Every Single Minute

  When it comes to achieving financial stability, the biggest barrier might not be external circumstances or lack of opportunity—it could be the habits you unconsciously follow every day. A Chartered Accountant recently highlighted a series of destructive behaviors that keep individuals stuck in a loop of financial instability. Presented in a brutally honest manner on his X (formerly Twitter) profile, he laid out what he called an unspoken guide to staying broke forever—a pattern many follow without realizing its consequences. Obsessive Market Monitoring: A Trap of Anxiety One common error is the compulsive checking of stock market prices every few minutes, as if binge-watching a show. This obsessive habit doesn’t generate returns but instead fuels anxiety, distraction, and impulsive financial decisions. Constant monitoring prevents long-term thinking and encourages panic-driven reactions, which often lead to poor investment outcomes. Gambling Disguised as Entrepreneurship Many peo...

  Joseph Schumpeter (1883–1950) occupies a distinctive position in the history of economic thought—not only as a theorist of capitalism and innovation, but also as one of its most formidable historians. His magnum opus in this domain is: History of Economic Analysis (published posthumously, 1954) This work is widely regarded as the most erudite and analytically demanding history of economics ever written . Schumpeter’s approach to economic thought Unlike textbook histories, Schumpeter treated economics as an evolving analytical science , not as ideology or policy advocacy. Core principles of his method Economics as analysis, not opinion He focused on tools, concepts, and methods , separating them from political or moral views. Continuity over revolution New theories refine and extend older ones; ideas rarely emerge ex nihilo. Great economists as system-builders He evaluated thinkers by the coherence and analytical power of their systems. Structure of Histor...

The most dangerous person in any room is not the one who lacks intelligence. It is the one who is convinced they have more of it than everyone else. People who believe they are smarter than others rarely notice when their intelligence stops growing. Confidence turns into certainty, and certainty slowly replaces awareness. Chanakya taught that true intelligence does not announce itself. It observes, waits, and acts only when advantage is clear. Those who seek to appear superior reveal more than they realize, while those who stay quiet learn where real control lies. This is not about proving someone wrong. It is about understanding how arrogance works, how silence gathers power, and how wisdom stays unseen until it matters. 1. Stay Silent So They Reveal How They Think A paused figure at dusk, capturing the quiet moment when exhaustion asks for awareness instead of endurance. Chanakya treated silence as an advantage, not a weakness. People who think they are smarter crave space to speak b...

  1. What a managing agency fee actually was A managing agency (e.g., Duncan Brothers ) was compensated through a bundle of rights , not a single transparent fee. Value extraction occurred through multiple contractual levers , many of which were asymmetric . 2. Primary extraction channels (core economics) A. Commission on gross turnover (not profits) Typical structure 2.5%–10% of gross sales , regardless of profitability Why this mattered Paid even in bad years Shifted risk entirely to shareholders Encouraged volume over margin Effect The agency got paid even when dividends were zero. B. Profit-linked commission (upside without downside) Typical structure 10%–20% of net profits after a low hurdle Asymmetry Agent shared upside Did not share losses Effect Shareholders absorbed volatility; agents skimmed peaks. 3. Secondary extraction channels (often overlooked) C. Control over procurement (related-party pricing) The managing agent ...

 1. Identify the central thesis (one sentence) Silvia’s core argument is simple and non-negotiable: Writing productivity comes from scheduled, habitual writing—not from inspiration, talent, or mood. Everything in your summary should reinforce this. 2. Group ideas into 4 logical buckets Do not summarize chapter by chapter. Instead, cluster concepts: Myth-busting Writing blocks are not real Motivation follows action, not the reverse Behavioral discipline Writing is a behavior, not an emotional state Treat writing like exercise or brushing teeth Systems over feelings Schedule writing time Track output Set concrete goals Psychological realism Anxiety, rejection, and boredom are normal Professionals write anyway 3. Use declarative, no-nonsense language Silvia’s tone is blunt and empirical. Avoid lyrical or motivational fluff. Bad: The book inspires writers to find their inner voice. Good: The book argues that consistent...

  Anchor identity: Eastern India’s Knowledge, Policy, Legal & Cultural Capital PHASE I (Years 1–3): Stabilise, Signal, Select 1. Choose ONE anchor (non-negotiable) Chosen anchor: Policy, law, arbitration, compliance & knowledge services for Eastern India + Bay of Bengal region Everything else is secondary. Why: Lowest capital intensity Highest credibility with existing talent Least dependence on VC or heavy industry 2. Create “Zero-Friction Zones” (ZFZ) Designate 2–3 compact districts (e.g., parts of BBD Bagh + New Town) with: Guaranteed time-bound approvals Predictable labour norms Fast-track commercial courts / arbitration panels Metric: Business registration + dispute resolution cycles reduced by 50%. 3. Institutional reboot (small, serious) Found or radically upgrade 3 institutions only : Eastern India Arbitration & Mediation Centre Bay of Bengal Policy & Trade Institute Kolkata School of Regulation, Compliance ...

  Kolkata’s starting position (2025 reality) What Kolkata still has Deep intellectual capital (law, economics, humanities, science) Large pool of mid-cost, high-quality talent Strategic eastern gateway location (Bangladesh–ASEAN proximity) Underutilised but significant port + riverine logistics Cultural credibility (literature, design, heritage) What Kolkata no longer has Corporate headquarters gravity Capital markets relevance Promoter-led risk capital National decision-making density Diagnosis: Kolkata is no longer a command centre . Any reinvention must avoid pretending it is one. What will NOT work (hard truths) 1. “Bring back old industries” Tea, jute, heavy engineering will not regenerate Kolkata at scale. Capital-light firms now dominate growth Labour-intensive nostalgia industries are politically sensitive Returns are structurally capped 2. “Another Bangalore” Kolkata lacks: Engineering density VC flywheel Glob...