Originals #2 – Putting Myself Out There

This year is about putting myself out there—showing my work, applying what I’ve learned, and stepping into challenging spaces.

Too often, we get stuck in the loop of learning without action. We consume more information, but we don’t apply it. We watch another video, read another book, and listen to another podcast, thinking we’re making progress when, in reality, we are just collecting knowledge without using it.

• It’s not about watching more YouTube videos.

• It’s not about listening to more podcasts.

• It’s not about reading more books.

It’s about how well you use what you’ve already learned.

The Distraction Trap and the Power of Focus

"The things you own end up owning you." – Tyler Durden, Fight Club

Distraction is everywhere. In the past, people had far more focus because they weren’t surrounded by endless notifications, infinite scrolling, and digital noise. Today, most people are constantly consuming, rarely creating, and even less often executing.

If you can develop even a little bit of focus, you are already ahead. You don’t need more motivation—you need clarity.

Sustainable and long-term clarity comes from two sources:

• Self-generated goals – The ones you create for yourself.

• Society-generated goals – The ones assigned to you by the world around you.

The goal is simple:

Expand your focus. Expand your mind. Collect more perspectives.

Do the things that make you forget to check your phone.

Life Updates –

January was about setting systems. February is about executing them.

#1. Summer School at IIT Jodhpur
I attended a summer school at IIT Jodhpur, learning more about the future of electronics, semiconductor design, and the startup opportunities in this space. The best part? Connecting with students from across India, exchanging ideas, and expanding my perspective.

#2. NCC Parade on 26th January
Being part of NCC has always been about discipline and unity. This month, I had the chance to participate in the Republic Day parade. It was an experience built on practice, precision, and teamwork.

#3. Learning to Handstand
A new challenge. A skill that requires patience, consistency, and control. Let’s see how long it takes to get it right.

Put yourself out there. Be the person who takes the first step. Most of the time, what stops us is not the difficulty of the task, but the hesitation before starting.

The 5-Second Rule

Hesitation kills action. The mind will always find reasons to delay, to overthink, to step back instead of forward.

The next time you feel that resistance, use the 5-second rule:

Count down from 5—5, 4, 3, 2, 1—and take action before your mind convinces you otherwise.

You can do anything. You just have to start.

Current Reads

• David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants – Malcolm Gladwell

• A Brief History of Time – Stephen Hawking

Must Watch

All Your Desires Are Fake (Mimetic Theory Explained) – Varun Mayya

Final Thoughts

Think less. Do more.

You don’t need the perfect moment to start. It’s better to start small than not start at all.

• Start writing.

• Start journaling.

• Start reading.

• Start meditating.

See you next week.

Until next time,
Yashwardhan