What do you NOT want to do?
It helps clear up the air for the most important.
Hey Bro,
Welcome to another edition of Raw and Real, where every week we have:
1 Raw and Real Conversation
2 Raw One-Liners
3 Real Gratitudes
Let’s go!
Raw and Real Conversation
I worked with Ankur for 3.5 years.
Not only worked with him, led the content team to 9.2Mn+ followers, managed A-Z of operations, and also ghostwrote two bestselling books. (Do Epic Sh*t was written in 11 days, Get Epic Sh*t Done was written in less than 2 months.)
In these 3.5 years, I “learned” how to build a content business, and also “invented” some ways of how we do things.
The ride was incredible.
But it was also tiring.
I worked very hard, considered each problem as my own, and (I hate to say it) was addicted to work. On no one’s insistence, only out of my choice.
In all of this, there was a pattern as well:
In 2021 and 2022 when we were either planning the two books or working with the editors or going through “final drafts”, all the hard work that I did as the Team Lead seemed like a cakewalk. It was almost that the process of writing a book for a small part of the year gave me energy to work on things I did not necessarily LOVED. Throughout the year!
In 2023 when I was not ghostwriting Ankur’s third book, I was not enjoying work much either. It was natural for things turning out in a manner that I also ended up walking out of the team in the middle of the year.
This led to a few realisations:
I absolutely loved writing books. So much so that the hard work, the grind, the patience, the constant thumping of fingers on my keyboard for hours and forgetting everything in the process seemed like a second nature.
I did not enjoy the managerial side of things. I didn’t (and still don’t understand) why people need to be managed?
Anyway, a year back when I was on my own, I did not try to do what most people would suggest to do:
I did not become someone who would create processes and systems for a content team to work on.
You know what, the opportunity was ripe.
There are so many teams that need help with processes.
I could help very well.
But I did not enjoy it.
What I LOVED was writing.
So I consciously said no to a few inbound leads for Operations Consulting.
It wasn’t easy. I still wish I had said yes. Easy money 💸. Doesn’t jiggle jiggle, only folds :) But then James Clear has a wise suggestion:
If at all, it wasn’t easy to say no to 90% of the things you have been doing in the past, just to go all in on ONE thing you love.
We still took the plunge.
And I am glad I did. ✌️
It was for the very first time ever I was fully listening to my own heart. Finally.
And when you do things from your own heart, for the joy of doing them, for the fact that you would do them even if you were not being paid, money comes to you miraculously.
It oozes out through your joy.
So, my friend, here is a suggestion for you:
Anytime in life when you are confused about “what next”, don’t worry about finding the answer right away.
Instead, focus on eliminating everything you don’t want to do. Your life is speaking to you. All of the time.
In the process, you will have the answer you are looking for.
It is risky, it isn’t made for all, but you will know when it is the right path.
You will always know.
2 Raw One Liners
To win the day, start with defining “what will make me win the day?”
Your excellence at work is a direct reflection of your rituals outside of work. Fix your personal life. You will fix your professional life. The cycle doesn’t move in the other order.
3 Real Gratitudes
I chose to not react to someone who had triggered me a few weeks back. We need to celebrate these little growth points :)
Called up someone on their birthday despite the fact that they didn’t, on my birthday. We need to move beyond ego :)
Dignified conditions to work. If we look at our house help or service staff and compare our lives to their lives, even our problems and miseries seem like blessings :)
That is it, friends.
Have a great monsoon weekend. And have some deep friend, not air fried pakodas :))
See you all next week <3. Stay raw. Stay real.
Thank you
Nishtha Gehija
Reads of this week:
Do you mind if I smoke? |
If you work on the weekends |
Principles (from the archives) |
Whenever you are ready, here are some of my books that would help you:
The Corporate Life Handbook: The book everyone working a corporate job needs :)
The Career Changing Guide: My bestseller so far :)
How to Deal with Heartbreak: Because, life happens :(
Every Writer Needs to Read this: I wish I had this one, when I was starting out as a writer
This is What You are Looking for: Small Life Lessons for a Happier Life