The Other Side’s Post

LOVE THIS! People constantly question my decision to go back to school for a second and third graduate degree. "Isn't two degrees enough?" I have gotten in the habit of responding with, "Yeah, I just didn't know what job I wanted so I just went back to school." I've always been curious about the societal restraints that keep people in poverty and lead to housing insecurity or homelessness. But when told (even by attorneys and potential employers) that I won't be able to use my law background while working in housing, I become discouraged. Not because I believe they're right and I just wasted 3 years on a law degree, but because what these people are telling me is that I should 'stay in a traditional legal role' instead of trying to build affordable homes. It's also discouraging that leaders in the housing industry don't see the value in an attorney as a contractor or project manager or homeownership advocate. But I do know what I want- it just so happens to be a combination of my seemingly random specialties. Indian and Tribal Law, Real Estate, Housing and Construction Law, and Human Rights Law. And even if opportunities are not given to me to explore my curiosities of housing as a human right, homeownership as a path to wealth for low-income households, and property ownership on tribal lands, I will explore those curiosities regardless. Like Yara Shahidi, I believe I can make a difference in this world. So I'll continue to pursue that belief. In September, I'm registered to take the Minnesota qualifying builder exam to obtain a contractor's license (spoiler alert, the exam is all about the MN building code, I wonder if my law background will be useful?). Next, I'll establish a b-corporation for homeownership services. After I graduate and take the bar exam in 2025, I will write a business plan for a social enterprise operating under the b-corp that builds homes and finances and subsidizes discounted homes for low-income buyers with profits from sales of homes at full fair market value. I don't know how long it will take me to get there, but my curiosity has taken me this far and I know it will take me to realization of my goal! Don't give up on your dreams. Anyone who doesn't encourage your curiosity or interests is standing in the way. Politely ask them to move.

Amazing perspective- What do you do? To Who are you? Wonder how the person will respond? It’s so simple to say “ I am an engineer or I am a doctor”. But to “ who are you?” Well let me gather my thoughts. I understand the shift but will it take certain pre-requisites to be able to answer the question after a hand-shake? We are victims of habit so our responses are naturally focused on what we do. An easy introduction to keep the conversation going. To respond to “who are you? May take me to a more philosophical level and therefore keep groping for an answer. Will try out the latter as to “ who are you?”. And see how it goes? Which may go back to vocation or profession. #identity #profession #introduction

"Let's Recommit to Curiosity" - laudable sentiments by Yara Sahidi. I suspect if we all know deep down that humans are built incredibly curious to begin with. One does not need to look farther than observing pre-school children in their natural state: - We test if a toy would break by throwing it - We test if something would taste good by putting it in our mouth - We test what's considered acceptable behavior when we behave opposite to what our parents expect At school and subsequently at work, we learn over time that: - To pass the exam we have only ONE correct answer - It is important to 'pick a major' and specialise in something. Perhaps in professional life, the pendulum has swung back a bit - we are now told that it's a sound career strategy to have broad skills across many domains but deeper expertise in 1 or 2 areas - the so called 'T-shaped professional' and in order to develop into this type of professional, one would need to be curious about areas outside of our expertise. As a professional in customer facing roles throughout my career one thing that always guided me was to be Curious about the customer, not just their operations, their struggles, but also their culture and quirks. This trait has helped uncover hidden pain points and helped steer business discussions into whole new directions. Besides being Curious because I need to for my work, I am also curious about a great many unrelated things: - Why do humans insist on imposing rational structure on as many aspects of our lives as possible, when we know humans are not machines and their unpredictability is what makes life interesting? - Is there a different way of organizing society and economies that other than the one most of us operate in today so that more of us feel contentment and our children happy and our planet healthy? - What is the lesson the universe is trying to teach humanity by having us come from diverse backgrounds cultures and ways of thinking? As we enter into the #BANI and #VUCA era, perhaps it is OK for more of us to pursue forgotten curiosities from when we were kids. Maybe it is there, that the next spark of innovation and creativity will come. #tedtalk #curiosity

This Is apt. Embrace curiosityand let it lead. As a reminder, the saying isn't just "Curiosity kills the cat", it also went on to say "But satisfaction brings it back". The impact and interpretation of this saying has hindered and dampened the curiosity quotient of so many bright minds. Curiosity is and should be viewed as a powerful tool for learning, discovery, and innovation. Many of the world's greatest advancements have come from people who dared to ask questions and explore the unknown. While it's important to be mindful of potential risks, embracing curiosity leads to personal growth, self discovery, significant breakthroughs and satisfaction. Thank you TED Conferences and Yara Shahidi for this insightful realignment.

It can be a vicious cycle

Akshay Agarwal recently delivered an impactful session on "How to Stop Living in Fear of Judgment and Start Living Your Life to the Fullest." He emphasized the importance of breaking free from societal pressures and internal fears that hold us back. Akshay's message was clear: to live authentically, we must embrace our unique selves without worrying about others' opinions. By letting go of fear, we can unlock our full potential and experience a more meaningful and fulfilling life. In this empowering session, Akshay also introduced the idea of treating life like a game, where setbacks are temporary, and each new challenge is an opportunity for growth. He encouraged participants to adopt a playful mindset, viewing obstacles as part of the game rather than sources of stress. This approach, he believes, fosters resilience and creativity, allowing individuals to navigate life with confidence and joy. #MindsetShift #FearOfJudgment #LiveFearlessly #LifeGame #PersonalGrowth #MentalResilience #EmbraceYourself #SelfConfidence #LifeToTheFullest #OvercomeFear #JudgmentFreeLiving #AuthenticLiving #GameOfLife #SelfEmpowerment #FearlessMindset #InnerStrength #LiveBoldly #FearlessJourney #BreakFreeFromFear #ResilientLiving #PositiveMindset #MentalHealthAwareness #GrowthMindset #MindsetMastery #SelfBelief #ConfidenceBoost #MentalWellbeing #EmpowermentJourney #FearLessLiveMore #AkshayAgarwal #TrainingGurukul https://lnkd.in/eEZujJCu

Transforming a negative situation into an opportunity requires a mindset shift. Learn to find the positives in every challenge encounter. This practice is an ongoing journey. It’s an art form that involves continuously honing the ability to seek out the silver lining in even the toughest circumstances. This video reminded me of the profound impact of maintaining a positive attitude in any circumstance. Embracing optimism can lead to unexpected opportunities and growth, even in challenging situations.

India is, the best example of Don Norman's Complex Sociotechnical system. Let me try to poke at our generic feedback system. When we perform an action, good or bad, the feedback comes from the "Log Kya Kahenge" and "Samaaj kya kahega". However, when you legitimise your action by achieving any form of material wealth or notoriety, it will be perceived as "Usse sekho, X ke jaisa hona chahiye" Young people hate it, Old people love it. But it works. The question is, when do you turn into the part of the feedback loop itself? When do you become the 'Log' or 'Samaaj' jo 'Kahe' or 'Thooke'. When do you conform to the system? When are you a useless junk to the system?

𝗞𝗮𝗿𝘄𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵: 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹, 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝘄𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵 is celebrated with a deep sense of tradition, love, and commitment. But beyond the rituals, there’s a powerful lesson to learn from this festival—about 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗺𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁, and 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀. Just like fasting for a loved one requires patience and dedication, personal and professional growth also demands ongoing effort and sacrifice. Whether it’s in communication, emotional intelligence, or empathy, these "soft skills" are essential in nurturing not just romantic relationships but also professional partnerships. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝘄𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Just like in a relationship, long-term success in your career requires unwavering dedication. 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: In both personal and professional life, understanding the needs and emotions of others is key to building lasting bonds. 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: Just as the day-long fast teaches patience, real growth takes time and continuous effort. As you celebrate the festival, remember to honor not just your loved ones, but also the commitment you’ve made to yourself—to keep growing, learning, and evolving. 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝘄𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵! 🌙 #KarwaChauth #Commitment #PersonalGrowth #SoftSkills #Empathy #EmotionalIntelligence

We often rush through our days, missing the chance to learn from our experiences truly. But taking time for tadabbur, deep reflection, allows us to extract valuable insights and grow personally and professionally. Tadabbur isn't just about analyzing problems. It's also about appreciating the good. Reflecting on successes and moments of joy reinforces positive behaviours and fuels our motivation. So, wherever you are in your field, make space for tadabbur. It's a powerful tool for unlocking your full potential. #reflection #growthmindset #lifelonglearning #professionaldevelopment