Heard the other day “A habit can never be a reaction. So, if it is a reaction, it's not a habit. You must learn to respond to events”

In SEAL training, there’s something called “surf torture.” It’s what it sounds like. Lie in shallow water and let the surf wash over you. This is done at night, and it’s freezing. You stay in the water until they say stop. You have two options.

You can fight the cold. Or you can accept it. Fighting the cold takes tons of energy. Accepting it frees all that energy up. Surf torture is like any problem in life. The more we fight it, the more it takes from us. The sooner we accept it, the sooner we overcome it. Meaning if you the capability to respond you will do better.

So it's not a reaction, it's a habit, if you are training to be elite, you need to have this mindset.

Choices are greater than ones feelings. We make too many decisions by how we feel. Do I feel like making up my bed? Do I feel like going for a walk? Do I feel like returning that sales call?

Elite performers prioritize choices over feelings. They do what they choose to do/respond. Not what they "feel" like doing/react. Again the biggest thing they do is build habits and not reactions.

Outcomes

I spent this whole week in Singapore and all I thought about was how do we, break barriers to travel . A lack of travel access, Direct flights and visa restrictions are hampering the growth outcomes of young Pakistanis.

Young Pakistanis are eager to take on the world, but the lack of travel access, are creating obstacles that are hindering their growth. With a devaluing currency, these restrictions further limit the opportunities for professional development, education, entrepreneurship and cultural exchange that are critical to the growth and success of young people. Every day in Singapore I saw a young person expanding their horizon by engaging with others from the ASEAN region and beyond.

In the world of business, travel is essential. It provides opportunities to meet with industry experts, explore new markets and attend trade shows. Without access to direct flights and visas, young entrepreneurs find it more challenging to grow their businesses and find success. How do you test your product market fit, when you cant even visit the market?

Similarly, education is an important aspect of personal growth, but the lack of travel options and visas can make it more difficult and expensive for young Pakistanis to pursue higher education abroad or participate in study abroad programs.

Cultural exchange is another important factor in personal growth. Travel broadens our perspectives and allows us to experience new cultures. The lack of travel options and visas can limit the cultural exposure of young Pakistanis and restrict their understanding of the world.

It is imperative that these barriers are addressed to allow young people to reach their full potential. It is some thing that will continue to shape our outcomes but we have some tools that can help us beat this.

The internet is your friend, if you are not on online communities you will not be part of the global narrative, if you are not making the most of video chats, language interactions and honing your interpersonal skills albeit remotely you are loosing out big. Whilst we battle inflation and travel restrictions, what we do have the ability to do, is share our outcomes online. Meaning we can find work online, get paid online, meet new people online, learn the perspectives of others online. We can essentially do our research before we ever step on a plane to any where. To shape our future we have to take ownership of the things we can control and maximize those, vs cry about the ones that we don't control and cant.

Learn in rupees(online/offline), earn in dollars(online) to power your travel outcomes.

One New Thing (that I learnt recently)

Different kinds of tea (black, green, white, oolong) come from the same plant. The only difference is in how the leaves are processed.

Boring Stuff that Scales

In a world where flashy startups and tech unicorns dominate the headlines, it's easy to overlook the slow and steady growth of some of the most successful businesses. These are the businesses that might not be the most exciting, but they offer stability, steady growth, and a clear path to profitability. Here are five boring business ideas that are guaranteed to scale.

Here are five boring business ideas that are ripe for growth in Pakistan.

These boring business ideas may not have the excitement of a tech startup, but they offer stability, steady growth, and a clear path to profitability. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to make a difference in your community or an investor looking for a solid investment opportunity, these businesses are worth considering.

What you should be Watching

Understanding strong men. This series of interviews part of the series of how Putin dealt with 5 American presidents.John Bolton served as national security advisor to President Donald Trump from 2018 to 2019. He was previously the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and is the author of The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir. The following interview was conducted by the Kirk Documentary Group’s Michael Wiser for FRONTLINE on Sept. 29, 2022.

Monetize your time

By thinking about your life in a new way. Ask your self, Is life more about the main quest or all the side quests?" Life is a complex journey with many different elements and paths to follow. Some people believe that life is more about the main quest, while others believe it is about the side quests.

To help you understand both perspectives and evaluate your own life, I will define each concept and then share some views on how to balance the two.

Main Quest: The main quest is often seen as the ultimate goal or purpose in life. It is usually a long-term vision or dream that a person has for their future. The main quest is often associated with personal fulfillment and a sense of meaning. It may require a significant amount of effort, dedication, and sacrifice to achieve. Examples of main quests may include career success, financial stability, or personal growth.

Side Quests: Side quests are smaller, more short-term goals or activities. They often provide opportunities for enjoyment, recreation, and personal development. Side quests may provide a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in their own right. They can also serve as stepping stones towards achieving one's main quest. Examples of side quests may include traveling, learning a new skill, or participating in a hobby.

Balancing Main Quest and Side Quests: It is important to understand that both main quests and side quests are important in life. The main quest provides direction and purpose, while side quests provide balance and fulfillment.

It is possible to become so focused on the main quest that you neglect other important aspects of life, such as relationships or personal health. On the other hand, focusing solely on side quests may lead to a lack of direction and a sense of purposelessness.

The key is to find a balance between the two, setting achievable goals and prioritizing your time and energy in a way that allows you to make progress towards your main quest while also engaging in enjoyable and fulfilling side quests.

Life is about both the main quest and the side quests. Your main quest provides direction and purpose, while your side quests provide balance and fulfillment. The key is to find a balance between the two and make progress in both areas. Evaluate your life in terms of both your main quest and side quests and see where you need to make adjustments to achieve a healthy balance because if you cant, you wont be able to monetize your time.

Made in Pakistan

A special that traces 75 years of Business in Pakistan - the events that shaped Pakistan’s Past, the trends and challenges overcome, that will forge Pakistan’s future – you will hear from the people & companies that gave shape to the business landscape of Pakistan. An interesting but scary realization of where we need to be and how most of the traditional rent seeker businesses and foreign corporations wont get us there. The next chapter of our growth has to come from within, Pakistani entrepreneurs, innovating for and scaling the outcomes of Pakistanis.

One Last Thing

The smartest people ask the simplest questions. People who want to “look smart” ask complicated questions that rarely matter and are the ones you should avoid as a founder. Those who are trying to hard, will hardly know any thing but surely make your life living hell. So as a founder, investor, operator, don't insult the intelligence of smart people by pretending to be smarter than you are.