In a research of American and Chinese companies, it was shown that humble leaders are significantly more effective than narcissistic leaders with their employees more productive and more innovative. Leaders need to have the confidence to drive their team forward and also be grounded to the reality of things. Adam Grant points out that it…
Nirmal’s Blog
Just over the hill
Just over the hill are the beautiful and majestic mountains. That’s Mount Everest. You know the climb is steep. You’re ready mentally and physically to take upon the challenge. Nothing can completely prepare you for this moment, you just know that you have to keep going. The only way to go is forward. No excuses….
Principles For Success by Ray Dalio
I’m reading Principles: Life and Work at the moment. Almost done with the book. If you want to get an overview of what the book is about, this video is a great resource:
Skills blog series
What has helped me tremendously in my personal and professional life is developing and having the right skills to adapt to different environments. I was born in Kathmandu (Nepal) and have lived in Cairo (Egypt), New York City (US) and Amsterdam (The Netherlands). What has worked for me is having skills that are transferable, adaptive…
Will you take us to Mars?
Who’s the person in your company that takes the lead? Takes the charge to navigate the change? Has the courage to launch an initiative that he or she feels is right no matter what the outcome would be? Elon Musk was once asked by Ray Dalio on how he came to start his company, SpaceX….
What’s your anchor?
Getting up at 4am and believing that no one will outwork me. That’s Dwayne Johnson “The Rock”‘s anchor everyday. What’s yours?
Seven Bucks
He had seven bucks in his pocket when he was cut from Calgary Stampeders, Canadian Football League. Thus, Dwayne Johnson “The Rock” named his production company, his advertising agency among others: 7 bucks. He keeps the hard times in front of his mind which helps him to go into these big moments with a different…
The Art and Science of Training
I started reading The Art and Science of Training by Elaine Biech. Elaine relates the book as a recipe such as making a cake. “It’s about understanding the science behind best practices (what proportions of butter to flour to milk to sugar make the best cake) and where a little spicing up will make it…
Will you take 10 minutes to change your life?
Will Smith did. He took 10 mins and did an impromptu audition at Quincy Jones’s party for the guests. Will could have waited a week or maybe even 3 weeks to prepare. However, Quincy was adamant that Will audition at the moment and not wait any longer. Well he didn’t and after that audition, Will…
The Shaq Endorsement
Wheaties wanted Shaq to be on the cover after he won his first championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. He declined. Wheaties wanted Shaq to be on the cover after he won his second championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. He declined. Then Shaq told his people to call Frosted Flakes or Fruit Loops and…
Bajeko Sekuwa in Queens
Bajeko Sekuwa, a popular restaurant chain with roots in Kathmandu, Nepal recently opened its doors to the public in Queens, New York City. The 21 Google reviews include rave reviews of the Himalayan grill such as: I have been there thrice in two days. What more can I say? The food is delicious and the…
Good terms
There will come a time when your goal/vision/ambition might be different than where the company is heading towards. That’s a given. It doesn’t always workout the way you initially thought it would. When that moment to go your separate ways comes knocking, what do you do? Do you thank people for the opportunity that was…
Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer
Whoever said that could not have said it any better. What is travel? A better question might be what do you experience when you travel. When I travel, I feel alive. It makes me realize that the world is so much bigger than where I currently am. Although technology has brought so many places (almost…
Secret of keeping the talent
People like to be appreciated. Simple as that. That’s the secret to keeping your most talented people in the team. Some managers appreciate the little things their team members do. Other managers appreciate when the team members complete a major project or reach a milestone. Whatever your preference, just remember to appreciate when results are…
The Subway Ride
Swiping the metrocard, I rush downstairs to catch the subway Knowing well that the next one is just a few minutes away The New York City speed makes me this way 5 days a week, I’m like this everyday Cultures from all walks of life moving in sync All in one compartment sharing the…
Giving back
You have to feel the responsibility. No one can make it alone. There is always someone, a group or a community helping you to succeed. It’s only right to do your part and give back. Giving back not only consists of financial help. Contributing your time to a project that you are passionate about, mentoring…
Joy of completion
The joy of completing a book is priceless. I’m excited to acquire new knowledge and perspective by picking books on a variety of subjects. I recently picked up a book that was on my colleague’s table and started reading a few pages. I decided I wanted to finish this book, kept on reading and I’m…
Thank You, YouTube
Dear YouTube, Thank you. You have provided a platform to show the world how beautiful and amazing Nepal is. From the natural beauty all across Nepal to the vibrant and colorful life of the capital Kathmandu, you gave everyone a glimpse of life as a local. We are rich in culture, tradition and heritage. We are…
Touristanbul: A traveler’s review
Recently, I flew from Kathmandu to Istanbul and my final destination was New York City. I decided to fly through Turkish Airlines this time and visit Istanbul instead of my regular routes through Dubai and Doha. I had done research on Touristanbul and was excited to experience it first hand. Tours are available on different days…
Reaching out
I was about to take a tour of Istanbul in a few hours. My phone battery was running low so I managed to charge it a little bit at the hotel. I knew it would not be enough to capture pictures and videos of this beautiful city. On the scheduled group tour starting at 8:30am,…