Aruna Gobalan's Blog, page 8

Start Before You’re Ready

A diamond is just a lump of coal that did well under pressure. Start before you’re ready.Whether you spent weeks last year meticulously crafting New Year’s resolutions, conjured your resolution in a tipsy state on New Year’s Eve, or avoided the rigamarole altogether, it’s time to confront one truth: New Year’s Day was over a […]

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The Pygmalion Effect: How Expectations Shape Reality and Why What You Believe Holds the Key to What Happens

The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she’s treated. I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always treats me as a flower girl, and always will; but I know I can be a lady to you [Colonel Pickering], because you always […]

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Wabi-Sabi Wisdom: The Beauty of Imperfection

Wabi-sabi is a character skill. It gives you the discipline to shift your attention from impossible ideals to achievable standards—and then adjust those standards over time. Adam Grant, Hidden PotentialAccording to legend, as a young boy, Sen no Rikyu sought to learn the art of the Japanese tea ceremony from the esteemed tea master, Takeeno […]

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Delegation Dilemma: What to Keep Close and What to Hand Over to Other People (or Robots)

"Don't let the title mislead you," Arlbeth told her. "The king is simply the visible one. I'm so visible, in fact, that most of the important work has to be done by other people.""Nonsense," said Tor.Arlbeth chuckled. "Your loyalty does you honor, but you're in the process of becoming too visible to be effective yourself, […]

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My Top Ten Books of the Year: 2023 Edition

I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me. Ralph Waldo Emerson.Emerson’s words resonate with me deeply. The fact that I try to read a lot, coupled with the reality that I have the memory of a firefly, it is a miracle I remember […]

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The Trouble with Labels: Why I’m Stuck in a Perpetual Cycle of Guilt

According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Beavers are meticulous groomers. They use the preening toe as a comb to prevent their fine, soft fur from matting to maintain its waterproofing and insulating properties. In an alternate universe, I think I’d be a Beaver. Far from glamorous, I know. But I feel I […]

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Want To Be Constantly Unhappy? Keep Moving the Goalpost.

"If life were a board game, moving the goalpost would be the equivalent of flipping the board and shouting, 'New rules, everyone!'"Moving the goalpost"Moving the goalpost" is an English expression for changing the terms of an agreement midway through a contract. Imagine promising your child a dollar a week for additional household chores but not paying […]

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Running Wisdom: Seven Unwritten Truths about Marathon Running

"I pulled a hamstring during the New York City Marathon,” David Letterman once said about marathon running. “An hour into the race, I jumped off the couch…”It is not a surprise that couch enthusiasts and others who believe sweat should only be induced by spicy meals are intrigued and often perplexed by their fellow species […]

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The Art of Iteration: How Pros Stay Ahead of Amateurs

“What good is an idea if it remains an idea? Try. Experiment. Iterate. Fail. Try again. Change the world.” Simon Sinek, explaining the art of iteration. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky famously said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” In retrospect, it’s a profound statement—one that transcends the world of sports and is applicable […]

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The Power of Stories: Why Narratives Outshine Statistics

The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller." Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, emphasizing the persuasive power of stories and its ability to inspire people. The NY Times piece Why we tell stories, featured this short essay by Hikaru Nakamura, one of the world’s top blitz chess players and a popular Twitch […]

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