I’m an entrepreneur and it’s actually a privilege to be living in an era where
privilege to be living in an era where
privilege to be living in an era where people understand and appreciate what an
people understand and appreciate what an
people understand and appreciate what an entrepreneur does in fact people know
entrepreneur does in fact people know
entrepreneur does in fact people know how to pronounce the word entrepreneur I
how to pronounce the word entrepreneur I
how to pronounce the word entrepreneur I come from a time almost a decade back
come from a time almost a decade back
come from a time almost a decade back when becoming an entrepreneur meant you
when becoming an entrepreneur meant you
when becoming an entrepreneur meant you didn’t get a job out of college and you
didn’t get a job out of college and you
didn’t get a job out of college and you didn’t what to do so you just started up
didn’t what to do so you just started up
didn’t what to do so you just started up on your own in fact I come from a time
on your own in fact I come from a time
on your own in fact I come from a time where I came back from the US with a
where I came back from the US with a
where I came back from the US with a master’s in physics and that essentially
master’s in physics and that essentially
master’s in physics and that essentially made me unemployable in this country so
made me unemployable in this country so
made me unemployable in this country so I was close with what to do and people
I was close with what to do and people
I was close with what to do and people were like if you’re clueless and you
were like if you’re clueless and you
were like if you’re clueless and you don’t know what to do do what what rules
don’t know what to do do what what rules
don’t know what to do do what what rules people do you just get an MBA I went on
people do you just get an MBA I went on
people do you just get an MBA I went on set ready to be extremely humbled by
set ready to be extremely humbled by
set ready to be extremely humbled by what this decade of entrepreneurship has
what this decade of entrepreneurship has
what this decade of entrepreneurship has taught me and I figure it’s something
taught me and I figure it’s something
taught me and I figure it’s something that we are very privileged to be living
that we are very privileged to be living
that we are very privileged to be living in this time and era we’re building a
in this time and era we’re building a
in this time and era we’re building a company has actually become fairly easy
company has actually become fairly easy
company has actually become fairly easy relatively easier in fact getting press
relatively easier in fact getting press
relatively easier in fact getting press having a fancy office getting the monies
having a fancy office getting the monies
having a fancy office getting the monies getting the business idea floated having
getting the business idea floated having
getting the business idea floated having smart people to work with you all of
smart people to work with you all of
smart people to work with you all of that has become relatively easier than
that has become relatively easier than
that has become relatively easier than what it was but in my admission the one
what it was but in my admission the one
what it was but in my admission the one thing that has dramatically not changed
thing that has dramatically not changed
thing that has dramatically not changed if anything has become harder it is to
if anything has become harder it is to
if anything has become harder it is to build an institution where people love
build an institution where people love
build an institution where people love to come to work hands down defining what
to come to work hands down defining what
to come to work hands down defining what the cultural ethos of a start-up is
the cultural ethos of a start-up is
the cultural ethos of a start-up is which is beyond the free lunch and the
which is beyond the free lunch and the
which is beyond the free lunch and the bean bag and the foosball table which
bean bag and the foosball table which
bean bag and the foosball table which defines the value system of a company
defines the value system of a company
defines the value system of a company which defines why people enjoy working
which defines why people enjoy working
which defines why people enjoy working in that setup why they look forward to
in that setup why they look forward to
in that setup why they look forward to coming up to that work place every day
coming up to that work place every day
coming up to that work place every day has been the single most hardest thing
has been the single most hardest thing
has been the single most hardest thing ever in these ten years and I’ve read a
ever in these ten years and I’ve read a
ever in these ten years and I’ve read a lot about this spoken to a lot of people
lot about this spoken to a lot of people
lot about this spoken to a lot of people of course spend a lot of times with
of course spend a lot of times with
of course spend a lot of times with seasoned entrepreneurs or people who
seasoned entrepreneurs or people who
seasoned entrepreneurs or people who have done this
have done this
have done this years to figure out what is it that
years to figure out what is it that
years to figure out what is it that drives people towards success and the
drives people towards success and the
drives people towards success and the question that I’ve tried to answer for
question that I’ve tried to answer for
question that I’ve tried to answer for several years now is that is there a
several years now is that is there a
several years now is that is there a metric that can define in a high
metric that can define in a high
metric that can define in a high correlation whether the individual will
correlation whether the individual will
correlation whether the individual will be successful not in their journey
be successful not in their journey
be successful not in their journey whether as an entrepreneur or as a part
whether as an entrepreneur or as a part
whether as an entrepreneur or as a part of that entrepreneurship journey or for
of that entrepreneurship journey or for
of that entrepreneurship journey or for that matter as an individual just
that matter as an individual just
that matter as an individual just professional so I go back to 60 70s
professional so I go back to 60 70s
professional so I go back to 60 70s where my parents were growing up in this
where my parents were growing up in this
where my parents were growing up in this country and I would argue without being
country and I would argue without being
country and I would argue without being romantic and academic about it that IQ
romantic and academic about it that IQ
romantic and academic about it that IQ was a pretty good indicator of success
was a pretty good indicator of success
was a pretty good indicator of success if you were just born smart you would
if you were just born smart you would
if you were just born smart you would get into the IITs and the IIM s and the
get into the IITs and the IIM s and the
get into the IITs and the IIM s and the IAS is and because the opportunities in
IAS is and because the opportunities in
IAS is and because the opportunities in this country was still limited you would
this country was still limited you would
this country was still limited you would naturally have these smart people
naturally have these smart people
naturally have these smart people surface up and drive most of the media
surface up and drive most of the media
surface up and drive most of the media most of the decision most of the policy
most of the decision most of the policy
most of the decision most of the policy and people felt that IQ would be a great
and people felt that IQ would be a great
and people felt that IQ would be a great indicator of success now for someone who
indicator of success now for someone who
indicator of success now for someone who had a master’s in physics having your
had a master’s in physics having your
had a master’s in physics having your destiny attached to something which is
destiny attached to something which is
destiny attached to something which is almost outside of your control
almost outside of your control
almost outside of your control looks a little uneasy like I don’t want
looks a little uneasy like I don’t want
looks a little uneasy like I don’t want to be thinking about my life as a
to be thinking about my life as a
to be thinking about my life as a genetic lottery where I just happen to
genetic lottery where I just happen to
genetic lottery where I just happen to be born with a certain IQ and my life
be born with a certain IQ and my life
be born with a certain IQ and my life has decided just basis that so
has decided just basis that so
has decided just basis that so thankfully as I was growing EQ became
thankfully as I was growing EQ became
thankfully as I was growing EQ became this new phenomenon where people were
this new phenomenon where people were
this new phenomenon where people were like oh hold on we have studied enough
like oh hold on we have studied enough
like oh hold on we have studied enough people immensely successful and we found
people immensely successful and we found
people immensely successful and we found that IQ is actually not the single
that IQ is actually not the single
that IQ is actually not the single biggest determinant of success it’s
biggest determinant of success it’s
biggest determinant of success it’s something else and we calling it EQ and
something else and we calling it EQ and
something else and we calling it EQ and II who is not knowing who you are and
II who is not knowing who you are and
II who is not knowing who you are and how you deal with your emotions it’s
how you deal with your emotions it’s
how you deal with your emotions it’s harder than that it’s actually knowing
harder than that it’s actually knowing
harder than that it’s actually knowing who the other person is and
who the other person is and
who the other person is and understanding what they are going
understanding what they are going
understanding what they are going through in a way that’s empathetic in a
through in a way that’s empathetic in a
through in a way that’s empathetic in a way that you’re not driving judgment but
way that you’re not driving judgment but
way that you’re not driving judgment but in a way that you’re trying to
in a way that you’re trying to
in a way that you’re trying to understand where they’re coming from and
understand where they’re coming from and
understand where they’re coming from and hopefully be able to narrate or relate
hopefully be able to narrate or relate
hopefully be able to narrate or relate to what they’re saying now that’s a hard
to what they’re saying now that’s a hard
to what they’re saying now that’s a hard skill to accomplish and anyone who is
skill to accomplish and anyone who is
skill to accomplish and anyone who is remotely tried to do it in a managerial
remotely tried to do it in a managerial
remotely tried to do it in a managerial capacity or even with their friends and
capacity or even with their friends and
capacity or even with their friends and family would
family would
family would argue that stepping yourself into
argue that stepping yourself into
argue that stepping yourself into someone else’s shoe is the single
someone else’s shoe is the single
someone else’s shoe is the single hardest thing that an individual can do
hardest thing that an individual can do
hardest thing that an individual can do because come what may we will never ever
because come what may we will never ever
because come what may we will never ever be able to appreciate and identify with
be able to appreciate and identify with
be able to appreciate and identify with their exact context but that’s the
their exact context but that’s the
their exact context but that’s the placeholder
placeholder
placeholder it’s EQ and I have been now trying to
it’s EQ and I have been now trying to
it’s EQ and I have been now trying to figure is there something beyond IQ and
figure is there something beyond IQ and
figure is there something beyond IQ and EQ not because I want something not
EQ not because I want something not
EQ not because I want something not because I want to create a terminology
because I want to create a terminology
because I want to create a terminology but there’s got to be a way that people
but there’s got to be a way that people
but there’s got to be a way that people know how to navigate in the chaos that
know how to navigate in the chaos that
know how to navigate in the chaos that exists today the reason why I use the
exists today the reason why I use the
exists today the reason why I use the word chaos is because today’s world is
word chaos is because today’s world is
word chaos is because today’s world is actually getting more and more chaotic
actually getting more and more chaotic
actually getting more and more chaotic and I don’t mean it in a bad way I mean
and I don’t mean it in a bad way I mean
and I don’t mean it in a bad way I mean just as a normal law of physics the
just as a normal law of physics the
just as a normal law of physics the entropic or the chaos in a universe only
entropic or the chaos in a universe only
entropic or the chaos in a universe only increases with every incident that
increases with every incident that
increases with every incident that happens so the world is not going to get
happens so the world is not going to get
happens so the world is not going to get easier to figure for all of us if
easier to figure for all of us if
easier to figure for all of us if anything is only going to get harder and
anything is only going to get harder and
anything is only going to get harder and harder but added to that is this to me
harder but added to that is this to me
harder but added to that is this to me fairly disturbing trend
fairly disturbing trend
fairly disturbing trend which is the world is also constantly
which is the world is also constantly
which is the world is also constantly designing itself to make it more and
designing itself to make it more and
designing itself to make it more and more comfortable every single day we are
more comfortable every single day we are
more comfortable every single day we are making choices or are being displayed
making choices or are being displayed
making choices or are being displayed choices which are all about comfort
choices which are all about comfort
choices which are all about comfort which are all about view not going into
which are all about view not going into
which are all about view not going into a cognitive load or into a mode or
a cognitive load or into a mode or
a cognitive load or into a mode or medium where you have to think about
medium where you have to think about
medium where you have to think about things but everything is just being
things but everything is just being
things but everything is just being served on a platter a click of a button
served on a platter a click of a button
served on a platter a click of a button you want something it gets shipped you
you want something it gets shipped you
you want something it gets shipped you want something to read it gets diagnosed
want something to read it gets diagnosed
want something to read it gets diagnosed in a summary you want to interpret human
in a summary you want to interpret human
in a summary you want to interpret human emotions it gets delivered in a format
emotions it gets delivered in a format
emotions it gets delivered in a format or a context rather than the individual
or a context rather than the individual
or a context rather than the individual sitting in front of you you want a great
sitting in front of you you want a great
sitting in front of you you want a great swipe right everything is just becoming
swipe right everything is just becoming
swipe right everything is just becoming at the very instant and everything is
at the very instant and everything is
at the very instant and everything is designed for comfort
designed for comfort
designed for comfort that’s not how humans were designed we
that’s not how humans were designed we
that’s not how humans were designed we have been hardwired for several years
have been hardwired for several years
have been hardwired for several years millions of them to be always watching
millions of them to be always watching
millions of them to be always watching out for danger to be always watching out
out for danger to be always watching out
out for danger to be always watching out for anything that affects us physically
for anything that affects us physically
for anything that affects us physically or emotionally and if we find us
or emotionally and if we find us
or emotionally and if we find us an era where everything does not go
an era where everything does not go
an era where everything does not go through that disturbance we are not
through that disturbance we are not
through that disturbance we are not psychologically trained in how to deal
psychologically trained in how to deal
psychologically trained in how to deal with it but we are just Basic Instinct
with it but we are just Basic Instinct
with it but we are just Basic Instinct why still those very same people and
why still those very same people and
why still those very same people and that creates a dichotomy but that aside
that creates a dichotomy but that aside
that creates a dichotomy but that aside that’s a separate conversation and I’m
that’s a separate conversation and I’m
that’s a separate conversation and I’m very passionate about it I’d leave it
very passionate about it I’d leave it
very passionate about it I’d leave it there but the second thing that is
there but the second thing that is
there but the second thing that is happening is this chaos is building this
happening is this chaos is building this
happening is this chaos is building this massive universe of distraction
massive universe of distraction
massive universe of distraction everything around you is serving a
everything around you is serving a
everything around you is serving a purpose which is only to distract you
purpose which is only to distract you
purpose which is only to distract you and I’m not talking about social media
and I’m not talking about social media
and I’m not talking about social media itself I’m talking about everything
itself I’m talking about everything
itself I’m talking about everything that’s happening around us there is
that’s happening around us there is
that’s happening around us there is noise pollution and there is attention
noise pollution and there is attention
noise pollution and there is attention pollution there are people who are
pollution there are people who are
pollution there are people who are telling you don’t pay as much attention
telling you don’t pay as much attention
telling you don’t pay as much attention to what you’re doing because look at me
to what you’re doing because look at me
to what you’re doing because look at me I’m not doing that and I want you to be
I’m not doing that and I want you to be
I’m not doing that and I want you to be polluted by how I think about this if
polluted by how I think about this if
polluted by how I think about this if you’ve gone to the gym how often do you
you’ve gone to the gym how often do you
you’ve gone to the gym how often do you get disturbed by people who consistently
get disturbed by people who consistently
get disturbed by people who consistently keep checking their phone while working
keep checking their phone while working
keep checking their phone while working out but that’s not what people should do
out but that’s not what people should do
out but that’s not what people should do if they’re dedicated I would argue that
if they’re dedicated I would argue that
if they’re dedicated I would argue that when artists said to practice they don’t
when artists said to practice they don’t
when artists said to practice they don’t feel that they should be distracted so
feel that they should be distracted so
feel that they should be distracted so that they feel part of the world in fact
that they feel part of the world in fact
that they feel part of the world in fact if anything they want to be away from it
if anything they want to be away from it
if anything they want to be away from it but we are all consumed by it so here’s
but we are all consumed by it so here’s
but we are all consumed by it so here’s my prediction and my prediction is that
my prediction and my prediction is that
my prediction and my prediction is that if there is one metric that will most
if there is one metric that will most
if there is one metric that will most certainly define an individual’s ability
certainly define an individual’s ability
certainly define an individual’s ability to succeed beyond IQ beyond EQ is
to succeed beyond IQ beyond EQ is
to succeed beyond IQ beyond EQ is something that I fancy Lee called
something that I fancy Lee called
something that I fancy Lee called FQ and FQ is focus go siient what is
FQ and FQ is focus go siient what is
FQ and FQ is focus go siient what is your ability to focus on something
your ability to focus on something
your ability to focus on something without being distracted by anything
without being distracted by anything
without being distracted by anything else and as simple as I say it it’s the
else and as simple as I say it it’s the
else and as simple as I say it it’s the hardest thing to do because go back and
hardest thing to do because go back and
hardest thing to do because go back and answer this question for yourself when
answer this question for yourself when
answer this question for yourself when was the last time you had five minutes
was the last time you had five minutes
was the last time you had five minutes no more than that five minutes of
no more than that five minutes of
no more than that five minutes of absolute undivided time on a task that
absolute undivided time on a task that
absolute undivided time on a task that you were doing no social media
you were doing no social media
you were doing no social media no phone buzzing no Netflix no TV no
no phone buzzing no Netflix no TV no
no phone buzzing no Netflix no TV no people no phones ringing not even your
people no phones ringing not even your
people no phones ringing not even your own thoughts disturbing you and I’d
own thoughts disturbing you and I’d
own thoughts disturbing you and I’d argue that in this room full of very
argue that in this room full of very
argue that in this room full of very smart accomplished people they won’t be
smart accomplished people they won’t be
smart accomplished people they won’t be even one of them who had this experience
even one of them who had this experience
even one of them who had this experience in the last six months and if you if you
in the last six months and if you if you
in the last six months and if you if you train yourself to get to that point you
train yourself to get to that point you
train yourself to get to that point you are gold I use the word train because
are gold I use the word train because
are gold I use the word train because that’s what we have to do it doesn’t
that’s what we have to do it doesn’t
that’s what we have to do it doesn’t happen that if you want to lose weight
happen that if you want to lose weight
happen that if you want to lose weight you just show up at the gym one fine day
you just show up at the gym one fine day
you just show up at the gym one fine day walk out like you’ve never done before
walk out like you’ve never done before
walk out like you’ve never done before and the next day you have the body that
and the next day you have the body that
and the next day you have the body that you wanted it requires consistent
you wanted it requires consistent
you wanted it requires consistent dedication and in fact I would argue it
dedication and in fact I would argue it
dedication and in fact I would argue it just requires you to be consistent just
just requires you to be consistent just
just requires you to be consistent just showing up every day for something that
showing up every day for something that
showing up every day for something that you want to get good at will ensure that
you want to get good at will ensure that
you want to get good at will ensure that you get good at it because just the art
you get good at it because just the art
you get good at it because just the art of showing up is the discipline that you
of showing up is the discipline that you
of showing up is the discipline that you want to start with and that’s true for
want to start with and that’s true for
want to start with and that’s true for this level of focus as well in the 1960
this level of focus as well in the 1960
this level of focus as well in the 1960 70s if you told someone that I go for a
70s if you told someone that I go for a
70s if you told someone that I go for a run they would possibly laugh at you
run they would possibly laugh at you
run they would possibly laugh at you like who goes for a run like why would
like who goes for a run like why would
like who goes for a run like why would you run what purpose are you softly and
you run what purpose are you softly and
you run what purpose are you softly and now everyone’s running everyone’s
now everyone’s running everyone’s
now everyone’s running everyone’s constantly thinking about what to eat
constantly thinking about what to eat
constantly thinking about what to eat how good it looks because if course has
how good it looks because if course has
how good it looks because if course has to be Instagram evil and all so what am
to be Instagram evil and all so what am
to be Instagram evil and all so what am I going to do about it tomorrow am I
I going to do about it tomorrow am I
I going to do about it tomorrow am I going to go to that gym and people are
going to go to that gym and people are
going to go to that gym and people are coming up with this keto diets and these
coming up with this keto diets and these
coming up with this keto diets and these diets and so on it’s become natural for
diets and so on it’s become natural for
diets and so on it’s become natural for you to think about your health
you to think about your health
you to think about your health physically and yet there is this
physically and yet there is this
physically and yet there is this important
important
important I would argue 80% of who we are which we
I would argue 80% of who we are which we
I would argue 80% of who we are which we never have a conversation around and
never have a conversation around and
never have a conversation around and that is are you mentally fit and mental
that is are you mentally fit and mental
that is are you mentally fit and mental Fitness is not about being happy all the
Fitness is not about being happy all the
Fitness is not about being happy all the time
time
time that’s the wrong notion it’s about being
that’s the wrong notion it’s about being
that’s the wrong notion it’s about being aware of what your emotions are just
aware of what your emotions are just
aware of what your emotions are just awareness and with that awareness comes
awareness and with that awareness comes
awareness and with that awareness comes a level of compassion I am
a level of compassion I am
a level of compassion I am angry and I know it and just the fact
angry and I know it and just the fact
angry and I know it and just the fact that you know it and you know it well
that you know it and you know it well
that you know it and you know it well we’ll give you the strength to deal with
we’ll give you the strength to deal with
we’ll give you the strength to deal with it you’re not going to be mad at
it you’re not going to be mad at
it you’re not going to be mad at yourself because you’re mad at something
yourself because you’re mad at something
yourself because you’re mad at something you will just deal with it a lot better
you will just deal with it a lot better
you will just deal with it a lot better now we’re not having that conversation
now we’re not having that conversation
now we’re not having that conversation which I argue we will in 10 years 15
which I argue we will in 10 years 15
which I argue we will in 10 years 15 years from now but here is the tip that
years from now but here is the tip that
years from now but here is the tip that I’m giving you
I’m giving you
I’m giving you if you want to be ahead of the curve and
if you want to be ahead of the curve and
if you want to be ahead of the curve and in a decade be standing here telling
in a decade be standing here telling
in a decade be standing here telling people
people
people aha I told you so and I was ahead of the
aha I told you so and I was ahead of the
aha I told you so and I was ahead of the curve is for you to train yourself on
curve is for you to train yourself on
curve is for you to train yourself on how do you focus and start with the fact
how do you focus and start with the fact
how do you focus and start with the fact of just getting comfortable with your
of just getting comfortable with your
of just getting comfortable with your own self I had a friend of mine who once
own self I had a friend of mine who once
own self I had a friend of mine who once went to the Vipassana 10-day course and
went to the Vipassana 10-day course and
went to the Vipassana 10-day course and he came back with perhaps the most
he came back with perhaps the most
he came back with perhaps the most profound wisdom that could have been
profound wisdom that could have been
profound wisdom that could have been possible from that he didn’t become a
possible from that he didn’t become a
possible from that he didn’t become a saint or a guru or this supremely calm
saint or a guru or this supremely calm
saint or a guru or this supremely calm Zen guy but he just said I figured that
Zen guy but he just said I figured that
Zen guy but he just said I figured that the most difficult person to live with
the most difficult person to live with
the most difficult person to live with is your own self because when you are in
is your own self because when you are in
is your own self because when you are in a zone where you don’t have to talk you
a zone where you don’t have to talk you
a zone where you don’t have to talk you can’t write anything you can’t read
can’t write anything you can’t read
can’t write anything you can’t read anything and you only left with your own
anything and you only left with your own
anything and you only left with your own thoughts and your own breath that’s when
thoughts and your own breath that’s when
thoughts and your own breath that’s when you realize how much you have stored
you realize how much you have stored
you realize how much you have stored inside that you’ve never had a
inside that you’ve never had a
inside that you’ve never had a conversation on so I encourage you to go
conversation on so I encourage you to go
conversation on so I encourage you to go back to the time when you were a kid
back to the time when you were a kid
back to the time when you were a kid when all of us were a kid and during
when all of us were a kid and during
when all of us were a kid and during playtime when we were 6 months 12 months
playtime when we were 6 months 12 months
playtime when we were 6 months 12 months 18 months 24 pick your age there was a
18 months 24 pick your age there was a
18 months 24 pick your age there was a time when you were completely immersed
time when you were completely immersed
time when you were completely immersed in what you were doing
in what you were doing
in what you were doing that was playtime you didn’t care about
that was playtime you didn’t care about
that was playtime you didn’t care about food you didn’t care about television
food you didn’t care about television
food you didn’t care about television you didn’t even care about mom and dad
you didn’t even care about mom and dad
you didn’t even care about mom and dad showing up you didn’t care about
showing up you didn’t care about
showing up you didn’t care about anything else you were just playing and
anything else you were just playing and
anything else you were just playing and insanely intensely focused and bad
insanely intensely focused and bad
insanely intensely focused and bad parenting then got in the way because
parenting then got in the way because
parenting then got in the way because then it’s like oh it’s time for food
then it’s like oh it’s time for food
then it’s like oh it’s time for food it’s time for you to go to do your
it’s time for you to go to do your
it’s time for you to go to do your homework
homework
homework it’s time to take a shower it’s time to
it’s time to take a shower it’s time to
it’s time to take a shower it’s time to go to bed you broke that rhythm but I
go to bed you broke that rhythm but I
go to bed you broke that rhythm but I today recognize as a parent of how
today recognize as a parent of how
today recognize as a parent of how precious that immersion is that insanity
precious that immersion is that insanity
precious that immersion is that insanity where you just lose everything and you
where you just lose everything and you
where you just lose everything and you focused on that one topic one task one
focused on that one topic one task one
focused on that one topic one task one agenda nothing else matters
agenda nothing else matters
agenda nothing else matters and if you have the ability to do that
and if you have the ability to do that
and if you have the ability to do that you are precious focus is the new IQ
you are precious focus is the new IQ
you are precious focus is the new IQ thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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