Rajat Chakraborty's Blog, page 3

A feeling of insecurity amongst men

As a new man enters, into the Kingdom of old men, The old men become afraid. Afraid of their position in the kingdom. Afraid of what will happen to them, now that the new man has arrived. Whose position will the new man take? Who will be reporting to the new man? How will this [...]

She ordered “Luxury B.C.”

We went to a restaurant to have some north Indian food. A friend asked me, looking at the menu, What is “Chinjabi”? There was an entire section of “Chinjabi” It is perhaps the combination of Chinese and Punjabi, I said. What was surprising to me was that he did not order anything from the “Chinjabi” [...]

Fake engagement. Fake community.

It’s easy to create engagement. Simply incentivize people to engage. Contest. Giveaways. WL. Leaderboard, are the norm. Sure, you can create engagement this way. But what will you do, when the incentive to engage, is Over? What will you do, When the hype dies down? What will bring together your community then? My guess is, [...]

Promoting a wellness retreat

The wife of a renowned martial arts grandmaster was promoting a wellness retreat. By her messaging, it was clear to me that she was promoting it to the masses. Now, this grandmaster is a purist. He lives and breathes what he teaches. If I ask him about the benefits and the impact that the particular [...]

The teacher and the student (truths)

A 12 minute audio clip sharing the truths about the student and the teacher.

Why I don’t attend social gatherings

The world is soo empty … Stupid people, chasing stupid things. Where are the DEEP people? The people of substance? The people who are honest to themselves, and others… Where are they? They certainly are not found in parties and social gatherings or are they? I think they realize how empty parties and social gatherings [...]

Why I am pursuing “I”

I’ve truly wanted to bring a change in Education. You know, that’s the only thing I deeply cared about. That’s the only area where I deeply despised the current state of affairs. At first I thought, let me build an apprenticeship model which is far more effective than the traditional models of education. A model [...]

A Letter To My Younger Brother

You are a designer,

Why are you pursuing a software internship?

As you rejoice in your first salary,

wanting to share the happiness with us,

your eyes are seeking something that is hard to explain in words…

“Look motherfuckers, I’m more capable than you thought I was..”

“Now that I’ve received my first paycheck, why don’t you admit it already”

“Do I have your respect now? Are you proud of me now..?”

Of course, you didn’t say these words — but I could feel it.

Congratulations, for falling into the trap I was in…

Getting a higher paycheck may make parents feel proud of you and even start respecting you more,

but will it satisfy your soul?

If not, then what’s the point?

One day, parents will not be beside you.

One day, your spouse, and the kids that you (may) raise won’t be beside you.

Who will you please then? Whose respect and pride will you earn then?

On the many days when you will be left all by yourself, what will you do then?

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 

Mark 8:36

The design errors on the hotel signboard that you’ve pointed out,

Your remarks about the clothes that I’m wearing,

and the logo that I’ve made,

and the banner that I’ve designed,

about the design of my laptop,

and my phone,

and your wireless earphones,

you’ve noticed and commented on it all.

You’ve helped your batchmates in designing their website.

You learnt UI/UX design on your own, from the internet.

You applied your visual sense, and design knowledge in the little projects that you’ve chosen to do while in college.

You’ve picked up a skill for which I paid INR 60k to learn, and I still don’t “have” it yet.

And you gave it all away to pursue some random “coding” internship. Are you kidding me?

Is it because all your friends are pursuing coding internships?

Is it because coders get more fame, popularity in the college, and make more money?

Understand, my brother,

Every human being is unique.

They have their own talent(s), gifted by nature.

If you ride on a track that is against your nature, you will suffocate.

A fish doesn’t live on land, it lives under water.

And if it tries to live on land,

it dies…

What Will Satisfy You?

Sex does not have the power to satisfy your soul.

I’ve met so many people from the West,

who have had sex to their hearts content, with multiple partners,

but ultimately arrived naked in Varanasi or Himachal to “find” themselves.

Many have made wealth. Built fortunes. But came back to India,

in search for something deeper.

While the whole world is crazy about sex, money, power,

these guys have had it all.

So, if what you are chasing does not have the power to satisfy your soul,

You might want to ask yourself, Where will you go?

Where will you go after “having it all”?

Who will you turn to?

What will satisfy your soul?

What has the power to give you what you are seeking?

Wait, do you even know what you are seeking?

Talent

Everyone has a talent.

Don’t let your parents tell you otherwise.

My Dad told me as a kid that “those who are talented are discovered during the childhood years itself”

and that made me believe that I was not talented.

At age 27, I finally discovered my talent.

Not strength(s). TALENT.

Everyone is given talent(s) by nature. But few realize their uniqueness in a lifetime.

That’s because everyone’s focus is outward — on others. Rather than on themselves.

I was hell bent on finding precisely how it is that I’m totally unique from others, and so I found it.

The EXACT GPS coordinates of my talent. (I’m so grateful!)

But now that I know it, what am I going to do with it?

Ultimately, this is what matters!