This is the 100th edition of "Elephant in the Room", and my most personal. It's the story of survival in face of uncertainty. Edition 100 is about the year that forced me to learn the difference—and what actually kept me intact when everything felt uncertain.
The Waiting Room We Never Left
"What if a demon were to creep after you one night... and say, 'This life which you live must be lived by you once again and innumerable times more...' Would you throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse that demon? Or would you answer, 'Never have I heard anything more divine'?" - Friedrich... Continue Reading →
Wondering If You Should Follow Up After Interviews? Here’s The Answer.
Radio silence after an interview? Should you follow up? Or will it make you look desperate? I wrestled with this myself this year, sending dozens of follow-ups and tracking the results. My finding: while silence usually means rejection, there's a crucial 20% upside you're leaving on the table if you don't act strategically.
Finding Happiness in Everyday Monotony
I explore why happiness proves elusive even as you conquer your goals. We expect life to be full of purpose, meaning and passion. What we face is incessant monotony. How can we find purpose, meaning and happiness? I ponder at length.
Why Preparation Beats Planning
I posit that there are 4 broad modes in which you approach life. The mode you operate in makes all the difference. Also, why preparation always beats planning.
Take Control of Your Information Diet
I talk about the perils of information obesity and argue for intellectual fitness.
Nietzsche’s Three Metamorphoses
According to German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, there are three stages of human growth necessary for man to transform into the Übermensch (the superman). Nietzsche states that every student has to go through these stages. Camel At the beginning, every student is a beast of burden. The thirst for learning must take him to every pond... Continue Reading →
Midlife Reboot
As far as clarity in life is concerned, the mid-30s got it made.
Musings by Madhav 