I talk about the importance of creating a strategic narrative that stands the test of time. Many opportunities to chalk a new path are lost due to a narrow, fixated perspective of the past. The past needs to be infused with a fresh meaning for a new future to manifest. The strategic narrative is the prism businesses use to impose continuity upon its actions throughout its trajectory. It’s a north star that stays relevant amid changing market conditions and technology landscape.
The Medium is the Metaphor
I explore why writing is fundamentally different from the video-audio format. To this end, I borrow extensively from Neil Postman’s works, particularly, “Amusing Ourselves to Death”. I argue, with examples, why the medium is the metaphor.
How Systems Overcome Decision Fatigue
I argue why mechanical consistency is a better bet for many of us. I argue why continuous recalibration can be bad citing examples of daily commute, agile marketing and investment. TL;DR version: Autopilot > Continuous Recalibration.
Bicycle for your Note-taking
I talk about my experiences in note-making. Because, the 5 most deceptive words in humanity’s history are: “I will remember this later”. I discuss how I came to discover the limitations of note-making in a book. And, why I was forced to go digital.
Family in the US Political Debate
I summarize the key points of the US political debate around the ‘traditional family’. Quoting JD Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy, I explore how it ties up with Rob Henderson’s ‘Luxury Beliefs’. I ponder over how desirable it is to go for radical policy changes in an institution that stood the test of time.
Why Political Discourse Seems So Stupid
I talk about why the current political discourse seems so stupid. I borrow the following concepts to make my point: - Final Vocabulary - Purva Paksha - Ideological Turing Test - Pigeonholing
Are You Addicted to Social Media?
I talk about social media addiction, and how it affects our personal lives. We joined Facebook to connect with long-lost friends across the globe. Only to lose the ability to hold uninterrupted conversations with friends right in front of us. I dig into the perils of phone-based childhood and what young parents can do about it. Also, I briefly share my recent experiments to wean myself away from social media.
How Frugality fuels Creativity
I go down the memory lane, to the 90s where technology was still on the fringes of life. I revisit the days when we exchanged letters, where photos were taken to mark an important event. And, then, I ask whether the abundance of technology has cheapened what ideally should be treasured.
How much knowledge is enough knowledge?
I ask: how much knowledge is enough knowledge? Every year, we see a new list of books that promise to reshape our understanding of how the world works. But to a curious reader, this poses a problem: how much knowledge is enough knowledge? I seek answers to whether there is a reading equivalent of Minimum Effective Dose, the smallest dose that will produce a desired outcome.
Authenticity and Political Correctness in Business Communication
Should you publicly express an opinion that is at odds with the prevailing standards of political correctness? In this article, I seek answers to questions like: - If you self-censor on social media platforms, are you still being authentic? - Are you being authentic if you’re complying with what’s politically correct? - Is there no middle ground between authenticity and political correctness? If you ever held back from expressing an opinion online, this is for you.
Musings by Madhav 