Blog by Suraj
The Joys of Building
When Proof of Concept Isn’t Enough: Fundraising Realities in the Social Sector
In the early days, circa 2017, our request for meetings was not even answered by prospective funders. Fitness Coaching as a solution to the inactivity problem among school students in underserved schools, and as a career opportunity for sports persons from poor families was not getting any traction ...
Why I Write Without a Comments Section
The Resistance Never Leaves. But Neither Do I.
Steven Pressfield was right — it never gets easier.
Another night. I'm staring at my screen, willing myself to come up with something worth writing. I'm tired, but I get the sense that my mind is making me feel more tired than I actually am. I can already hear the voice in my head offering me a...
Success as a Pilot but Failure at Scale
The Problem: Pilotitis
The social sector is rife with pilots.
The phenomenon of organizations in the sector launching pilot projects but then failing to scale them is so common that there is a term for it — Pilotitis.
If you are trying something new, it does make sense to start with ...
You might be right!
Surprisingly, those four words are my magic escape from non-essential intellectual arguments.
As someone who is curious, I've grown comfortable with my ignorance on a variety of topics. Even in areas that interest me, I'm most excited by what I don't know.
A couple of years ago, I came across a&...
On Bias, Belief, and Building a Social Venture
Social Change is Hard. Personal Change is Harder
I never expected social change to be easy. But in the early days of my career in the sector, I was confident that I could easily pick up the skills needed to create social change. And with my middle-class dreams of seeing the world, I imagined moving from place to place, creating meaningful cha...
Two Quotes, One Realization
From FocusWriter to Focused Writer
Using Linux daily on my MacBook Air is like taking a cold shower - a small act of discomfort that builds confidence. It's too early to say if my knowledge of computer systems is improving, but I can see my confidence soaring. Every morning is a pleasant reminder that I am choosing to...
The Essay That Deserves Your Solitude
Maker's Schedule
Paul Graham's essay Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule is one of my all time favourites. It put into words something I had always felt but never fully articulated - to myself or my colleagues. I am a Maker....
Mistaking Confidence for Competence: A Personal Wake-Up Call
I almost dismissed one of the best teachers I've ever met - before she even said a word.
My wife and I are on the lookout for schools for our boys. Our oldest, who is four...
How do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time, it seems. Or at least that's how I remember the joke I liked telling in second grade.
I am using a similar logic t...
Book Review - Inclusive Business Models by Sourav Mukherji
My verdict - If you are someone who is even remotely interested in inclusive business models, please do read this book.
"The session by Prof. Sourav Mukherji on inclusive business models was my highlight," shared Vishnu, my co-founder at CoolCoach Academy. He was attending an incubati...
The Truth About Streaks: They Are Not Enough!
I had a 229-day streak on Duolingo, yet my Spanish barely improved. That's when I realized - streaks alone just don't work for me.
I am your average person when it comes to failed resolutions, habits that failed to stick, and projects that were started with great fanfare but stopped nowhere nea...
Frequently Received Advice (FRA*) - You are the CFO (Chief Fundraising Officer)!
Am I?
I am always baffled when successful founders tell me that fundraising is the main job of a social sector founder/CEO. It is definitely part of the job, but the main one, seriously?
When asked to elaborate in public, I get a polished response: "Founders are the custodia...
Frequently Received Advice (FRA*) - You should do this in a rural area!
"You should do this in a Rural area! Even better if you can do it in one of the most backward districts of the country."
My heart sank when I heard the very first sentence of feedback. By the time the second sentence was spoken, I wanted to retort, "Do you think we would have Google an...
The Knowing-Doing Gap
I want to write regularly, but I struggle with it.
James Clear is clear about the key to building lasting habits. It has to start with the identity. Stephen King says identity is not sufficient; you need to show up and write daily. Seth Godin encourages you to publish (blog) daily. And if you ever f...
Frequently Received Advice (FRA*) - You should go to Skoll!
I had just finished talking about CoolCoach to a prospective funder. I was high on adrenaline because I had finally met someone who understood the importance of fitness and activity to reduce the risk of NCDs, who understood social enterprises, and who had read Acumen's Blueprint to Scale report. In...