My 21/30!
Still Water Stagnates. No Different for Life.
When We Stop Learning, We Stop Growing.
When Growth Stops, Life Stops.
In the last three decades of my life, I’ve met people from all strata of society. I’ve seen the ones who have achieved accolades in terms of positions and titles, and something snaps inside eventually. The lights go out. They go through the motions, but in reality, they feel just like automatons. Somewhere along the way, they either lost or did not develop the ability to keep learning.
Though, scientifically speaking, learnability is vital to growth and success in all walks of life, at its very base, it is nothing but curiosity coupled with the ability to observe, absorb and apply.
Simple? Perhaps.
Vital? Absolutely.
If there’s one obsession in my life, it would be “learning and applying what I have learnt in real time”. The pursuit of lifelong learning was not for glory or medallions, but for the inner satisfaction, the lasting impact and relevance it has brought me. The successes that followed were a natural side effect.
In the formative years of my childhood, I grew up in a house that had two massive walls on which were mounted two large floor to ceiling wooden shelves, stacked with a variety of books. My dad had read them all, some more than once. He was a gifted and eloquent journalist, loved and respected at home and at work. My mom, an English teacher adored by her students, cared for them beyond the curriculum she was teaching. She committed herself to help the children become a better version of themselves, and did so relentlessly, with love and compassion.
Between these two remarkable people, it was only natural that I would develop a passion for learning that has kept growing until this very day. I discovered that opportunities for learning and growth were all around, not restricted to academic sources alone, but to books, articles, movies, nature, friends and family… life is rich with learning.
Since my teenage years, life in all its glory has made sure to send me a fair share of experiences to test my beliefs, principles, and everything I knew to be true, and not all of these experiences were pleasant. In every crisis, there was an opportunity waiting to be unleashed. In retrospect, each of these experiences in life came at a moment when it would have the greatest possible effect. As the Dalai Lama said, “Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck”. I needed to learn fast, and learn well.
Here are my 21/30.
Twenty-one observations from the last Thirty years of my life:
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Life communicates always. It finds a way to get your attention. First it sends a message. When that is ignored, it sends a crisis. When that is also ignored, it sends a disaster. You need to decide what gets your attention quickly.
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Sometimes, well-meaning people with good intentions can end up hurting you. It’s not about fault picking. The sooner you can establish yourself as a solid, self-regulated person, the better it is for all.
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“Common sense” is unique to each person. That is common!
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The outer world is a mirror to the inner world. GIGO, like with computers. Garbage In, Garbage Out.
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The world will not bend its knee to make anyone happy. That is not its purpose. It is not even a sensible expectation of the world. However, it is packed with opportunities and resources. A closed door is not necessarily a locked door.
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Garbage has its place, and is better kept there, in yourself, in others, and in the literal sense of the word.
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Great things and important people are taken for granted sometimes, until they are missed. Learn to treasure, value and care for what matters. People who need to know need to be told. There is not enough time in the world to postpone such things.
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Fear of pain is worse than the pain itself.
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Proving your self-worth to others is a vacuum for time and energy. It’s like a poster I saw that read “Don’t go around telling people your problems. 70% don’t give a s**t, 30% are glad”.
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Mess can be cleaned up in a room, but that is not always the case in relationships.
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Being articulate and eloquent can backfire without empathy. Empathy without appropriate expression is ineffective. Remember to gift-wrap a present.
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Driving is easier after the storm has settled. Unless, of course, you are a supertanker on the high seas. Are you?
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Superman and Superwoman are characters from a comic book series. Not everyone who wears a cape or their undies on top of their pants can fly. I can stop a speeding bullet, once. Idolizing oneself or others has a comic strip ending.
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Shaking hands is not binding. Not even a contract is binding. Things can always go south. Character persists despite the passage of time.
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The future is formed now. What you do now determines your future.
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Attachments are often a recipe for drama and best belong in an email.
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Breathing is a medicine. Breath is Life.
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Our human body is a machine without a manual.
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The shortest way is a straight line. Works with people, too.
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The time to prepare for the rain is before going outside. But if you don’t mind the rain, don’t whine about it.
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Attitude eats intelligence for breakfast.
My 21/30 has helped me carve out a set of solid principles that supported a thriving professional journey, healthy relationships, and sustainable wellbeing on a physical, mental, and emotional level.
My five principles that I am sharing with you today are:
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I am responsible for my world and what I create in it.
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I am driven by my own vision of the future.
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One plus one equals more than two.
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Communication is an art.
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“Timely” action has no substitute.
This principle-based way of living has brought ease and clarity into my life, and the lives of those around me. What started as personal practice evolved into a coaching method to help clients build a strong foundation, clarify their direction, and access the resources needed to turn vision into a lived reality.
To expand the reach and impact of this developmental model for personal and relational transformation, I’ve distilled it into two results-driven resources designed to serve both individuals and organizations.
The first is the Culture Catalyst Program® — a practical, immersive experience for organizations who are committed to shaping strong, value-driven cultures. The program translates the core principles of personal and organizational culture mastery into clear, actional steps that align strategy with behavior, enhance collaboration, and drive sustainable growth around a shared big picture.
The second is The Way of the Catalyst© book, scheduled for release by the end of 2025. Built around the same foundational principles, it provides an accessible, practical guide for leaders, change-makers, and lifelong learners who seek to make meaningful impact without being consumed in the process.
Both offerings reflect years of learning, hands-on experience, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and cultural transformation work, now made available in practical formats that fit your needs and context.
And so the journey continues, unfolding through new experiences, fresh insights, and profound learnings.
