#4 - Whiteboards, Cricket, Giving Back, Systems, and value packed newsletter recommendations

Hey,

I’m writing this while on the road to the airport. I’m heading to Mumbai first, then back to Sydney, where things are about to kick off for the year. It feels good to take a moment and reflect, especially after the last few weeks of wrapping up 2024 and prepping for what’s ahead.

Here’s what’s been on my mind lately:

The Best Investment I Made in December: Whiteboards

This might seem simple, but whiteboards have been an absolute game-changer for me.

• They force me to write things down and map them out.

• If there’s an empty whiteboard in the room, I will use it—to ideate, strategise, or even just organise my thoughts.

• For digital work, I’ve been using FigJam (not sponsored, just works well).

The ability to map out systems, workflows, or strategies gives me a top-down, eagle-eye view of whatever I’m working on. Only when I can see the bigger picture can I truly strategise and figure out what pieces need to move.

Here’s how I’ve been using whiteboards recently:

• Planning the flow of traffic (attention) between content channels (Youtube, Instagram, Emails etc.) in my engine.

• Strategising for the New Year sale (For the Jack of all trades) → Which did twice as good as i initially anticipated.

• Breaking down the business model for Stu-Konnect.

• Organising sourcing (companies) and deal flow for my internship.

• Mapping out my outreach funnel (Reaching out to people for my career) to get people to listen to me and give me what I want (more on this next week).

• Even compartmentalising my suitcase packing (Don’t judge)

It’s such a small thing, but it’s been an out-and-out game changer for my workflow.

Cricket and the Importance of Prep

Every year, I play in my local cricket tournament at the sports club in Jamnagar. It’s literally the only cricket I get to play all year, so I make sure to cherish it.

We started strong—won the first game, and I even got an MVP award. But after that? Things didn’t quite go as planned. We lost 5 out of 8 games and finished in the bottom 3 teams.

The biggest takeaway for me was the importance of preparation:

• On days I went in with a plan—knowing my opposition, deciding whether to anchor or attack, and visualising my role—I performed well. I felt confident and in control.

• On days I didn’t prep, I second-guessed myself and gave into the opposition’s plans.

Questions like, “What areas should I target when bowling?” or “What modifications should I make to avoid conceding extras?” might seem small, but they make all the difference. Confidence comes from preparation. And this doesn’t just apply to cricket—it’s true for almost everything in life.

It’s Different, Not Difficult

When I decided to major in economics, I knew I wasn’t great at math. I’d dropped it in high school and had zero foundation. But I was really keen on studying economics, so I ticked the box for “assumed knowledge” in High school math anyway.

What followed was months of struggling through calculus, differentiation, regression analysis, and probability. But I enjoyed the challenge. When numbers are tied to the economy or money, I don’t mind doing the math.

By the end of my degree, I finished with distinctions in math-heavy courses.

Here’s what I’ve realised: nothing is difficult—it’s just unfamiliar. If you take the time to break things down, figure them out, and stick with it, you can learn just about anything.

The ability to throw yourself in the deep end and figure it out is underrated.

A Month of Systems

December was all about getting organised and building better systems. I spent the month:

• Clearing the cache on my devices.

• Organising files and folders on my laptop.

• Completely revamping my Notion workspace into a second brain.

• Setting up better systems for note-taking, calendars, and task management.

• Opening a demat account (I’m planning to learn how to analyse and invest in stocks this year).

This month wasn’t about shiny object syndrome or jumping from one thing to the next. It was about chipping away at big goals and following a plan. That’s what brings real results.

Giving Back

Last week, I sponsored a meal for blind kids at a local shelter.

What fascinated me was how talented these kids were—poetry, music, chess, sports. A few of them even recited poetry that blew me away.

There’s something about being around kids that sparks a sense of wonder. It’s refreshing, and it reminds me why giving and creating are so important. That’s what I want to focus on as I get older—creating things and giving back in whatever ways I can.

Resources I Recommend

Here are a few newsletters I’ve been reading and finding useful:

1. Groww Digest (Stocks)

A beginner-friendly resource for stock market updates, terminology, and tutorials.

Read it here.

2. Kallaway Blueprint (Content Creation)

Transparent insights into content creation strategy, frameworks, and experiments.

Check it out.

3. The Sweaty Startup (Entrepreneurship + Real Estate)

Straightforward advice on business, real estate, and management.

Dive in.

4. Neal O’Grady’s Demand Curve (Growth Hacks)

Quick and actionable insights for growth and strategy.

Learn more.

Final Thoughts

December and the first half of January was about clearing the clutter and building systems for the year ahead. It wasn’t about flashy results—it was about doing the little things right.

Thanks for reading Epiphanies. See you next week.

Until next time,

Moksh