As you look yourself in the mirror, read this every morning to yourself as you wake up. You say that I may or may not succeed but you don’t get to decide. I don’t know who or what decides. I’ve been trying to figure it out. I’m here, and while those who are not. I’m…
Talent gets you noticed…maybe. And looks, sure, for a moment. But the only thing that gets you a seat at the table…is force of personality. I’m talking about complete and utter confidence in who you are. When you have that, people are drawn to you. They don’t know why, but suddenly they need you. And…
Happiness is elusive without balance. I learned that the hard way. As an entrepreneur, I’ve been fortunate to see financial success but that has little connection to genuine happiness. A famous writer once said, “Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t…
Whatever your ultimate dream maybe, it can be frustrating when someone overlooked you and didn’t give you a chance. The challenge is, most believe in “luck” giving them an opportunity. They look for a sponsor, a mentor, or an investor – to help them achieve their dreams. My advice: Stop thinking like that. I have…
“Leadership is not a rank. Leadership is a choice. It’s the choice to look after the person to the left of you and the person to the right of you.” I heard a story about a former Under Secretary of Defense who gave a speech at a large conference. He took his place on the…
I ran across a prose poem that was written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann called “Desiderata.” It’s a beautiful piece of literature that I think we can relate to in all of our lives. Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without…
It’s been a while since my last post. So, I wanted to make this to the point as we start the new year. I’m not going to tell you how to get rich. I’m not going to tell you how you are going to be a millionaire overnight. Nor, am I going to tell you […]
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths. Beautiful people don’t just happen.” People come in all shapes, sizes, forms and colors. Authenticity is hard to find these days. From the classic fake friend in…
Good morning! I mean it. Have a good start to your day and you’ll greatly enhance your chances of having a successful day, every day. The discipline of an early bird will manifest itself in many ways, or as Benjamin Franklin put it way back in the 1700’s, “Early to bed and early to rise…
Audrey Hepburn said it best, “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible.” People used to say flying an airplane was impossible. Decades later, they had the same reaction to space travel. Almost every technological advancement was believed, at one point, to be impossible. But impossibility exists only when we believe it does. There […]
Negotiating is something we all do on a daily basis. We do it in our personal lives as well as our professional lives. Often, without even thinking about it. But many people find it difficult when negotiating in a formal business setting. They become intimidated and tongue-tied. They give away real dollars and percentages without…
Whether its work, school or any kind of relationship, it can be frustrating when someone overlooks you and doesn’t give you a chance. Who is to blame for the lack of consideration? It doesn’t matter; if people are aloof to give you an explanation, they aren’t worth your time anyway. Here are a few more reasons you […]
A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?” Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to […]
Love has no boundaries. Neither does Davinci IITM. They work hand in hand. So, that’s why Einstein’s quote is probably one of the most beautiful quotes to express this feeling; that we as humans crave for within ourselves, with others, and with the work we try to do. It’s a word with four characters in it […]
Ever feel you are going to fail? Ever think about quitting? Ever think you’re just not good enough? Then don’t worry. Here’s a note you can read and recite to your future self. Dear Disbelievers, There’s a very good chance you don’t remember the day you made your biggest impact on me, however, I do….
Life is the toughest sport. And, in this sport, I’ve realized in order for you to survive, become successful, and stay successful you must grow a very thick skin. Grow a thick skin—a very thick skin. People will question your ability to succeed, and the loudest among them might make you doubt your own talents, […]
Success. It’s got enemies. You can be successful and have enemies or you can be unsuccessful and have friends. The system will fail you. You will realize the more successful you become, you have a target on your back. And, that back is after you. It may even make you realize the system is designed…
1. If you’re helping someone and expecting something in return, you’re doing business not kindness. Do good and expect nothing in return. It’ll become your life’s greatest gift. ~ Gurbaksh Chahal 2. If you don’t make things happen then things will happen to you. ~ Robert Collier 3. A business has to be involving, it has…
We’re used to this concept. We rent space all the time. Whether they be hotels, apartments, cars, but most importantly time. Sometimes, we get that freedom from our work to enjoy our weekends. But, we forget one thing. Life itself is a rented space of time. It’s a mystery. We only know when the clock…
“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”…
“Everything starts with a dream, a particle of our imagination that teases us of what the future could be like, as long as we fight for it.” Life is made up of moments. Most of the life we live, we don’t remember. Even if it’s stored somewhere on our mental hard drives, retrieving most memories…
Doubt: Doubt is a killer. The more you doubt that you can accomplish your dreams and goals, the more you manifest that result. As much as people glamorize hustling, most of the work isn’t glamorous. It requires more time, more energy, and more dedication than most are willing to invest. It isn’t easy, and it…
The Mona Lisa, painted by one of the most brilliant Italian artists of all time, Leonardo da Vinci, is acclaimed to be “his best known, most visited, most written about, most sung about, and the most parodied work of art in the world.” Historians claim Leonardo began painting his masterpiece in 1503, working on it…
We all have a dream that ignites a fire within us. For some, it comes naturally, and for others we learn to find that passion. To achieve our dreams, we need to remind ourselves sometimes even the basics in life. Here are my 8 simple reminders. 1. Move On. There’s no need to dwell on…
The definition of a “Doer” is someone who bleeds the Company’s vision and believes the greater purpose. When asked to jump, their only response is “How high?” A thinker is someone that will question why they need to jump; why everyone needs to jump; why there is even a purpose to jump. And, by not…
There will never be a point — in your life — where it’s the right time to do a great thing. If you’re waiting for that perfect perfect moment, that perfect timing, it’s not going to happen. You know what you have to do? You have to create the perfect time, and the perfect opportunity,…
As you breathe right now, another person takes their last, so stop complaining and learn to live your life with what you have. Stop the Why him/her syndrome? Every time some big success story happens, too many people complain about why him, or why her? Like almost as if it was all pure luck. I’m…
This is a question only a very few can comprehend, understand, and answer. And, I’m one of them. When I was 16, I dropped out of high school and began my entrepreneurial journey. And, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d be as successful as I am. Conversely, I never thought what success…
Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor,…
“Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of, who do the things that no one can imagine.” Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it will last…
“Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.” Monetary success can be a powerful motivator, and it can control people. It chooses careers. It dictates how time, energy and…
It’s a sad fact of life that whenever someone accomplishes something truly great there always seem to be others who want to take it away from them. The reasons why are many and varied. Envy. Bitterness. Resentment. Rivalry. Greed. Opportunism. A whole suite of negative human emotions. I’ve always admired and respected entrepreneurs, business leaders…
So imagine this, you have an amazing startup. It’s got a catchy name, you have the right team in place (I hope), the product is fully functional (this is kind of important) and you’re starting to gain customers or users. But, one thing is missing. You aren’t really getting the attention you wanted…the buzz you…
Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear. “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” Darwin said it best and his quote resonates well for the way we conduct our choices in…
Whenever someone thinks of the 1%, they immediately think about wealth. I’m here to talk about the 1% that live their dreams. The doers, the achievers, the risk-takers. 1% of everything you do is driven by an idea or a thought. But, an idea isn’t what drives success, 99% of success is driven by execution….
“Stay focused & keep shipping” is what Zuckerberg posted when Facebook announced it would do its IPO. While it had a bumpy first year, it is now one of the most valuable companies in the world with a market cap of over $230 billion. How does success happen? Easy. You have to embrace failure first….
Life is a revolving door of experiences and people. Whether, good, or bad, in our adolescence, we’re told “Be treated how you want to be treated.” Some will abide by that and treat you how you deserve; others will play you for it and use you for their own motives, gains, and desires. But, one…
There is a claim that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs left behind a deathbed essay about how the “non-stop pursuit of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being, just like me.” To many entrepreneurs, he is a legend and the epitome of success, having created the most valuable company in the world, and […]
It’s how you rise from a fall that truly defines you as a man. Basketball legend Michael Jordan knows a lot about persistence. Discussing his stellar career he once noted that he had missed more than 9,000 shots and had lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions when he had been entrusted with the game…
Throughout my journey, I’ve had my various ups and downs in my life that have tested my ability to stay successful. Everyone reaches these breaking points but life’s ups and downs are what define our hidden purpose in life. Here are 8 things everyone should know about life and business that I wish someone told…
There’s an old saying with which we’re all familiar, and its true: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. It’s of paramount importance, so, whenever you meet someone for the first time—especially in a business environment—you always put your best foot forward. Within a matter of seconds of meeting someone I’m…
We’re all intelligent—in one way or another. The architect uses a different kind of intelligence to a neurologist; a master carpenter is different to a scientist; a concert pianist to a mathematician; a motivational speaker to…well, you get the point. There are different ways of acknowledging and measuring intelligence and the idea of a fixed…
Here’s an another interesting comparison I found between what you call experiences vs. mistakes in life. It’s an important distinction to know. Experience makes you shine throughout your journey vs. mistakes can put you in a dark hole. Even failures in life are great experiences as they can eventually lead you to your destination –…
Each of us has greatness inside of us. But that greatness doesn’t just burst forth to make a difference in the world without a conscious effort. You need to enable and empower that greatness. It requires effort. It requires hard work. How do you discover your own personal greatness? First of all you need to…
An interview can be an intense experience. You’ve only got a few minutes to make a vital, possibly life-changing impression. The interviewer knows all about you on paper. He’s gone through your résumé. He knows what exams you’ve passed. He can see what positions you’ve held. But all of that’s nothing compared to him getting…
This weekend, Furious 7 had its box-office debut. Prior to the release, the stars of the movie promised to honor the late Paul Walker in a way that is “so sacred and so powerful” … and that could be considered an understatement. Memories. Moments. Life. These all the things we live for. The good ones…
I love this quote. Its origin isn’t known, but I first came across it in an iconic Harley Davidson ad. To me, the quote is meaningful in several different ways. Fundamentally, it means that you have to be in control of your own life. You chart your own course and don’t stop until you reach…
“Can’t” is a word that shouldn’t be a part of anyone’s vocabulary. I refuse to believe that things can’t be done. Even in the popular saying, only an apostrophe makes the difference between impossible and I’m possible. Have you ever noticed that some people are sometimes a little too quick to tell you why something…
It was October 27, 1997. I remember it as if it was yesterday. My family’s dream home was already half built. It was to be our escape from the small, cramped house in the projects that I shared with my parents, my paternal grandmother and three siblings. Then the stock market crashed. The NYSE plummeted…
We all have choices in our lives. Sometimes, we calculate them. Sometimes, we ponder them. Sometimes, we dwell on them. But, there is a mysterious inner you that sometimes just does something because its reacting to some form of cosmic energy inside of you. When you look back at life and look at some of…