Vivek Pathak

| IIT Roorkee Alum | Ex-Consulting Partner

[Priyanka Gupta | Veg.Fit @priyankaiitk]

@vivekpathakiitr and I were discussing the EY incident and wondered if we could help.

What if we create an open space for conversations around work & life stress? That might help.

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

Last week I turned 39. If there is one thing I have learned, it is to focus on health, everything else is a byproduct of having a healthy body.

I was not always like this, in fact health didn’t even feature in any of my conversations while growing up.

I left playing cricket, the only sport I played, because I had to focus on my studies. Completely oblivious of the health benefits of the game.

While preparing for IIT, I didn’t care much about my health, what and where I eat and had to face consequences because of that.

I developed an acute case of tuberculosis during the preparation. I was lucky, there was a cure for this disease.

This incident made me change my mindset to a preventive one. I have been hitting the gym, playing tennis, jogging, tracking my fitness, being mindful of what I eat since the last 20 years.

And whenever I feel it’s being compromised, I shift my focus to health again.

Ended up transforming myself twice, shedding 20 kilos in each time. (The attached pic is after my 2nd transformation, 90kgs to 70kgs in 2015, it took me 3 years to transform)

The third is in progress and it is a 18 months plan, 7 months into it, I have lost 6 kilos so far.

The problem with such things is that they don’t have a due date so we keep shifting it to later in our lives until it’s too late. Classic urgent vs important case.

And even if we realise the importance of it, we look at solutions which can give us instant results. Crash diets, 12 week transformations. And very soon we find ourselves at the starting point again.

There is in fact no secret formula, we just have to keep these things in mind:
1. Diet is 99% of the game
2. Do strength training + cardio, just 40 mins, 3 times a week (as a lifestyle)
3. Have short term goals, like running a marathon, building abs, 100 kg squats etc. to keep the excitement alive

If you are inspired to take action, just block 40 mins recurring invite everyday in your calendar RIGHT NOW. And just show up 3 times per week.

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646 Professionals, get my newsletter on Work & Life, every Friday 7AM. You can join them too (link in bio)

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

Writing forms the core of all kind of content creation.

You cant graduate to engaging videos if you can’t write a compelling piece.

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

We are just a bunch of ideas, deleted from this world, once we die.

Write and share these ideas so that you continue to live even after your death.

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

Humans have been there for 200,000 years.
But their fate changed 5,000 years ago.
Because they started Writing.

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

What comes to your mind when you think of “Mahatma Gandhi”?

I bet you will say something like “non-violence”. And you will give large amount of credit of his success to the idea itself.

But his success has more to do with his ability to communicate this idea to the masses and the senior leadership with the same seriousness.

And that might sound easy, but is the most difficult and the most critical job for any leader.

01. He used simple language, listened more and contextualized the idea for masses.

02. And insightful, persuasive communication for people at leadership positions with conviction and authority.

03. Non-verbal communication to double down on a key message. Remember “Salt March” in 1930?

04. Understanding the limitations of physical presence and utilizing print media to broaden the reach of this idea.

That’s some corporate lesson right up there.

Happy Gandhi Jayanti

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627 Professionals, get my newsletter on Work & Life, every Friday 7AM. You can join them too (link in bio)

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

Tomorrow when you are back in office you will experience one of these two things.

#1 Your colleagues, your manager will listen to your long weekend story and share their experiences as well.

#2 Your colleagues, your manager will jump into work discussions not sharing their long weekend experiences.

#1 is the company where you will stick for very long
#2 is the company which won’t be able to retain you for long

Work gets easier, if you are having fun together and care for each other.

Difficult if it is just about the work.

Relationships at work > Short term Productivity.

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627 Professionals, get my newsletter on Work & Life, every Friday 7AM. You can join them too (link in bio)

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

1. Use keywords which defines you and connect you with mass audience, people who don’t know you: “crorepati” “iitian” etc
2. Focus on the value they are going to get after watching the video: “comedy” “happiness” etc
3. Your face should evoke an emotion: like being embarrassed
4. Use only 3-4 words in the thumbnail which can be read even in smallest size of thumbnail
5. The colors used should be in high contrast, use max 3 colors

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

@nishthagehija26 Me too 😂

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

Bangalore is the worst city in India

There is nothing good about this city
Other than the weather.

Before you conclude this
Look at these aspects as well below:

> You can have a healthy, hygienic and cheap food in almost any corner of this city
> You will get a job easily in this city, if you have the hunger
> You will grow faster, as it continues to attract $ and talent
> You can own a house at cheaper rates than other cities
> You kids will grow in a real multi-cultural society
> You have ample vacation options around
> You are connected internationally
> It is safer for women

To add on the weather is awesome.

Agree there are traffic challenges, but that’s true to any major city in India.

And if you don’t agree you haven’t travelled enough during office timings to and fro from the airports in India.

Agree the traffic should be sorted. But it won’t happen until we vote for development.

PS: I have not been born or brought up here, but I fell in love with this city and it loved me back :)

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

Demerits of an Online MBA?
Should you do an Online MBA?
What should be your evaluation criteria?
What are the Benefits of doing an Online MBA?

Have captured these and more in my YT video this week. https://t.co/dghAn4c82b

Hoping this helps, do suggest how I can make them more useful in future.

Suggest me a few topics, which you would like me to do videos on in the coming weeks, which can help you do better in your corporate career. 🖖

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

"Imagine you are at the end of your life and you are granted the ability to repeat one day. Which period of your life do you choose to repeat? Which phase of life would you want to go back to? Does that tell you anything about how you should be spending your time today? "

-@JamesClear

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

"Content with whatever gain comes of its own accord, and free from envy, they are beyond the dualities of life. Being equipoised in success and failure, they are not bound by their actions, even while performing all kinds of activities."
- The Bhagavad Gita

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

“You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.”
- The Bhagavad Gita

[Vivek Pathak @vivekpathakiitr]

"Just as the ocean remains undisturbed by the incessant flow of waters from rivers merging into it, likewise the sage who is unmoved despite the flow of desirable objects all around him attains peace, and not the person who strives to satisfy desires. "
- The Bhagavad Gita