Get Epic Shit Done (by Ankur Warikoo): Part 1 (Managing your life)

"Get Epic Shit Done" is the second book of Ankur Warikoo after his first book "Do Epic Shit", which went on to become a national bestseller. The previous book focused on getting the reader to think, while this one is to prompt one to act!

Amazon/Audible/Kindle link: Available here!

Goodreads link: Here!

(FYI: No this is not a sponsored post, I am an avid reader and like to summarize books in my free time as a hobby! Please subscribe to my posts if you find it interesting and useful...)

The following video is an introduction to the book by the author himself.

 

"Get Epic Shit Done" is written as a conversation between a student and a teacher and is based on 36 frequently asked questions related to life as such, which prompts the reader to get into action...

So, without further ado, let's get into action of going through the book!

The book is divided into 4 sections and written in a question answer format covering the 36 FAQs on life. The 4 sections of the book are:

1. Managing your life
2. Managing your career
3. Managing people
4. Managing yourself

This blog post covers the first section in detail. The next sections are covered in the upcoming posts.

Managing your life (Part 1 of the book)

1. How can I stop comparing myself with others?

• False Assumptions in Worldview: There is a misconception that success is a zero-sum game, where one person's success means another's failure. However, in reality, everyone can create their wins, and the world offers abundant opportunities.
• Individual Uniqueness and Opportunities: Each individual is unique and has different life circumstances, making his/her path and outcome distinct from the others. This perspective encourages acceptance of individual differences and paths.
• Dealing with Envy and Comparison: There may be a difficulty in avoiding feelings of inadequacy when comparing oneself to others. However, using introspection, we should question the root of negative emotions, redefine personal success, and use such emotions as motivation for self-improvement.
• Emotional Transience and Self-Reflection: Human emotions are not permanent and can be harnessed for positive change. Through a dialogue with oneself, individuals can clarify their definition of success, understand personal obstacles, and take constructive actions toward their goals.

"The worst use of your time is comparing yourself to others."

 

2. How do I build my communication skills?

• Importance of Writing in Verbal Communication: One can improve verbal communication by starting with writing. Writing helps structure thoughts, control the pace of thinking, and refine ideas, enhancing clarity in verbal expression.
• Practical Steps for Improvement: The author recommends writing daily, starting with a page and concluding with a sentence that draws a clear inference. Additionally, one can record a one-minute video daily for 90 days, identifying errors and working on improvement.
• Incorporating Body Language and Style: Effective communication involves not only verbal skills but also non-verbal aspects. The significance of body language, style, and confidence in communication cannot be emphasized enough. Observing and emulating effective speakers can enhance these aspects.
• The Role of Listening in Communication: Listening is essential to effective communication and is also the most challenging aspect. Understanding the emotions of the person being communicated with is highlighted as a crucial element in becoming an effective communicator.

"Writing daily is not just for writers. It is for communicators who wish to express themselves better."

 

3. How do I build a growth mindset?

• Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: The notion that individuals are born with fixed capabilities is not true. The capability of each person is malleability such that an adoption of a growth mindset can foster personal development.
• Ways to Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Three ways to establish a growth mindset are described. 

• Spending time with people who have different perspectives to broaden one's horizons. 
• Understanding and embracing risk as an opportunity for growth rather than a threat. 
• Living without a sense of entitlement, acknowledging the role of luck in achievements and fostering gratitude for growth.
• Benefits of Exposure to Diverse Perspectives: Spend time with people holding different views is highlighted as a means to expand one's understanding of truth and possibilities. Exposure to diverse perspectives is seen as a key factor in developing a growth mindset and overcoming self-imposed limitations.
• Risk as an Opportunity and Gratitude for Growth: Individuals with a growth mindset perceive risk as an opportunity to grow, understanding it rather than avoiding it. Additionally, the importance of gratitude over entitlement is discussed, suggesting that appreciating luck and growth fuels continuous improvement.

"Entitled people don't grow. They wait to be grown! Because they believe that the world owes them everything they desire."

4. How do I make tough decisions in life? 

• Reversibility of Decisions: Insights challenge the common belief that decisions are irreversible, and hence, most of decisions are reversible. Thus, do not spend excessive time seeking the "perfect" decision.
• Making Decisions to Avoid Time Wasting: Not making a decision is, in itself, a waste of time. Many people delay decisions in pursuit of perfection, leading to indecision. The message is to acknowledge that not making a decision is a choice in itself.
• Decision-Making Process: In a practical decision-making process involves evaluating important parameters, assigning weights to them, and ranking options accordingly. The goal is to make a decision based on one's unique preferences and priorities.
• Stoic Principle in Decision-Making: The Stoic principle is introduced, encouraging individuals to envision the worst-case scenario after making a decision. By mentally preparing for the worst and accepting the potential outcomes, individuals can alleviate the anxiety associated with decision-making and move forward confidently.

"Before you decide on the answer, ask yourself if you have asked yourself all the difficult questions."

5. How do I manage my time? 

• Personalized Time Management: The conventional approach to time management is challenged by the author, emphasizing that it is a highly personal endeavor. Standard time management advice often repeats the same principles, but true effectiveness comes from understanding one's unique relationship with time.
• Measuring Time and Awareness: A person should measure and reflect on every activity for an initial period and answer why each task was done and how it made him/her feel. This self-awareness forms the basis for understanding and improving a person's relationship with time.
• Development of Habits: Drawing parallels with learning to ride a bike or drive a car, the author highlights the importance of initial conscious effort in recording time activities. Over time, this effort becomes a subconscious habit, leading to a better understanding of daily routines.
• Allocation of Time: The author introduces the concept of time allocation using the Eisenhower Matrix, but encourages a personalized approach. Allocating time between tasks that are urgent and important, not urgent but important, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important helps in achieving a balanced and productive schedule tailored to individual preferences and needs.

The above image shows the Eisenhower Matrix (or the URGENT-IMPORTANT Matrix)

Image Credits: (c) Pinterest.com

"You will be able to manage your time only when you understand your relationship with it."

6. How do I focus?

• Embrace the idea that scheduled "wasting time" can be a part of your routine and can actually enhance focus.
• Use techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, which involves short bursts of focused work followed by brief breaks for "wasting time."
• The Pomodoro Technique is a strategy for managing time that involves working intensely for 25 minutes, followed by a short 5-minute break. After completing four such work intervals, a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes is recommended. Each focused work session is referred to as a "pomodoro," named after the Italian word for tomato.
• Recognize that allowing yourself designated breaks can make challenging tasks more manageable and reduce the resistance to starting them.
• Avoid the guilt associated with wasting time by understanding that self-criticism doesn't lead to improvement, and successful people focus on taking better actions.

"When we waste time, we make ourselves feel guilty, which makes us waste even more time!"

7. How do I deal with criticism?

• Differentiating Criticism: Do not to take criticism seriously if you don't value the advice of the person offering it. Distinguish between constructive criticism and unwarranted negativity, especially from online sources.
• Understanding the Source: Criticism often reflects the critic's unhappiness and is not a true reflection of the individual being criticized. Be empathetic towards critics rather than reacting with anger.
• Criticism from Loved Ones: Examine criticism from family, friends, and colleagues. Loved ones might be trying to help, even if it hurts. Separate the message from the messenger to gain valuable insights from well-intentioned criticism.
• Feedback as a Choice: Even in challenging moments, individuals always have a choice in how they perceive and respond to criticism. Instead of viewing criticism as a negative force, individuals can see it as an opportunity for self-reflection and improvement. This shift allows for a more positive and constructive engagement with feedback.

"Examine what is said, not who speaks."

8. How do I build a habit of reading? (PS: my personal favorite one... 😀) 

• Choose books based on personal interest:
• Start your reading journey with books that genuinely excite you.
• Focus on personal interests rather than attempting to appear knowledgeable to others.
• Start with enjoyable content and reading as a gradual process:
• The author recommends a gradual approach, going back to childhood preferences, like comics, to reignite the love for reading. 
• Enjoy the process rather than immediately delving into complex or intellectual books.
• The author describes his own experience of starting with comics and progressively transitioning to more complex content. This highlights the idea that building a reading habit is a gradual process, comparing it to the acceleration of a sports car from zero to top speed.
• Benefits beyond entertainment:
• Acknowledging potential skepticism about the value of comics, the author explains that even seemingly entertaining content has multiple positive effects. These include developing a habit of reading, understanding human behavior, resilience, and preparing the mind for more intellectual books.
• Reading v/s watching videos:
• The author contrasts reading with watching videos, emphasizing that reading requires focused attention without external distractions. This focused engagement is seen as a unique aspect of reading that sets it apart from other forms of consuming content, including watching videos.
• Reading goals:
• The author discourages setting specific quantity-based goals, such as a certain number of books to read. Instead, the emphasis is on absorbing as much as possible from the content. 
• The author shares a personal routine of reading for 30 minutes daily, highlighting the importance of consistency and enjoyment.
• Absorb, not accumulate:
• The ultimate goal in reading is presented as absorbing knowledge rather than accumulating a large number of books. The author encourages that one should enjoy the reading process, advocating for quality over quantity in the pursuit of building a lasting reading habit.

"Reading replaces mindless entertainment with learning and eventually leads to enlightenment."

9. How do I build meditation into my lifestyle? 

• Purpose of meditation:
• The author clarifies that meditation isn't about controlling emotions but becoming aware of them. It's like observing passing cars without getting involved, and similarly, meditation helps observe thoughts and emotions without attachment.
• Patience and consistency: 
• The author stresses that change takes time. Starting with just 10 minutes a day, gradually increasing, allows for a sustainable habit. Patience is crucial in building this practice.
• Guided meditation for beginners:
• The author recommends starting with guided meditation, leveraging available apps and videos. Following a guided voice helps focus on the breath and self-observation. It's acknowledged that steadying the mind can be challenging initially but improves with practice.
• Benefits of meditation:
• Meditation is described as a tool to calm emotions, providing a vivid awareness of one's emotional states. It allows for recognizing and understanding emotions, leading to a thoughtful response rather than impulsive reactions.
• Witnessing emotions v/s suppression:
• The author distinguishes between being a witness to emotions and suppression. Meditation fosters intense awareness of emotions, preventing suppression or impulsive reactions. It guides individuals to thoughtful responses after observing and understanding their emotions.
• Elimination of emotions through awareness:
• The sheer awareness of an emotion, its cause, and the realization of its purpose make the emotion disappear. Emotions serve the purpose of making individuals aware of underlying issues, and once this awareness is achieved, the emotion naturally fades.
• Choosing the right time:
• The author advises against waiting for distress to begin meditation. The analogy of planting a tree emphasizes the idea that the best time to start meditation is now, and the right time will be when the individual feels the positive effects of the practice.

"Meditation does not make you control your emotions. It makes you aware of them."

I enjoyed reading the book and writing the part 1 of this book summary. I will be back soon with the part 2 of this book summary. Until then, this is Subin Khullar signing off.

Goodbye and take care...