By Suraj Chaudhary The LID Challenge Dear Reader, The short version: A 30-day challenge to stop learning, watching, and listening to information (even the ones that seem useful) The long version with more details: I have a problem (actually more than one). Even though, over the years, I’ve been able to reduce my time spent scrolling on social media, I’ve realized that there are other, bigger problems. Problem 1: Uncertainty As some of you may know, I’m an international student currently...
13 days ago • 3 min read
By Suraj Chaudhary The Dip Dear Reader, There is a pattern that’s prevalent in everyone’s life. Here is how it goes: You find something interesting (a career/job/hobby/goal/project) You start working towards it and see some progress It becomes hard You try some more It gets harder You give up and move on to something else This point where you give up is called “The Dip.” The Dip is what keeps a category from getting overly saturated. It is what differentiates the mediocre from the experts....
20 days ago • 1 min read
By Suraj Chaudhary Deadlines Dear Reader, I am writing this issue with only 25 minutes scheduled for it. Before this scheduled time, I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to write about. But when I have a scheduled time block in my calendar to do a specific task, and I am committed to get it done within the specified time, it becomes more possible. I usually think coming up with a good idea to write about for this newsletter, to write it, create a cover image, would take at least a couple of...
27 days ago • 1 min read
By Suraj Chaudhary Greatest findings of all times Dear Reader, This week I wanted to do something a little different. Instead of sharing interesting ideas or realizations like I always do, I wanted to share with you some of the sources of those ideas. Below are some of the videos and podcast episodes that I’ve found to be incredibly useful and impactful in my own life. If you do check any of these out and find them interesting, I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can simply respond to this...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
By Suraj Chaudhary Inputs and Outputs Hey, Nice to be in your inbox again. It’s been a while. There’s this metaphor I’ve been thinking about. It’s related to programming, but I’m sure you’ll find it interesting. So, below is what is known as a function in programming. Let me break it down for you. We use “def” to define a function, in this case, a function named “growthEngine.” Here, “a, b, c, d” are all inputs (a.k.a parameters) that are passed into the function. Then, in the function, some...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
By Suraj Chaudhary Equality is unfair Dear Reader, I have wondered at times why some people just don’t “work hard.” I wonder why they don’t do the important things, even though they know it’s important. I’ve experienced this mostly in guidance. Sometimes, people come to me to seek advice, and I tell them what would be a good next step, but they don’t really follow through. Then, I’m quick to level them as lazy. Maybe they are lazy, but do I truly know that? Very unlikely. This goes back to...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
By Suraj Chaudhary Where ideas come from Dear Reader, For the past few weeks, I’ve been pondering ideas, which was initiated by books. How is it that there are so many great books discussing so many incredible original ideas? Yes, there are books that just popularize something already in practice, but most books, or at least most great books often discuss ideas that are new. Even if some parts of the shared ideas already exist in some form, the majority of those books have new applications,...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
By Suraj Chaudhary Becoming the best in the world Dear Reader, Did you know that on average, the number 1 person/company gets 10x more benefits than the number 10? We have a bias to seek the “best of the world” in everything. We want to go to the best doctor, we want to buy the best laptop for us. But there’s a subtle thing we can make use of to become the best in the world. That is in defining what “the world” means. There is not one absolute best for everyone because everyone has their own...
2 months ago • 1 min read
By Suraj Chaudhary How to get unstuck? Dear Reader, I will admit that I don't know the answer to that "how to get unstuck" question. However, there is one thing that pretty much always helps. It is simply doing "something", i.e., anything. It is not uncommon to get stuck or to not feel inspired or motivated to do anything. I was stuck for almost the entire day today. I had about an hour to schedule this newsletter, but even though I sat with a blank document for about 2 hours, I didn't have...
2 months ago • 1 min read