Brain Box Gurukul
We've built 7 startups, 40+ personal brands & countless corporate ones, an India Top-10 Podcast & finally a Global Top 10 Agency with a 250,000+ reach. Now we're building your inbox. One weekly actionable email at a time. No fluff. No jargon.
'Publicly' building my 4th startup: Month 5
A Promise Reignited... Hello Reader, When I announced my fourth startup, Brain Box Gurukul (BBG), back in mid-January, I made a public commitment: to build it in the open. Truth be told, apart from a couple of episodes and a single newsletter, I fell short on that promise. But here I am, exactly 5 months later, recommitting with more clarity, more intent - and more systems in place. If you're a regular, you'd have noticed a radically different email template. For those of you who’ve joined...
How a Price War Led Amazon to a $545 Million Acquisition
Hi Reader, In the world of e-commerce, few stories illustrate the ruthlessness of competition and the strategic brilliance of Jeff Bezos’s Amazon as vividly as their acquisition of the New Jersey based Diapers.com. Founded in 2005 by Marc Lore and Vinit Bharara, the company was originally named 1800DIAPERS and focused on selling diapers, wipes, and formula to new parents. Its business model was simple but effective: offer free shipping on diapers and other essentials, and allow parents to...
The Dawn of the "Humanoid" Era
Hi Reader, It was 1991 and I remember an uncle of mine buying one of the first few Sony Bravia 32" in the country! As we kids gathered around happily, the first move we watched was "Terminator 2" and we were blown away. For decades, humanoids have captivated our imaginations on the silver screen and in the pages of novels. Today, they are stepping out of the fictional world and onto factory floors, into warehouses, and soon, potentially into our homes and businesses. While this revolution is...
What's Your ONE Thing?
Hi Reader, In a world where everyone’s building something, talking about everything, and trying to be everywhere — the ones who stand out are remembered for just one thing. Not five, not three. One. So I’ll ask you what I’ve asked myself multiple times over the years: What’s your One Thing? The Mental Bias We All Have: Cognitive Hooking Humans are wired to slot people into “buckets.” It’s how we reduce complexity. When someone sees your profile or listens to your podcast, they’re not thinking...
Leadership Lessons from Dulles Krishnan
Hi Reader, After 2 decades of corporates, startups & founding businesses, the most common misconception about leadership is that it’s the title (or designation) that grants you command. But if you’ve ever worked with real leaders, you know that true authority is rarely assigned. It is inferred. It is felt. And it is almost always earned through conduct. This was the singular insight that resonated deeply with me when I interviewed Dulles Krishnan on Brain Box - The Leadership Podcast, voted...
My biggest "Marketing" mistake!
Hi Reader, Only humans make mistakes. I've made a whole tonne of them. Before I get to my biggest "branding mistake", here's a near-miss! September 2021: After successfully exiting my 15-franchise mobile refurbishing chain, I didn't quite know "What Next?" I'm a huge Gary V fan & he was recommending everyone to start a podcast. I knew the criticality of a brand (we built 3 in the past 3-1/2 years), so I was keen on tapping into distribution. I bounced this idea off my co-founder, wife & best...
Why are "Short Form" Videos Becoming Longer?
Hi Reader In the dynamic realm of social media, short-form video content has become a dominant force, captivating audiences with bite-sized entertainment and information. Platforms like TikTok revolutionized the landscape with snappy, engaging videos that captivated audiences worldwide. However, a notable shift is underway. There's a major shift from bite-sized clips (30 to 60-seconds) to more substantial three-minute narratives. This transition is evident across major platforms —YouTube...
Personal Branding: Key Insights from HBR Special Issue
A Modern & Nuanced Approach to Personal Branding Dear Community, While we've been into the personal branding space for a long time now, today's newsletter explores key insights from the Harvard Business Review (HBR) Special Issue on personal branding. In today’s hyper-competitive environment, there's absolutely no doubt that establishing a strong personal brand is essential for professional success. A personal brand is how others perceive your unique value, and it influences opportunities...
We've built 7 startups, 40+ personal brands & countless corporate ones, an India Top-10 Podcast & finally a Global Top 10 Agency with a 250,000+ reach. Now we're building your inbox. One weekly actionable email at a time. No fluff. No jargon.