Want to transform your life? Build life-changing habits with HabitStrong's 4-week online bootcamps: https://cutt.ly/N77JeTZ