tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22132818780572512302024-03-15T18:12:35.673-07:00Aswath KrishnanHi, I'm Aswath! I write about living well, career, product management, startups. Subscribe for monthly newsletter. Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-73965875668825783382024-03-12T21:56:00.000-07:002024-03-13T19:25:46.199-07:00The Human Nest<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS9SJ9CjX0rVi0NBdBEhQbFMg0jrXWGBoKz1oGUGpjfQaLqmfI-rQau-vKDvyF4w0HYV422Ku50Rzd4CZ3fzs6i7ZEM0jN2bQiURoDyfjYnxVXQJLZ1NLUwlSNMMSijhhbYNSN-xlCdKGCCab5Uk-LB5nYqZ9RxSFaI6GeBSFsKmL-NcjVdto8h40hv6i6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS9SJ9CjX0rVi0NBdBEhQbFMg0jrXWGBoKz1oGUGpjfQaLqmfI-rQau-vKDvyF4w0HYV422Ku50Rzd4CZ3fzs6i7ZEM0jN2bQiURoDyfjYnxVXQJLZ1NLUwlSNMMSijhhbYNSN-xlCdKGCCab5Uk-LB5nYqZ9RxSFaI6GeBSFsKmL-NcjVdto8h40hv6i6=w369-h245" width="369" /></a></div><p></p><p>The modern American house is a miracle. The richest kings from 500 years ago would give up their palaces to live in a middle-grade townhome with taps that dispense instant hot water, abundant electricity and lighting, and centralized heating and cooling systems. </p><p>Until I saw the innards of my house during a recent remodeling project, I took it for granted. I'm sharing a few basics about this marvel I learned. </p><p>Let's start with the city infrastructure that makes this possible.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhu-ypJVN7e3o11trqpySQMVNKsKxYtVUKAFB7KRj7yRk-NN8NhAusC2bUEs_0F3yM6tVF0TKfoUzPaTBalBlWHdLsITPeH-nFeB0qc2n9WR9yR3NymoeewabNVxGoAw-sY7FVtygWxkBv7wYNgjIbNkhtCvU9ftwRqtb83O7fSSoSVmB-GQyWrHW3mIVjj" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="735" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhu-ypJVN7e3o11trqpySQMVNKsKxYtVUKAFB7KRj7yRk-NN8NhAusC2bUEs_0F3yM6tVF0TKfoUzPaTBalBlWHdLsITPeH-nFeB0qc2n9WR9yR3NymoeewabNVxGoAw-sY7FVtygWxkBv7wYNgjIbNkhtCvU9ftwRqtb83O7fSSoSVmB-GQyWrHW3mIVjj=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></p><p>Three main pipes come into your house from the public system - water, electricity, and gas (not always). Each pipe connects to the main line on the street, through a meter and a shutoff switch. And one pipe - the sewer - leaves the house and connects to the sewer line. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhioii1h7rHn5NjSA3J3eJPM_aAZnm2dZqoHzvR3AFTiJ2m8oGa30dhepxDdm_RN0DPw_UOnICDvBdpM4lOUoREb2TudF9fw33V-6liryjLxPbXem4AkrnLI6fXtz13--eA1JgUDN5TslhQYwNxfnr_oKCWXO2HvAM7mnIqk_xpsgwM7J_7FEj9RSjIeyQd" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhioii1h7rHn5NjSA3J3eJPM_aAZnm2dZqoHzvR3AFTiJ2m8oGa30dhepxDdm_RN0DPw_UOnICDvBdpM4lOUoREb2TudF9fw33V-6liryjLxPbXem4AkrnLI6fXtz13--eA1JgUDN5TslhQYwNxfnr_oKCWXO2HvAM7mnIqk_xpsgwM7J_7FEj9RSjIeyQd" width="320" /></a></p><p>The water pipe connects first to the water heater and splits into two - a hot and cold line, which then flows through to the faucets, toilets, and showers in the house. This is how nearly every tap and shower in an American house dispenses hot and cold water, which is still rare in India where I grew up. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijyRb_tK_gCpTgA3hiL0vqtZI2oKGSyff6R4MOwcN4eIdIWAZL6AbOb5O3PxjP3ZrLd0wavIoRIgcvNrxBy_8gi6qu0WLP43Kz3faA8hJXaXNngcQWZb9106Pq2yXGLYTX1opxYCai3Pv2k-ibkTf9LCLDXVrpVTIjAmXu4unulroRMwdAH8LJxXjBW3Qb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1715" data-original-width="1182" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijyRb_tK_gCpTgA3hiL0vqtZI2oKGSyff6R4MOwcN4eIdIWAZL6AbOb5O3PxjP3ZrLd0wavIoRIgcvNrxBy_8gi6qu0WLP43Kz3faA8hJXaXNngcQWZb9106Pq2yXGLYTX1opxYCai3Pv2k-ibkTf9LCLDXVrpVTIjAmXu4unulroRMwdAH8LJxXjBW3Qb" width="165" /></a></p><p>The electric line plugs into a panel which splits it into multiple circuits. Each circuit then has cables that power different parts of your house. The gas (or alternatively, oil or heat pump) connects to the furnace, which conditions the air and circulates it through vents. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiU-z5ImHwK4vCwV9yzPY9AUy86G36m7ZhRvKiIfUvn-525SNPLhwyH85HB0B_fAcWfFGWPdlvIP74U1m0u5Mc15aWECrIePVF--ObEIMY1Hh6HFZs8WwtMkJgCbQZckLNWPZ-a8QP75TibLbL7Y7ayP3N0YpC2wISGQ5i7GaK6lGJ1NFmz3J_mIxvNqxQr" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1300" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiU-z5ImHwK4vCwV9yzPY9AUy86G36m7ZhRvKiIfUvn-525SNPLhwyH85HB0B_fAcWfFGWPdlvIP74U1m0u5Mc15aWECrIePVF--ObEIMY1Hh6HFZs8WwtMkJgCbQZckLNWPZ-a8QP75TibLbL7Y7ayP3N0YpC2wISGQ5i7GaK6lGJ1NFmz3J_mIxvNqxQr" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGf3v2Z2rXQ_tkgGBhpg1qYCIoQqd4BpLjnnlN4kTs81fSX5rjL5-SLw5NRXwlNx6aP_NScwQ7CFihYHnIJSuJe87_jjdkpz0w25Wdl3UbVRxJOvTDmQ2UQDnAIdQLRawmpke8_ltZeuhI91smFn3UqRaE9CQaCJausBQtAnfJHCcQwcmT68P1IL43LBu3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGf3v2Z2rXQ_tkgGBhpg1qYCIoQqd4BpLjnnlN4kTs81fSX5rjL5-SLw5NRXwlNx6aP_NScwQ7CFihYHnIJSuJe87_jjdkpz0w25Wdl3UbVRxJOvTDmQ2UQDnAIdQLRawmpke8_ltZeuhI91smFn3UqRaE9CQaCJausBQtAnfJHCcQwcmT68P1IL43LBu3" width="180" /></a></p><p>All these pipes and vents run between or through the wooden framing in the walls or through joists under the floor to various points around the house. The showers, sinks, and toilets have drains connected to sewer pipes that join the main line under the ground below the concrete foundation. The framing is then filled with insulation and covered by drywall.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWFZ-hrP2bwsCsbg5cDatGwBa57LziiaET-gBKWBBgwWZVXxRk6fZoVCTm9PyScop3KRJRfLgLyHaPtsaY_Hq8QM110eBbi5ZJOvFIr9YPegZhzsI5jJ3xhj-VNLpeaX1aQI6WD_DePJsoBvYB-8QtO_vTwDe0JiZgBs4sQa3LRBJ3to0HeGpZtTLXBii2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWFZ-hrP2bwsCsbg5cDatGwBa57LziiaET-gBKWBBgwWZVXxRk6fZoVCTm9PyScop3KRJRfLgLyHaPtsaY_Hq8QM110eBbi5ZJOvFIr9YPegZhzsI5jJ3xhj-VNLpeaX1aQI6WD_DePJsoBvYB-8QtO_vTwDe0JiZgBs4sQa3LRBJ3to0HeGpZtTLXBii2" width="240" /></a></p>This use of wooden framing and drywall is quite distinct from construction in India, where solid brick walls dominate. These walls are sturdy enough, way quicker to build, better for hiding wiring and hanging stuff, and easier to demolish and remodel.<p></p><div>I'm full of appreciation and awe for all the wonderful discoveries, inventions, techniques, enterprises, and professions that have developed over centuries so we can enjoy this nest of safety and comfort. </div>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-3861455951636153512024-03-11T11:42:00.000-07:002024-03-11T15:50:09.990-07:00Compounding"All the benefits in life come from compound interest - relationship, money, habits - anything of importance." - Naval Ravikant<br /><br />While there's excitement and discovery in trying new things, they don't last long. I find more sustained meaning, joy, and success in pursuing a few things deeply and over a long time. <br /><p>For instance, I feel happier and connected through spending quality time and conversing with close friends and family than mindlessly scrolling through and hearting posts of hundreds of people I barely know on Instagram or Facebook. </p><p>I learn more by reading a book or doing a course or project on a subject than by reading fleeting tweets or news articles. </p><p>I enjoy and succeed at a profession or hobby more as I practice and master it over many years. It's more enjoyable and effective to work with a familiar and trusted crew. </p><p>As an immigrant and frequent mover, I have also found comfort and appreciation in living in the same neighborhood for a long time and revisiting places. You get to know and interact with the people, places, and things. </p><p>Exploration is important, but it's a means to the end of finding a deeper and longer pursuit. If I feel short of meaningful pursuits, I'd spend more energy on exploration. But otherwise, I'd spend more time cultivating and going deeper into what I have than simply hopping around. </p><p>There's a lot of richness and joy in everything that you only unlock with depth and over time. </p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-38524545200677100382024-02-18T12:14:00.000-08:002024-02-18T15:09:35.938-08:00Is the Universe Benevolent, Malevolent, or just Ambivalent?<p>Most religious leaders want us to believe that the forces of the universe (god) are all-powerful and all-loving. But I’m skeptical.</p><p>I’m aware of the joys in the universe, but I’m also not blind to the unavoidable suffering that most beings have to endure - like the deer that falls prey to the lion, the mother who loses a child, or the frailties that come with aging. It’s hard for me to perform the mental gymnastics of theodicies to conclude that the omnipotent, benevolent creator didn’t have creative alternatives to this suffering for whatever their end goal might be. Maybe that’s a limit of my intellect, but I don’t see any other proponents of the theory articulating a sound defense either. </p><p>I understand that the belief in a benevolent force can lead to psychological benefits, like optimism. But naive optimism only lasts so long as your brain is blissfully ignorant of the naivety. Such optimism is fragile and risks collapsing under the weight of reality.<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.15008px;"> </span>I’d rather settle on the belief that life is an unexplainable experience, that it isn’t all roses and butterflies, and the general universal forces are ambivalent to individual suffering, but we can try and make it enjoyable and meaningful for each other. We may not control the indifferent currents of the cosmos, but we can choose to navigate them with compassion and solidarity. </p><p>Maybe we could be the capable and benevolent agents of the universe. </p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-57475125101157459602024-02-14T14:28:00.000-08:002024-02-14T14:32:41.485-08:00The Roots of Tough Decisions<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglqRBUPoyvviP4fIZQk1BchPYnb-adOnMxajjQYTbizMyz3I91FhbFOaWWxxl-qmb4QdXepzv1b9-OVBtCg20ud3mhVu9hFY_RdibrZGqZct42yTypi9-e12QwwkHityX7sr0zqiZiWSQ9y1UPNFHdpKcmulMmUpttnRnE4NFTnzfXTJ-W76bT2zF18kjc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglqRBUPoyvviP4fIZQk1BchPYnb-adOnMxajjQYTbizMyz3I91FhbFOaWWxxl-qmb4QdXepzv1b9-OVBtCg20ud3mhVu9hFY_RdibrZGqZct42yTypi9-e12QwwkHityX7sr0zqiZiWSQ9y1UPNFHdpKcmulMmUpttnRnE4NFTnzfXTJ-W76bT2zF18kjc=w437-h246" width="437" /></a></div><br />We are in the middle of a bathroom remodeling project. There are so many possibilities, it's an expensive project with long-term implications, and I had never done something like this before, so I was having a tough time figuring out the layout. Though warranted, I realized I was struggling more than necessary because of 3 reasons: <p></p><p>1. <b>Not having clarity on goals and priorities.</b> We wanted a better bathroom, but we hadn't really articulated and ranked our main priorities. When we decided that our main goals were a larger shower, access from the bedroom, and a larger vanity, it was so much easier to come up with options and rank them against the clear criteria. This simple and nifty trick has helped me with every major decision like picking jobs or buying a home. </p><p>2. <b>Not having clarity on constraints. </b>When I understood that we couldn't place the vanity in a spot because of a window, or place a shower in another spot because of the low ceiling, it eliminated more options and reduced my FOMO. Constraints can be freeing! </p><p>3.<b> Not laying out all possible options and their implications. </b>When I exhaustively drew out all the options and numbered them, it was much easier to do a pair-wise comparison and rank them. A friend also created visualizations, which really helped me understand the differences and feel more confident in my decisions. </p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-40122025092709254692024-02-10T20:43:00.000-08:002024-02-10T20:43:39.541-08:00Mind & Matter<p>I had a realization that whenever I'm attacked by the flu or any sickness, my mood's also caught in the crossfire! My usual sunny outlook clouds over faster than you can say "pass the tissues." </p>As I start to claw my way back to health, my spirits lift too. But try as I might, I'm not able to "happy thought" my way out of feeling crummy when sick. <div><br /></div><div>"Mind over matter" is exaggerated. Sure, our thoughts have power, but they're not always the captain of this ship. For most of us who aren't Buddha, our well-being is this intricate tapestry woven from our physical health, the love we get from those around us, where we are in life – literally and figuratively – and whether we feel safe and sound in our world.<div><br />Ever caught an episode of "Queer Eye"? It's like a masterclass in holistic healing. That fab five don't just revamp wardrobes; they renovate lives with their all-hands-on-deck approach – tackling everything from throw pillows to life goals.<br /><br />That's why I'm all about embracing a more <a href="https://www.aswathkrishnan.com/2023/12/8-ways-to-change-your-mind-to-be-more.html" target="_blank">rounded approach</a> when it comes to mental health. Chatting things out is great – don't get me wrong – but sometimes what you really need is someone who'll help repaint your kitchen sunshine yellow or remind you why your homemade lasagna could bring world peace.<br /><br /></div><div><div>Nowadays, instead of waging war against the sniffles-and-frowns brigade, I lean into it. It's okay not to be your sparkliest self when you're sick. Think of it like weathering a storm – hunker down, take it slow, and focus on getting back to full strength.</div></div></div>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-41791437125096727082024-02-03T11:19:00.000-08:002024-02-04T11:21:03.683-08:00Radicalization It was a beautiful tropical day and I was at the beach, happy to be away from the bustle of regular life. But as luck may have it, the spot we landed was right next to two ladies reading NY Times political articles to each other like they were poems of love. They smugly basked in the Times’ self-righteousness, eschewing the ignoramus followers of De Santis and Trump. <br /><br />“How can they not get the separation of church and state”, one of them commented incredulously. “Right right right”, the other affirmed, with little consideration that it was as much a belief as the Bible. <br /><br />They continued “right right right” ing each other as they preached familiar talking points with as little nuance and balance as an election pamphlet, each exchange lifting them higher on their horses and further from any middle ground. <br /><br /><div>Radicalization isn’t a distant phenomenon in mass gatherings in the Middle East or middle America. There are little bubbles of polarizing echo chambers all around us. </div>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-68729570472712800842024-02-03T11:12:00.000-08:002024-02-04T11:26:35.128-08:00KiI attended an inspiring talk by Robin Wall Kinmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass, last year. In the talk and in her book, she poignantly describes the contrast between the colonizers and her indigenous peoples’ view of the world. <br /><br />The settlers regarded nature as a resource, whereas they regarded the earth as a generous mother who bestows them with life and gifts. <br /><br />The Westerners regarded humans as occupying the top position of a pyramid, whereas they regarded all species as inter-dependent kin in a circle of life and humans being the little brothers who are new to the scene and have a lot to learn from wise elder species. <br /><br />The Westerners endlessly sought more and played god, while the natives learned to live harmoniously and gently, with divine reverence. <br /><br />This difference in mindset and the language used to describe the world and our place in it both causes and affects their relationships and behaviors.<br /><br />We live in a world of colonizers and are offsprings of colonizers because colonizers are the ones who dominate and spread. But hopefully, at some point, we’ll feel satiated and start considering the world around us. <div><br /></div><div>A first simple step, Robin recommends, could be to address the other living beings around us more personally and lovingly as Ki. </div>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-78139908425709514512024-01-26T12:33:00.000-08:002024-01-26T12:33:02.939-08:005 Year Rule A cousin shared his 5 year rule with me recently - if you want to be successful at something hard and probabilistic, commit and do it for 5 years. <br /><br />Success = Execution x Opportunity <br /><br />It takes a few years to learn, make mistakes, understand the game, know the players, become known, and build trust in any new domain. The longer you play the game, the more skillful and “luckier” you become. Overnight success is a myth. You have to risk it and work it to get the biscuit.<br /><br />Such commitment isn’t easy, especially during the early years when nothing seems to work out. You need to pick a game that you enjoy, have high conviction in, and leverages your aptitude, resources, and talents. You need to drop many other games that are also enticing. You need staying power (money, time, emotional fortitude, support) to sustain the 5 years. Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-60209084857015763602024-01-22T21:16:00.000-08:002024-01-22T21:16:34.975-08:00Startup and PM advice in one sentence<p><b>Solve </b><b>valuable and underserved problems or desires </b><b>exceedingly well and sustainably </b><b>while accumulating advantages</b><b>.</b></p><div>Let's break it down!</div><div></div><p><b>(1) Valuable </b><b>= It's very important and top of mind for enough people. </b></p><p>I have heard someone describe these well as "hair-on-fire" problems. These are problems that people are actively google searching for or complaining to others about. Some examples of valuable problems from companies I have worked at: losing weight (Noom), getting to/from the airport (Lyft), passing a school test or interviews (Quizlet), satisfying energy efficiency requirements (Opower), buying anything conveniently and quickly (Amazon), and tools to make a living (Microsoft). </p><div><b>(2) </b><b>Underserved </b><b> = there is no good alternative. Customers dislike available options.</b></div><p>My belief is that there are tons of problems that are underserved. But if you only look at a very high level, you will think there aren't many. You find more underserved pockets when you go more niche in a segment or problem. For e.g. delivery for ethnic groceries, shopping websites for Botox studios, or CRM for solo consultants.</p><p><b>(3) Exceedingly well </b></p><p>People hire a product to get a job done. Your product should offer a seamless, delightful, and cost-effective E2E solution. To do this, choose an area where you have some unfair advantage, or there's a shift in technology or environment that makes something previously impossible possible. For e.g. Uber or Instagram after smart phones. </p><p><b>(4) Accumulating advantages </b><b>= #3 increases over time. </b></p><p>This could happen because of network effects, brand effects, efficiencies at scale, etc. </p><p><b>(5) Sustainability = you can do all of the above profitably </b></p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-2463082931072752532024-01-21T22:49:00.000-08:002024-01-22T21:12:25.422-08:00En-lighten <p>In spiritual practice, enlightenment refers to the experience of <i>seeing the light</i> by unlocking a deep, revealing insight about your reality. </p><p>Enlightenment also actually <i>lightens</i> your life and how you interact with the world by eliminating unnecessary burdens of cravings and aversions that you carry and by increasing your equanimity, ease, and love. </p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-55279171667715020352024-01-20T19:22:00.000-08:002024-01-22T09:23:14.769-08:00When the eyes are bigger than the business potential<p><b>Wayfair announced their 3rd or 4th big round of recent layoffs last week. </b>The CEO's email explained how they are trying to "right size" the organization in the face of a tough economic situation. Simply put, their online furniture retail business isn't panning out to be as large of an opportunity as they were hoping it to be and they are now painfully rolling back. They aren’t alone - there have been over 300,000 layoffs in tech since last year. Many startups have dropped to a fraction of their previous values or shut down completely. </p><p><b>2015 to 2021 was a hype cycle of irrational exuberance in tech.</b> We had seen huge successes from the previous wave of internet and mobile startups, like Facebook. Every startup and founder imagined they could also 10 or 100x their business. VCs and their LPs were willing to invest millions at extraordinary valuations, blinded by FOMO and free money. There’s smart risk and there’s stupid greed. Startups could sell $10 bills for $9, and say “Yeah we aren’t profitable yet but look at our insane growth!” to attract investors and employees. There are numerous examples - a niche but hot email startup raised funding at nearly $1B in valuation with less than $10M in revenue; a weight loss company raised a whopping $550M at a multi-billion dollar valuation, despite being a high CAC and high churn business, and multiple 15-min delivery companies raised millions with no realistic path to profitability. </p><p><b>Raising lots of money at high valuations sounds great for a startup or founder. </b>Mo money, mo fun, right? No, not really. Money always comes with strings. Investors expect big returns. Startups are under pressure to deploy their newly acquired gunpowder to deliver on the growth expectations, often quickly and unsustainably hiring more people or spending on marketing and discounts. The newer employees are also promised handsome returns on their equity, so more expectations build up. </p><p><b>However, converting money into sustainable business growth is far from simple and hardly guaranteed.</b> Every business has its limits that cannot be exceeded with more capital or people. If you are a weight loss company, there are only so many weight loss programs you can sell. More capital cannot magically fix low margins, high churn, and undifferentiated business models and products. You also cannot simply count on expanding successfully into new categories or markets because finding a new P-M Fit is hard, and even more so at larger companies. Your new employees may be good, but not alchemists who can turn shit into gold. </p><p><b>When the expected growth doesn't pan out, the companies end up in a worse place than before.</b> They carry the baggage of failure against expectations, unsustainable business practices and investments, high expenses, and large and unwieldy teams. They bleed money and gain problems, but it's harder to raise more capital or attract employees. Nearly every stakeholder ends up unhappy - investors are disappointed, employees endure <a href="https://www.aswathkrishnan.com/2023/01/layoffs.html" target="_blank">traumatic layoffs</a>, and customers are often short-changed. Even founders and exec teams no longer enjoy the business they started, but many smartly cash out a personal fortune before the ship sinks for the rest. </p><p>The CEOs of companies like Wayfair made a double-or-nothing bet, and they lost. Hopefully, this serves as a good (but painful lesson) for founders, investors, and employees. Get back to the basics.</p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-26715295637039731602024-01-18T16:13:00.000-08:002024-01-20T22:41:45.275-08:00Tinkerer vs Entrepreneur <p><b>Tinkering</b> is simply working on projects we enjoy or are curious about. It could be a home improvement project, a newsletter, hosting events, a piece of art, or a software tool. You do what you want, the way you want. You may take pride in showing it, but you aren't doing it for others. And you certainly are not expecting to earn from it. It's mostly for your own pleasure; for the joy and energy of doing and creating.</p><p><b>Entrepreneurship</b> is aimed at creating a sustainable business. You have to deliver solutions that customers want, in the way they want. You need to do a lot of external exploration, test, and pivot often to find the right idea. Even then, you can't just create; you need to do a bunch of extraneous work like marketing, customer calls, research, hiring, pricing, budgeting, fundraising, invoicing, taxes, etc. There's also a lot of uncertainty, pressure to succeed, ups and downs. Entrepreneurship can have fun aspects, but it will also have a lot of not-so-fun parts that are absolutely necessary, especially in pre-PMF stages and if you want to grow it into a large or VC-backed business.</p><p>Often people mistake a love for tinkering as a call to entrepreneurship. Tinkering is one part of entrepreneurship, but there are a lot of other parts that tinkerers don't like or aren't skilled at. You can love being a tinkerer, but end up a frustrated and unsuccessful entrepreneur. </p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-34293365753290472472024-01-15T19:00:00.000-08:002024-01-15T19:05:39.619-08:00Soft life, Sad life <p>I try to pay more attention when ideas keep coming back. They highlight something important and usually add more depth. </p><p>Day before yesterday, I was running in a sub-zero weather after an intense weight training session, and a familiar idea “<a href="https://www.aswathkrishnan.com/2023/08/do-hard-things.html" target="_blank">Embrace doing hard things</a>” resurfaced. </p><p>I’m new to athleticism and this isn’t normal. The exercise was tough! Breathing in the freezing air was hard. I was losing feeling in my fingers and toes. And my legs were still screaming from the deadlifts. </p><p>But I felt alive, strong, and joyful! More so than I did sitting on my couch inside my house and scrolling on my phone an hour before. </p><p>The traditional wisdom is to pursue comfort and safety to enjoy a good life. And that’s what we have done. Now, at least in rich societies, we have incredibly predictable and cushy lives. But mental health has surprisingly declined, not improved, in this transition. </p><p>Without regular exposure to controllable stress, we aren’t building our physical or mental resilience. We atrophy and become too sensitive and soft - incapable of weathering the changes, challenges, and stresses that life will inevitable throw at us. Without risk and hardship, we lack adventure and meaning. Our soft lives are making us sad. </p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-6397673739022003332024-01-08T11:39:00.000-08:002024-01-08T11:39:11.841-08:00Culture isn't geographic anymore, but governance is. <p>Culture, simplistically, is a derivation of what we believe and how we think and act, which in turn are derivations of the information we are exposed to.</p><p>In the past, information was limited by geography to a large extent. Local newspapers, leaders, and intellectuals. With the Internet, it is not. You can have different information exposures and consequently, different cultures, between neighbors. You can find polarization within a street, rather than just between states, countries, or continents. </p><p>This has interesting implications for governance, which is still geography-based. Governance, which is simplistically what strategy and policies should we collectively follow, largely derives from culture. If culture is no longer geographic, how can we govern geographically?</p><p>While this is short-term problematic, I think it is long-term positive as it unlocks a degree of freedom for people - to align themselves with whichever belief and culture they prefer. We still exist in the physical world and not just on the internet, so local cooperation is still essential. Eventually, governance will have to reduce to simply matters of local infrastructure and utilities, like roads, safety, and taxes, and not matters of morals. This philosophy is already reflected to some extent in the Federal-State split, but would probably lean further to Federal-State-Person. But the lines are blurry and most decisions are going to continue to be contentious. </p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-7061888113997552652024-01-07T22:44:00.000-08:002024-01-15T19:06:45.767-08:00Don’t invest in space travel until you are a billionaire<p>I don’t know if many billionaires will read this blog, but this is still an important principle for the rest of us too. </p><p>Almost every game in life - sports, business, career, academia, family and friendship, hobbies - is played in levels. For example, in car racing, you have to compete in your school clubs, then inter-school, then regional, then F4, F3, F2, and then finally F1. </p><p>Seems reasonable, but most of us want to jump to the final level right away. We regularly see inspiring and glamours videos of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or Sam Altman, so we also want to aim high and start a space or AI company. We don’t want to work on a silly job or start a small business; we just want to change the world doing something way more important and shinier!</p><p>But what we don’t see as often is that these folks only got where they are because they worked through many lower levels of less glamorous jobs and business for decades. Elon Musk built and sold 3 businesses before he could start SpaceX. Jeff Bezos worked at a hedge fund for a decade, then started Amazon for just books and expanded it over a few more decades, before he started Blue Origin. Even before their careers, they spent decades learning and doing projects. </p><p>Before they were at the top levels, they only had access to the lower levels. They worked hard and smart through these lower levels, and developed the skills, resources, network, and resilience that gave them access to the top and the ability to take bigger risks.</p><p>There’s no magic elevator, so don’t waste time looking for one. Take the steps. </p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-75824006562527084612024-01-05T19:41:00.000-08:002024-01-05T19:41:35.093-08:00Sleep!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPK1m7vRyntl0YMiu6pCwZB2fG3cROoozEaEOa_Gp-3GcU3OvkzKKILmKGwH4VsTVZrp-Gn5IWpJZtqr-wnNxLFCNjeDMQNg9Q5FasQX969wASks82vgu6L20a-qX7uP2I8gthZiuCFGmwSOKpIuVi5mPzmG8iJ_yEgEwb2WaHj4PCNh8YttLjFYmZM_dF/s705/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-05%20at%207.21.53%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="705" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPK1m7vRyntl0YMiu6pCwZB2fG3cROoozEaEOa_Gp-3GcU3OvkzKKILmKGwH4VsTVZrp-Gn5IWpJZtqr-wnNxLFCNjeDMQNg9Q5FasQX969wASks82vgu6L20a-qX7uP2I8gthZiuCFGmwSOKpIuVi5mPzmG8iJ_yEgEwb2WaHj4PCNh8YttLjFYmZM_dF/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-05%20at%207.21.53%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm realizing that a large percentage of my bad days start with bad sleep. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wake up tired. I try to get more sleep, so wake up late and skip my morning ritual of puttering around slowly and planning the day. I'm more irritable, more anxious, and less lucid. I eat more junk food. I skip exercise. I'm on my phone more. I have more restless energy and thoughts. I stay up late and can't sleep. The cycle repeats. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you are caught in this cycle, your main priority should be to get out of it by getting a good night's rest. Drop everything else that you can and dedicate most of the evening to just that. Put away your phone, exercise go for a walk, have a light dinner, and dim the lights. Have night-time tea, magnesium, or melatonin. Go to bed earlier than usual. If you can't sleep, meditate or listen to relaxing music. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div> <p></p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-42453998719688276822024-01-05T19:31:00.000-08:002024-01-05T19:33:37.963-08:00Funk<p>I have written about how <a href="https://www.aswathkrishnan.com/2019/10/peace-and-joy.html" target="_blank">peace and joy</a> are in our control. Peace comes from acceptance of reality, and joy comes from appreciation and celebration of reality. So both are technically in our mind's control, I concluded, annoyingly. </p><p>But it isn't that simple. We are human and emotional, and life throws things at us, so it is very natural and inevitable that our peace and joy get upset. If we stay upset over multiple days, we spiral into what I call a "funk", where our upset mind makes itself even more upset. Getting into funk sucks. It means losing several days or even weeks of peace and joy and is hard to get out of because your mind is compromised. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Why do we get into a funk</h3><p>Here are some of the main reasons why I get into a funk: </p><p><b>1) Overthink things out of our control</b></p><p>Something in the past (what-ifs and only-ifs), or something that someone else did, or some bad luck or random event upsets us. We then obsess about it and our minds tend to become negative. We experience feelings of sadness. helplessness, regret, mistrust, or anger. These feelings build on each other and lead to more negative thinking. </p><p><b>2) Overwhelmed with a tough decision or challenge </b></p><p>We are faced with a hard problem that we can't solve. Or we have to make a tough decision - maybe between two options that seem equal, or where you have to do something necessary but tough like break up or take a risk. Sometimes after we have made the tough choice, we relitigate and overthink it (refer back to 1). </p><p><b>3) Losing balance or routine</b></p><p>For whatever reason, we stop doing things we usually do, like, or keep us balanced. For e.g., COVID shutdowns upset our routines quite significantly as we spent a lot more time at home, watching a lot of breaking news, overworking, and without regular social contact, sunlight, or exercise. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Getting out of a funk</h3><div>Even for the most Zen among us, we should expect to get upset and into a funk at times. So we need a playbook to get out of the funk and move on. Over time, as we master it, the hope is that we'll be getting into funk less frequently and getting out of it more quickly.</div><div><br /></div><div>I understand it isn't easy to do these things when you are in a funk, but just small steps can help and give you the energy to take more steps. </div><div><br /></div><div><u>Quick Fixes</u></div><p><b>1. Treat yo self! </b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://media4.giphy.com/media/KlCpW0I2Ptd3a/200.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="290" height="221" src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/KlCpW0I2Ptd3a/200.gif" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p>Do something you love. Get your favorite food or drink, visit your favorite spot, meet some good friends, take a weekend vacation, etc. It isn't going to fix your situation, but you have earned it for the rough time and it'll make things feel brighter. </p><p><b>2. Move the body, move the mind </b></p><p>In a funk, it can feel hard to change anything. But you still have more control over your body than your mind. </p><p><i>Breathe</i>: Smile like an idiot, close your eyes, and take deep breaths for a minute. Repeat this every hour. </p><p><i>Move</i>: Do at least 15-30 mins of exercise every day. Exercise gets your mind to the present, clears up your head, and creates some happy hormones. Even something simple - going for a walk, </p><p><i>Sleep</i>: I feel much better after a deep, restful sleep. Get 8 hours of good sleep every day, especially if you are in a funk. Give yourself all the help for a great deep, resting sleep. Go to a dark bedroom, put your phone far away, and take melatonin if you need it (not medical advice; do your own research). </p><p><b>3. Return to balance and routine </b></p><p>When we get into a funk, we tend to drop everything else we usually do and enjoy, and that makes things worse. In general, I think it's good to have a balanced and diverse life that keeps you at peace. I have benefited a lot from intentionally designing a well-rounded routine that I can consistently practice and enjoy. I'm working on creating many different sources of joy - family, social life, work, hobbies, music, etc. Deliberately pick some which are mostly in your control whatever happens like writing or exercise. That way, even if one thing breaks, you always have other things that you can enjoy and get you out of the funk. </p><p><u>Address the problem</u></p><p>Quick fixes help you feel better and clear your head, but they don't make the underlying problem go away. So you need to sort them out. </p><p><b>1. Talk it out or write it out </b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You need to step out of the situation to think rationally about it. You can do that by writing it out, talking to yourself (rubber ducking or acting as if you are giving advice to a friend), or talking to someone else.</div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="font-weight: 400;">Writing and self-talk are always available to you - so try to practice and master them. It's also nice to find a good listening partner - someone you are comfortable with, who cares for your well-being, who can listen patiently without judgment, and who can guide your thinking. If you don't have the right friend, mentor, or partner, a good therapist or coach can help too. You can't expect people to give you answers to your life questions, but a good listening partner can be a calming sounding board and guide you to clarity. </p></div></b><p><b>2. Dealing with overthinking</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bkS8prOT8Z-W8H7C-sleMooQIgNKEdEM-4mbMqItm0iFH_t572EqsXu0ha0z1oR3m9-XhaHD3tPWm4-7g1b0UeFJBvPDk48qebUqLcgvLGekDQlM2jb34Ovv1TiDAr4PUX3HTQzPQJ4p/s1366/Screen+Shot+2021-03-04+at+7.44.35+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bkS8prOT8Z-W8H7C-sleMooQIgNKEdEM-4mbMqItm0iFH_t572EqsXu0ha0z1oR3m9-XhaHD3tPWm4-7g1b0UeFJBvPDk48qebUqLcgvLGekDQlM2jb34Ovv1TiDAr4PUX3HTQzPQJ4p/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-03-04+at+7.44.35+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>You have to accept reality, things you cannot change, and go with the flow. You often imagine the worst. I know that's easy to say, but with repeated practice and self-talk, it will become a habit. Internalize this - You can't change things in the past or things that are not in your control. Life is a theater, you are an actor, and all scenes and actors are interesting. Watch, play, enjoy, learn.</p><p>Be an optimist and a realist! Shit happens - you should expect that, but see the positive side and take it in your stride. You have to develop a growth mindset of learning and a "well, that happened and that was interesting. now what?" attitude.</p><p>Write down the thoughts to get them out of your head and to lay them to rest. I maintain a document with learnings and reflections that I update weekly. </p><p><b>3. </b><b>Dealing with o</b><b>verwhelming challenges and decisions</b></p><div>What can you do now? Take the challenges in your stride. Don't have a victim mindset. Be the actor rather than being acted on. Don't hesitate to be vulnerable and ask for help. We are all playing the game of life for the first time. If it's a challenge involving another party, try to talk it out and be authentic. Maybe they can compromise or help when they understand your situation. </div><div><br /></div><div>Write down your options. Talk to an expert. Then make a decision. Some tricks to make a decision: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Create a table to compare: columns for each option and rows for different attributes you care about. Highlight the top 3 attributes/rows that you care about. Strike off the equal rows. </li><li>Regret minimalization: Life is short and it is meant for living. Which option will you regret more?</li><li>Timeframes: Think about how you will feel in 5 mins, 5 days, and 5 years after the decision. </li><li>Set a deadline: Don't get stuck in analysis paralysis. Nothing is certain in life - you just have to embrace uncertainty, live, and learn. </li></ul></div><div><b>4. Post-funk: Reflect and improve </b></div><p>As I said before, we will inevitably get into a funk. The goal is that over time, we learn from them and become more resilient - get into a funk less frequently and get out of it quicker. </p><p>For that, do a quick retrospective. </p><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Why did you get into the funk? What is the underlying cause? How can you resolve that desire and prevent this in the future?</li><li>Did you recognize it early? Did you act by your playbook? What worked? Any new ideas?</li></ul></div>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-85314090593730796982024-01-05T17:28:00.000-08:002024-01-05T23:18:23.661-08:00The Achiever Virus<p>I grew up in the 1990s in a bustling city in India. The country was mostly poor, but everyone, through a few rich friends, media, or travel, knew there was a better life - one where you don't have to worry about the basics and can even indulge in luxuries. Every person aspired and craved for that better life - if not for them, at least for their kids. </p><p>For middle class kids like me, a hopeful but difficult path emerged. If you study hard, get better test scores than everyone else, and get admission to top colleges, you either get a good career or even better, you get to pursue a life abroad. This is the path to not only wealth but also to being respected and liked by your friends, relatives, teachers, and community.</p><p>Some of us took this seriously. The achiever virus was etched into our brains - keep working hard and keep progressing - to more prestigious institutions and more lucrative opportunities. We did it, over and over again. And the more we did it, the more the virus multiplied.</p><p>We became achievement machines and it worked very well for us. Until it didn't. </p><p>We aced our tests, got into great schools, and then great jobs and richer countries. We enjoy salaries, savings, comforts, and luxuries that our parents never did. We work reasonable hours, in interesting jobs, and with managers and people who treat us well. We can shop freely in grocery stores, eat out in nice restaurants every week, enjoy fancy vacations, and buy independent houses and multiple cars. We don't have to check our bank balances constantly, worry about paying bills, or figure out how to avoid debtors. We should be grateful, satisfied, and over the moon to enjoy a life that our younger selves could have only dreamed of. </p><p>But happiness isn't the goal of the achiever virus, it is progress. There's always more to achieve - more money, more status, more luxuries, even better life for our kids. </p><p>The virus gets us to a point where we can be happy but never stops there. </p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-45354510540327960662024-01-02T17:44:00.000-08:002024-01-07T09:54:45.759-08:00You don't know it yet, but you are probably addicted 😱<p><i>"The modern devil is cheap dopamine"</i> - Naval Ravikant</p>Throughout history, each generation has been ensnared by a distinct addiction. Alcohol, tobacco, and processed foods trace a familiar arc: celebrated innovations morph into pervasive vices. Initially hailed for their pleasurable effects, these substances soon trigger a race to enhance their potency and availability. This cycle of desire and overindulgence, fueled by profit-driven peddlers and consumers alike, inevitably collides with the limitations of human biology, leading to widespread harm before an eventual and slow course correction.<div><p><b>The Dance of Pleasure and Pain</b></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><div>At the heart of our individual and societal actions lies the intricate interplay of pleasure and pain, directed by our brain chemistry. Evolution has honed our brains to swiftly interpret stimuli as favorable or harmful, prompting corresponding reactions. Originally optimized for immediate survival, our neural pathways evolved over millions of years to include mechanisms for long-term planning and logical thinking, coexisting with more primitive responses.</div><div><div><p>Victor Finkl once noted, "Between stimulus and response, there's a space. In that space, we have the power to choose the response. In the response lies our growth and our freedom." Addiction erodes this space, allowing our primal instincts to dominate over the logical mind, especially when faced with stimuli that deliver rapid and intense pleasure. This disrupts our neural balance, rendering ordinary life dull and driving a relentless pursuit of more of the addictive substance. This cycle diminishes our capacity for logical thought and regulation to enhance long-term well-being and traps us in a destructive loop of addiction. </p></div><div><p><b>Our Latest Addiction</b></p><div>Like the generations before, our generation now faces a new, insidious addiction. Tristan Harris, an early member of the Gmail team, saw it coming years ago, "We are living in an attention economy, and social media is addictive by design.” Ubiquitous devices flood us with dopamine, the neurotransmitter signaling desire, through endless social media feeds, streaming content, auto-playing 20-second videos, large chat groups, and incessant notifications. This digital deluge has profound impacts on our mental and physical health, diminishing our attention spans and cognitive abilities. We are swimming in it, and drowning.</div><div><br /></div>A personal poll I conducted with friends revealed startling trends: most people reported using their phones for 3-5 hours daily, sometimes accounting for up to a third of their waking hours! They check their phones 6-10 times an hour, often automatically and without intention. On top of phones, they are also on their laptops and TVs. This overuse leads to sleep disruptions, mood swings, strained relationships, loneliness, cognitive decline, and a reduction in healthier, more fulfilling activities like exercising or reading books. Notably, attention spans have plummeted from 2.5 minutes to just 75 seconds over the past decade, mirroring declines in cognitive scores like PISA and ACT. These symptoms align with the classic definition of addiction - uncontrollable engagement in activities that detrimentally impact our well-being. The tools have become our masters. <br /><br /></div><div>These platforms and apps, driven by highly profitable business models that monetize user attention, employ the brightest minds and continuous, large-scale experiments to further enhance their addictiveness. They are even supported by an army of street-level peddlers or "influencers". Meanwhile, reports of their detrimental effects are often dismissed or downplayed by the very corporations that benefit from them. They point to the utility of their platforms and defend every individual's freedom to choose, fully knowing that the upper brain of any regular person stands no chance against this assault on their lower brain. To be clear, there is indeed a lot of utility and joy through these services and devices. In fact, that only makes their addictiveness more dangerous, as they become a necessity that's hard to do without. There’s sewage in the water line. </div><div><p><b>Tackling the Digital Devil</b></p><p>Lamenting at companies for following profits and at governments for not being effective regulators is futile. Ultimately, you are responsible for your life. </p><p>If you spend more than 3 hours a day on your phone, unintentionally and automatically reach out to your phone several times a day, or feel fidgety when you are separated from your device, you probably have a problem. The first step to prevent or escape this addiction is the same one as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)'s proven 12-step program - to accept and acknowledge that we are addicted and we don't have power over these devices. </p></div><div><p></p><p>Depending on your level of use, you will probably need to start with a few days or weeks of abstinence ("digital detox") to reset your pleasure-pain balance and dopamine receptors. You may experience withdrawal symptoms, but eventually, the fog lifts, and you regain the clarity and full capacity of your prefrontal cortex. </p><p>This is a good start, but it isn’t sufficient because you will go back to using your devices again to do essential things - check your email, order an Uber, talk to friends, and read the news - and you will quickly be sucked into the vortex once again. Redefining your relationship with these apps and devices is crucial, and initiatives like The Center for Humane Technology offer <a href="https://www.humanetech.com/take-control" target="_blank">some tips and tools here</a>. The best tool that I have found so far is <a href="https://www.getclearspace.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAhc-sBhCEARIsAOVwHuT9uyH7sVl4FlJPpoR5acV4-6HzIJmxO7npUPhKaCsahuxAZhyFtOEaAgw9EALw_wcB" target="_blank">Clearspace</a>. Unlike other unsuccessful approaches that try to forcefully block or restrict your app usage, Clearspace empowers your logical brain to make a decision - by creating a grounding pause after the automatic behavior of clicking an app and allowing you to consciously set a session time limit. </p><p>Beyond technological measures, enriching our lives with engaging, fulfilling activities and practicing mindfulness is vital. Without other activities, the phone becomes the default option. These efforts reinforce our mental resilience, equipping us to resist the lure of digital distractions.</p><p>In this digital age of distraction and incessant stimulation, it is way too easy to zombie your way through life and wake up someday with self-doubt and regret. The supreme skill today for your mental health and life satisfaction is to be present, intentional, and indistractable. </p><p>May we live every day of our lives!</p><p><b>Notes: </b></p><p>1. In addition to personal and anecdotal experience, some of this is informed by <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dopamine-Nation-Finding-Balance-Indulgence/dp/152474672X" target="_blank">Dopamine Nation</a> and <a href="https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/" target="_blank">The Social Dilemma</a></p><p>2. Many activities and substances, like coffee or exercise, can cause pleasure. Pleasure and enjoyment are okay! Addiction is when: (a) The spikes in pleasure are high and rapid, (b) The extent of the activity isn't self-limiting, and (c) Prolonged and repeated engagement in activity is detrimental to the well-being. You can see how </p></div></div></div>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-46094129060128953332023-12-27T15:27:00.000-08:002023-12-28T17:32:44.772-08:00Tea bags, Microwave popcorn, Puff pastry sheets<p>I enjoyed all three of them this week :)</p><p>Cooking is remarkably more efficient when done in bulk. Cooking for 6 people or for a week isn’t that much harder than cooking for 2 or for a single meal. This is because the bulk of cooking involves “fixed cost” activities - researching the recipe, buying ingredients, combining them, and cleaning up - that don’t vary much with quantity. </p><p>Cooking and eating are essential, universal, and time-consuming. So I’m a fan of companies and inventions that leverage this efficiency of “cooking in bulk” but also preserve the affordability, freshness, and satisfaction of homemade food. Typically they achieve this by doing 80% of the cooking and leaving the last 20% to the consumer. Packaged foods and food delivered from restaurants are too close to 100% and have the downsides of being too expensive, unhealthy, or stale. </p><p>Tea bags are perfect. </p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-58347084910166665912023-12-26T21:12:00.000-08:002024-01-04T18:16:29.256-08:00To B2C or not to B2C<p>I read yet another article advising people against attempting B2C startups. It’s worse than a lottery ticket so avoid them at all costs, the post warned. The popular incubator, YCombinator, whose participants can be seen as a representative sample of promising startups, also seems to be accepting mostly B2B startups in the recent years. </p><p>This should be counter-intuitive. When you look around your home, you’ll see a bunch of products and nearly all of them are B2C. You, a consumer, went to a business and bought them. When you see your credit card bill, you first gasp at how much you spend and then also notice that’s all B2C - home, food, kids, shopping, travel, and entertainment. So what explains this low confidence in B2C startups? </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>First off, I think the advice mainly applies to software startups, and not for physical goods and services. I’d also exclude software that are essentially wrappers for physical product and service, like Uber, Airbnb, DoorDash, Amazon, and Ticketmaster. Both physical goods and services, and software wrappers around them have done pretty well with B2C, albeit with lower margins. </p><p>Within software, there are 2 broad categories - entertainment and utility; software that helps you have fun and those that help get a chore done. </p><p>Entertainment comprises of 3 sub-categories: communication, content, and games. Communication is hard to break into because of network effects and stickiness. Content and games are a crap shoot - there are a few lucky winners and a long tail of losers. That requires a studio model with many bets, and the capital and stomach to play the long game. So bigger players and platforms, like YouTube, Netflix or Disney, are better positioned than smaller startups. </p><p>Utility software offer tools to complete tasks and improve productivity. Most of human productivity and complexity exists at work or in school, and therefore it makes sense that B2B dominates this category. That mainly leaves utility for your personal life. </p><p>The broadest tools are to-do lists and notes - there are many mousetraps and slightly better mousetraps for that, so I would hesitate to build one more. Then there are tools for specific life areas - finance, health, self-development, and home care. I’d guess that only a minority of the population use these tools as most don’t care for optimization or have their own entrenched ways. Sustained retention is also a challenge because the needs and motivation aren’t consistent. But there’s opportunity to develop nuanced and better products and reasonably large businesses in each of these categories. Wealthfront, Copilot Finance, Robinhood, ClassPass, Noom, Calm, Duolingo are some good examples. </p><p>Then there are tools for specific types of consumers - students, professionals, parents, women, seniors, single, artists, creators/prosumers, and the list goes on. Quizlet, LinkedIn, Reforge, Coursera, Flow, Tinder, Descript, Canva, etc. are good examples of successful startups with this approach. I think there’s more opportunity for startups to serve niche and underserved segments within these broader segments, like medical students, patients suffering from psoriasis, culinary Youtubers, etc. While the TAM may not be huge, they can earn multiple million $ ARR, which is great for solo operators and small teams but not for VCs and venture-backed startups. So avoid raising funding for these businesses. </p><p>B2C startups, because of their low barrier to create and market, are also prone to the classic entrepreneur failure mode of building without defining and validating the problems. Founders can be too quick to “solve for themselves” without good customer discovery or market research. This is rarer for B2B where the questions around who needs your product and why are harder to ignore. </p><p>Consumers, relative to businesses, are also more finicky, less loyal, and less willing to pay. So retention and monetization are harder. You may have to support an ad-based business model (or a freemium hybrid) that requires high engagement and retention to sustain, which may not work for all ideas. </p><p>On the positive side for B2C, you deal with millions of independent decision makers, and many who are enthusiastic early adopters and risk takers. The barrier to entry in terms of discovery, customer acquisition, billing, and compliance is also lower. Buyers and end consumers being one and the same keeps the business and product development simple and aligned. </p><p>All said, B2C software startups are definitely tricky. But it’s also naive to broadly rule out such a large category as unviable. If you do that, you can generalize further and rule out startups overall. B2C is just a different game with different strategy and rules - and there are ways to play well and win. </p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-40432591553868176762023-12-24T12:29:00.000-08:002023-12-24T12:29:42.360-08:00Action produces Information<p>The CEO of Coinbase shared this advice to pre-PM fit startup founders and it really resonated: </p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/StartupArchive_/status/1738905209093468459">https://twitter.com/StartupArchive_/status/1738905209093468459</a></p><p>Low certainty pursuits and decisions, like your life purpose or philosophy, career or startup idea to pursue, who’d be an ideal life partner, where would you like to live, etc. are often the most impactful and the most challenging aspects of our lives. </p><p>They are unique in the sense you don’t have enough information to make a rational choice. The options and their outcomes are unknowns. So we can get stuck in analysis-paralysis trying to figure them out intellectually. But that doesn’t solve the core problem - the lack of information and certainty.</p><p>The way to get more information is to act - go explore, ask around, and try things out. Keep an open mind, your cycles fast and, learn from them. </p><p>The best way to see through the fog is to take a few steps forward into the unknown. </p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-61762562760140337762023-12-23T19:15:00.000-08:002023-12-23T19:15:47.128-08:00Manufacture urgency<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCNNAnPOEqRcf8LLOOJKw6KftkWg0FPn4NFa2cgH8wV08lhAOEGDhYtAIP2o00AiVSiF9KyI1l-nvoW8ktfMnuZ78-CP2yN4EGT-1MTlN-v6yc_pg_udMsVdd89FGQeeDnCJP3-gz5ilItQFKhmxXPPG_jMxz42TKYleSUcl-D9GahFZutCl5nQ0SdNqDJ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="680" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCNNAnPOEqRcf8LLOOJKw6KftkWg0FPn4NFa2cgH8wV08lhAOEGDhYtAIP2o00AiVSiF9KyI1l-nvoW8ktfMnuZ78-CP2yN4EGT-1MTlN-v6yc_pg_udMsVdd89FGQeeDnCJP3-gz5ilItQFKhmxXPPG_jMxz42TKYleSUcl-D9GahFZutCl5nQ0SdNqDJ=w571-h316" width="571" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I applied for a grant this year and the granters shared that 90% of the applications were submitted just 2 days before the deadline! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This isn't uncommon. The majority of people are deadline-driven. We do a chore whenever it's urgent and absolutely necessary (unless it's a recurring habit or routine).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is why creating urgency and setting a deadline is key for your own personal endeavors and when you expect others to do something. But our brains aren't that easy to trick. They know when a deadline is fake. So you need to make it as real and consequential as possible. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is why retailers have limited-time offers and sales - to force a buying decision or miss out on a great offer. This is why it's important to set a target response date whether you are fundraising or hiring someone. This is why you are more likely to succeed if you sign up for half marathons or business targets. </div><p></p><p>Deadlines convert something that's only important to something urgent and important so that Eisenhower will command it. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Notes: </b></p><p>1. Only chores are subject to this behavior. We do a lot of absolutely unnecessary things often if they are fun and easy. So that's another trick - <a href="https://www.aswathkrishnan.com/2023/03/important-things-can-be-boring-so-make.html" target="_blank">make important things fun and easy.</a> </p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-42806962089571253462023-12-22T22:52:00.000-08:002023-12-22T23:33:34.302-08:00The Joy of Competence A recent survey showed that more than half of Americans hate their jobs. Probably another 30% feel pretty neutral about them. r/antiwork is one of the largest communities in Reddit and growing. So many people are looking to retire early (or FIRE).<div><br /></div><div>The common complaints against work are the lack of a decent pay and benefits, potential for growth, work-life balance, meaning, respect, etc. Many people also justifiably think they can’t have a good life like their parents did despite working a job. There’s a pent up negativity against evil and heartless corporates and middle managers that treat workers as expendable resources. </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe work was always seen as a necessary evil, but it seems like the relationship has become more negative in the last few decades. It feels like the capitalistic machinery has taken a wrong turn. Perhaps attitudes have also changed to want more leisure and comfort for less work, thanks to the unrealistic lifestyles popularized on the internet and the Cambrian explosion of entertainment options. </div><div><br /></div><div>Regardless of the cause, people hating how they spend half their waking life is one of the most dire problems facing humanity. Because the alternative is loving what you do. There is tremendous joy and pride in being competent, serving others, camaraderie of a good team, doing something meaningful, and being appreciated. </div>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213281878057251230.post-15872780403866317042023-12-21T23:53:00.000-08:002024-01-04T18:16:53.958-08:00Dear Dobby<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfg6_Xb5_erC9ODXna97CZFg6stHRdXE79lwHLCTNUEecfrOovTGpQEmSuiKC1qHOPpSyXpJ5VWd23yZk_d1gAa5SyVRd4hZSmnXE3QWluZoCB-G0OLdXG6zqPpK6UxTnn1mahB9jksXWjFryZ8Ix2lnVTYPZ3S20oNHBe8NHMCvUoT0UMLAbMN1QUTMzb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="497" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfg6_Xb5_erC9ODXna97CZFg6stHRdXE79lwHLCTNUEecfrOovTGpQEmSuiKC1qHOPpSyXpJ5VWd23yZk_d1gAa5SyVRd4hZSmnXE3QWluZoCB-G0OLdXG6zqPpK6UxTnn1mahB9jksXWjFryZ8Ix2lnVTYPZ3S20oNHBe8NHMCvUoT0UMLAbMN1QUTMzb" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>Dobby, the lovable elf in Harry Potter, is often filled with so much self-loathing that it’s hard to watch. You want to hug him and reassure him that he’s okay and he’s loved.<p></p><p>It’s even harder because Dobby isn’t just a fictional character in a made-up magical world. Dobby is very real - we all have one within us. </p><p>Our inner Dobby is often our meanest boss, negligent carer, and harshest critic. Inner Dobby is often upset or unhappy with us. Inner Dobby never thinks we are good enough. Inner Dobby never thinks we deserve a break. </p><p>I want to hug mine and everyone else’s inner Dobby, and reassure them with this short poem - </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>***</p><p>Dear Dobby, I love you. </p><p>The entire universe, since the beginning of time,</p><p>Has conspired to manifest you. </p><div>Never has there been and never will there be </div><p>A life like yours, or anyone like you</p><p></p><p>The mysterious forces truly want you. </p><p><br /></p><p>You feel like you messed up </p><p>Or aren’t quite enough</p><p>And lament that you failed everyone, and you.</p><p>But all you need to do is just be you</p><p>You are a new baby domino</p><p>And there are greater powers acting beyond you. </p><p><br /></p><p>You may feel like you aren’t worthy </p><p>That self love is selfish, or only when you are good. </p><p>But remember, dear Dobby</p><p>The wise universe made just one of you.</p><p>You deserve all the kindness, care and love</p><p>Trust it will bring out the best in you.</p>Aswath Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11220229637758634791noreply@blogger.com