Listen Up: You Don’t Need Any Brilliance To Create A Life That Matters

Here is the complete transcript of the podcast

Welcome back, happy Tuesday morning to you on the podcast today, I don’t have a question. But I do have something that has been assuming my brain space for a while now. So I wanted to take a few moments and share this with you. Maybe if time permits tonight on my radio show, I’ll also talk about this. But lately, I had been a part of several conversations where people who have attained the age range of 40, to about 55, that’s the age range, I see a concern or an underlying complaint they have, which is, I could not create a brilliant life.

Now I lived here for such a long time, I had these opportunities, specifically in Silicon Valley, where I live and where I talk to people. So I thought of taking a moment and addressing this at a global level. I think regardless, of where you live, or what you do, you probably also have similar thoughts and feelings. It’s very natural if you’re a success-minded individual, who is, you know, it takes personal accountability and responsibility and all that it’s natural to go through that feeling primarily for creating things and you’re responsible for income and all those things in your household. So this idea, this thought that I had this time I couldn’t do much, or I did not matter. It’s not a good thought to have. But then if you have it, this is what I have to say. Life is what we create. But life also creates us. And whether you create life or not, life is going to play itself out. So it will do things for you. And sometimes, if you are smart, then things do happen. And it doesn’t mean that you’re not smart, life is going to punish you, or any of those things. And as such, life is neutral. And life is a wonderful thing. So it is there. We as with your name, but your existence you are happened to live with my name, but my existence, I’m happy to live, we are not indispensable. And we don’t have that level of existence that otherwise we are being told to believe.

So we are here momentarily, having this wonderful time. And this wonderful time is going to pass it has passed for others and everyone before us, and it’s going to pass for us also. And we will also pass for people who are going to come after us here is the point I’m trying to make you do not have to be brilliant to create a life. And also you can’t say somebody has brilliance. That’s why they created a wonderful life. The wonder that you see is because there is some thunder behind it. So what is this thunder behind all that wonder that you’re seeing? This is what we know. And this is what now the data shows, there are two things that you need to create that wonder. And consistently, I’ve seen this across people who have successful life who have fulfilled life, joyful life, and all that. The first thing is their ability to change. I’m not saying that some people are not gifted, sometimes you see people who do not change, but they still have everything.

Sometimes nature has gifted them certain things, they have been blessed with some things, and that’s okay. But the ability to change is a requirement. And the ability to acquire is important. Now, acquiring has nothing to do with assets or money and all that acquiring means is knowledge, and information, it could be anything for you. But whatever it is, it is what it is to you. So two things ability to change and the ability to acquire. Interestingly, these two things are learnable the learned skills, you don’t need to be born with these two things. When you do these two things, you now have equal footing with those people who you think are brilliant, who have incredible life who you think have created a great life, and you are now on par parallel with them. Why do I say Why am I saying that these two are learnable skills because of these two things you did? I did. All of us did when we were born. So we changed and we were changing. We were asking for something like a baby, right? Maybe make some sounds. Mother doesn’t respond, baby now case, a mother doesn’t respond for food, let’s say, Mother doesn’t respond, baby cries little bit more mother doesn’t respond. Now baby’s anger is going to cry and cry and cry, and the mother doesn’t respond to a point where the mother not only has to feed the baby but has to confer the baby with five times more effort than what the baby put in, to begin with. So, the baby changed, and also, in a way, figured out a way to acquire the food. And as the baby started growing up, then a lot of changes happen and the baby adapted to all those changes and became very capable, all of us have gone through this.

So there is nothing, this process has been ingrained into our existence. So there is nothing that is already there. So all we have to do becomes a little aware, that’s all. Now there are some qualities people have that make them kind of more predisposed to this brilliance. And some of us do not simply. But then if you start looking at qualities, your personal qualities are more powerful than technical qualities. Some people dress up nicely, some people, like to have a certain order to them, or use some gadgets or whatever, right? So some people have some technical, and let’s talk about some work-related stuff also, where they have some technical capabilities, the thing in a bit the different kinds of things engineering, mind, whatever, but when you take that and you look into yourself, whatever qualities you have, in fact, they can cloud the other those qualities. So your personal qualities can overshadow the technical qualities of other individuals. If you think that way, or when other qualities or other different categories of qualities, not only technical qualities, but other categories of qualities, if you start comparing them with personal qualities, your personal qualities have to need to somehow be in a lower position as compared to your personal qualities. Now, what are these personal qualities? And how do you acquire those, that’s where I’m going with this. The first and foremost is your attitude. That’s the biggest personal quality which is learnable by the way, which can be learned. Most important is attitude. Then thoroughness, when you’re doing something, when you’re at something if performing thoroughness, then your ability to observe and learn. The creative imagination. Some people said, don’t have imagination, not true. If you can close your eyes right now. And you can keep your eyes open if you’re driving and listening to this. And you can imagine New York you can imagine, you’re in Australia, you can imagine, you know Hawaii, then you have imagination. Okay? Decision-making, adaptability, and ability to organize yourself and your surroundings. Expression of knowledge. These are all the qualities, these are the personal qualities that I think regardless of who you are, what you do, how accomplished you are, and how accomplished you are not. You should keep on trying to improve this.

Now, again, as I said, these are learned skills. Today, you wake up in the morning, and you decide that I want to put forward a great attitude towards everything that’s coming at me. If you make that commitment to yourself, that means you’re practicing change. You see your swing ability to change. And as you’re doing that, along the way, you can acquire something also as a result of that people will say good things to you, and people will compliment you. People will be nice too because you have a great attitude. And you apply that to all the other things. And you see, you know, now suddenly somebody who has absolutely nothing to do with you. Wow, he has a brilliant life. Actually, you’re working very hard behind the scenes to create that brilliant life. That’s my point. Okay. So yeah, pick one or two as a part of today’s pursuit. As a result of listening to this podcast, pick one or two. Things are two qualities that you want to improve at a personal level and work at them today and tomorrow.

And keep working at them. Tell somebody, a friend of yours or somebody who you meet. Or maybe your family member will say, ah, that’s brilliant How are you doing that? Then now you How are you in the game that now you are really experiencing, you will experience that, which otherwise you think about others.

Okay. That’s all for now. Have a wonderful, wonderful Tuesday, and I’ll catch up with you as early as tomorrow right here. Thank you. Talk soon.

Why Age Shouldn’t Stop You From Starting a Business (9 or 90 Years Old)

Here is the complete transcript of the podcast

Good morning. Welcome back to Success with Srini. Happy Monday morning to you start a fresh new week, Monday morning. I have a question, old question that I’m catching up with right now. In one line, let me explain this question.

“I’m 67 years old Srini considering starting a business, but I’m scared, not that I don’t work hard. It’s just that I may be late for the game. What do you suggest I do?” I can’t tell you what you should do and what you should not do. But I will tell you, what I would do if I were in your shoes. And I have been repeating to myself on this podcast, that there is nothing that teaches everything about life, as entrepreneurship does. I think everybody should start a business in their lifetime, they should experience all the emotions, all the feelings of running a business, and the risks of running a business, the challenges, the unknowns, the stress, everything they should experience. And, and I said this also in the past, you could read 20 different books and talk to 30 different CEOs and go to 100 Different VCs can’t learn what 1000 videos on YouTube still cannot learn? You know, you could probably learn all of that and more by simply starting a business and going through it, maybe for a year or so. So if I were you, I would, and I’ll tell you why. It this is simply not based on an emotional, it’s not a muscle statement.

So here is how I approach a question like this. And I have many questions, not specific, this question, but many such questions in my own life. Should I go to the gym? Should I go climb this mountain? Should I start running? Should I change my car? Should I change my house? I have these questions. We all have these questions. And these are the decisions we make. So this is more about a decision-related question rather than a capability question. The fear is coming, because maybe, you know, I’ve had people tell me that my father did not live long, my mother did not live long. And both deaf parents on both sides did not live long. So I think I have a very short lifespan. So I don’t think I have enough time to do whatever I want to do. Hence I’m not doing it. I’ve seen people say these things. So I don’t know where this question is coming from, I need to understand, what are you scared of. Is it age? So given I don’t have much information about you, and you’re saying you’re 67 years old, I’ll tell you, if I were you, and I was 67 years old, talking about 67, something crossed my mind just now. My grandfather passed away when he was 67 years old, trusting the scary essence of reading this. And then my first cousin passed away at 67 years old. And both my first cousin and my grandfather shared the same name.

So my first cousin was named after my grandfather, which is scary. But if I’m 67 today, given those two data points, and I’m also going through, I’m very close to my cousin and grandfather, through my father’s stories and narratives. His persona has influenced me. So yeah, I wouldn’t be scared at 67 too, but then I would start, I would live the day. And I kept saying this year also, which is I live my day thinking every day is my last day. And I wake up and work as if I’m going to live here for 100 years. So I will still do it personally speaking. And here are some data points without going into the motions. Here are some people who started incredible things, and they started very late. Julia Child was doing some work in marketing sales, I believe, eventually wrote a book, a recipe book, I believe and then went on to become a celebrity chef. Started doing TV shows. When I was new in America. I was watching her source. And there are some shorts even I think that are still running right now. Julia Child became an international celebrity long after totally stumbled upon it. After the first half of her life.

On the first trip, tears are gone. And then she stumbled into success. That’s one example right there. Toni Morrison, an incredible writer, and novelist, recently lost her. Nobody knew her literally till 1993 when she won a Nobel Prize for her novel. I don’t which one is after God. Incredible story, something that I used to talk about all the time and now celebrated everywhere. Till she was 62 years old. That’s when people discovered her 62 wins a Nobel Prize. Let’s talk to some more people Ray Kroc, Ray Kroc, 5254 years old before he came into McDonald’s and really co-founder of McDonald’s is probably the best word or somebody who started McDonald’s, it may be a stretch, depends on how you look at that, but became, made McDonald’s. Probably one of the top five or 10 brands in the world. Tom Allen and under a big name, the huge name is still relevant. 92 years old today. Okay, started doing yoga when he was 55 years old started yoga at age 55. And now a celebrity trainers yoga trainer in the United Kingdom. Incredible story, incredible story. And all these people found success very late in life, Nelson Mandela, let’s take that as an example. 27 years of absolute, total, you know, darkness, jailed. All that didn’t have a life comes out at the age of 76 and becomes a precedent. What an incredible story that is.

This is my favorite story. And these are all great stories. But this is my favorite story. Grandma Moses, Anna Moses, Grandma Moses, probably the most celebrated most loved individual in America, a celebrity in America. Literally everybody, even the newer generation. I meet kids who talk about her passing away in the 1960s, early 1960s, I believe, is known her reputation. Her success started when right around when she was 78 or 80 years old, and she is known worldwide for her paintings. in her lifetime, she painted about 1500 paintings. And she lived she started her career when she was 80 years old, roughly. And she lived till about 101 years old. And here’s the funny part. Over 25% of her creations and paintings came after she turned 100. Crazy 1500 paintings 25% of that came after she turned 100 She passed away when she was 101 years old. I don’t know what other kind of inspiration you want. Yeah, there are many stories of people who never made it. But we’re not worried about that. Who cares? Who cares? So here’s a resource for you. I want you to go to ted.com and search. What can we learn from people who succeed late in life? I want you to search for that video. And I want you to watch that video. I think that video is by Albert Barbas. Check that. I don’t think I’m saying that name correctly. The last name is Berra bass, I believe. But check that video out. What can we learn from people who succeed late in life should be on ted.com? And you’ll find your answer. If I were you, as I said, I would start I would live every day.

There’s nothing to fear. You’re not 67 You’ve probably seen life better, more than anybody else around you. So listen, everything you want is on the other side of fear anyway. So you’re asking this question because you had that desire in you all these people had passion in them. They discovered themselves late because you’re asking that question. I think you have some passion within you. You haven’t discovered yourself. So go discover yourself. I’m not I don’t think that’s a capability question. Okay, so that’s all for now. Great question. Sorry. I’m getting back later on this. Again, wherever you are. Have a wonderful Monday, a great start to this week. And I will catch up with you as early as tomorrow right here on success with Srini Thank you, everyone. Bye now.

Your First Month At A New Job: 6 Things You Absolutely Must Do

Here is the complete transcript of the podcast

Welcome back, and happy Sunday morning to you on the podcast today I’m answering a question. A lot of questions. I’m just trying to figure out how I can get to all this came in about a month ago.

“Srini. I’m starting a job next month, I wanted to check with you, what should I be doing in the first 30, 60, or 90 days that will ensure that I become successful?” So this is a long question, but that’s the gist of it. So this individual is not a podcast listener, and maybe a radio listener, I think, but came to a carrier breakthrough workshop I did in 2015. And then subsequently joined my career coaching program. So that is the connection. And this was along the way, we have been going back and forth on emails and all. That’s the connection. And that’s how he’s asking me this question. So the potty, 60 – 90 days formula back in the day, at the workshop, I did share this principle. And I shared that principle back then, because about 2013, or 2014, an incredible book came out by the author, Michael Watkins, Michael Watkins wrote a book called The first 90 days, I read this book then. And ever since I’ve seen so many celebrities, experts, CEOs, kind of talking about this book, primarily the CEOs talking about this book, I’ve seen managers talk about this book, also with some of the companies that I consulted with. So this has become an incredible book, bestseller, an international bestseller, and all that.

So I highly recommend that if you’re listening to this podcast right now, and you’re not in a job market, or you’re not looking for a job doesn’t matter, I think you should read this book. So get this book read the book, it is going to change his game. So because I was so fresh, reading the book, I kind of made it a point in the workshop, that everybody all the attendees should read that book. So I was driving that point. And there was a discussion around why the initial few days are very important, the impression you create, and all that. So the short answer to the question is to go back and read that book, or get the book. But more, you know, if my answer is a little bit different, okay, so there are specific things that I want you to do in the first four weeks of the job. And this is what I quote, now I train people now, I’ll give these six steps to you. The first and foremost thing that you have to do is understand the power structure they have on the job, try to understand the power structure day to do it. day two, day three, do it for the next four weeks, who is powerful, who is not more powerful? Who has the leverage, who doesn’t have the leverage, you need to have a clear understanding of the landscape. First thing I would do.

The second thing I would do is, who hired me? And what are their goals? Sometimes managers tell the goals, but sometimes they really, they warm up to their goals, their desires. Sometimes some managers have hidden desires, they don’t say it or they don’t express the take time to express so your job is to extract those from them. So that’s the second thing I would do. Then a question that I started lately adding is, does the hiring manager or the hiring person? What is their authority? And do they have respect for people? The first thing to happen for you, and could be the best thing that to happen to you depends on how you look at this is you walk in day one into work. And you’ll see that none of the people on the floor are respecting the hiring manager who hired you as the sort of good person to be. So respect is very important. I give respect more importance. Now sometimes there are managers or leaders you find don’t have authority. If they have a title, they don’t have the authority. Like somebody formalized the power by giving them a title, you’re a VP you are a CTO or CIO or a yo whatever. They don’t have. They don’t have authority. They can’t make decisions. They don’t have clarity. They can’t guide you. Got to be careful with that. So I would understand it. Have a bit more. And then I will focus on who in the organization doesn’t want me to be important. Who doesn’t want me? You can’t say that everybody wants you. These are interpersonal dynamics. We can’t assume that everybody likes us. We can’t assume that everybody dislikes us either.

So it’s important to surgically methodically mathematically separate, who likes and who doesn’t like, and the people who really like us. What are the things they like about us? And what are the things they don’t like about us? So we need to understand the likes and dislikes within the category of people who, like us. And the same level, we need to understand the likes and dislikes of people in the category who do not like us at all. And then there is also an in-between category, sometimes you can’t, this category is people you cannot really no matter how smart you are. And then the next question is, how can I influence them? To like me, to want me. So the mind has to go there. And the last one is, in what way, my work will be undermined here? You give an example. I hear this all the time happened to me in my previous life, where I was an employee, and I was working, I do the work and somebody else, somebody else wants the credit. I do the work. Before I speak, they speak in the meetings. Not that I was a bad speaker either. But they would. And they get away with it. And I walk away from these meetings thinking that ah, you know, I should have said this, I should have said that. And doesn’t help. Doesn’t work later, because it has to happen at the moment. So there is a certain level of Gatti that you have to have to pull through those conversations. So who is going to undermine my work? The counter to that question is who’s going to appreciate my work? So people fall into the precision pot, it’s important that you understand who will undermine your work. These are the six things I would focus on in the first 30 days, and four weeks on the job. I’m not saying these are the and I’m sharing anything superior to what Michael Watkins wrote in the first 90 days, I’m not saying you should read that book. But this is something these six are very important. Okay. Great question. Appreciate. Sorry for getting back so late on this. Hopefully, this helps.

And for all of you who are listening to this podcast, hopefully, this is helpful to you. If it is, do me a favor. Just drop me a comment. Let me know if you’re watching this on YouTube. This should be a place for you to write a comment. You’re listening to this on the podcasting app for sure you can write a review, you can comment, and all that. And if you have a question for me, then, by all means, 888-818-0404, 888-818-0404 is the number you can text me and you can call and leave me a message with your question and I promise you, I’m going to use it as a voice drop on the podcast and respond to it. Okay, that’s all for now. You have a wonderful Sunday, remainder, whatever you have, and I’ll catch up with you as early as tomorrow. Stay tuned. Bye now.