Writing

A group of IIT'ans from Gurgaon have built an app to report complaints to the government called Raasta Fix... and this starts a whole new avenue for startups to build in... CivicTech... There are two problems of complaining about these problems to the government: 1/ You don't know which agency to write to 2/ You are afraid to disclose your details as you think a disgruntled officer could make your life miserable As an example, the Haryana Govt has several avenues to lodge consumer complaints... there is a CM Window, a Mera Pariwar portal, a CP Gram Portal, eSamadhan, Swachhta App, Jan Sahayak App... And the issue is that some grievances fall under the municipal authority of Gurgaon... MCG, the GMDA, HUDA... and people are confused which portal to go to for which kind of complaint... Now, when I open RaastaFix . com on my device, it asked for my location, and asks you to upload a picture of the problem with a categorization such as garbage dump, stray cattle, electric hazard, stagnant water, construction debris... And the platform automatically submits the complaint to the right authority with geo tagged and timestamped proof without having to disclose the complainant's details. Integration with the backend dashboard of the Government is still pending, and I would hope this resolves problems for the residents of Gurgaon who are tired of poor drainage and road construction among garbage woes. And this brings another opportunity for other states too... If a Zomato like listing platform could be built for cities with ratings and live imagery of potholes, number of days that they have been ignored by the administration, which adds to a social audit of the cleanliness and state of civic sensibilities across cities and states... We might see some transparency and accountability from the administration. The app could monetise from ad placements... and can become a bootstrapped business as a social enterprise. If there are any such built for different cities in India, let me know in the comments please, would love to see. #casarthakahuja

Keep replaying a challenging event in your mind? Or overthinking something that’s already happened? What if you could turn that mental loop into a tool for growth… and even better health? Dr. James Pennebaker’s ‘Writing Protocol’ is a simple, science-backed way to do just that. In fact, hundreds of scientific studies show that it significantly improves immediate and long-term health. Here’s how it works: 1. Write for 15 minutes, once a week
↳ Tip: Focus on the same emotionally challenging event every time. 2. Keep it raw and unfiltered
↳ Tip: Don’t worry about grammar or structure (this is just for you). 3. Stick with it for 4 weeks
↳ Tip: Make it a ritual. Same time, same place. Over 200 peer-reviewed scientific studies show this practice (which is essentially expressive writing) improves mental clarity, emotional resilience, and even physical health. No gimmicks, no cost. Just you, a pen, and some paper. P.S. Do you ever find yourself overthinking about something negative that happened?

There’s this “breakup” email a lot of sellers use that says: “Have you given up solving for [ problem ]?” Which is counterproductive IMO, because it suggests that either: 1/ There’s no real problem worth solving for. When something’s a genuine problem, your prospects don’t just say, “Eh, you know what? This is hard. I give up.” 2/ It’s not you they might have given up on. It’s a very real possibility they gave up on you, not the problem. They went their own way, or decided to kickoff their project with another partner. 3/ De-prioitizing something isn’t giving up. It’s actually an executive skillset. Choosing to “let fires burn” so you can shift your team’s time and attention to other projects. Something like this always worked for me instead: Subject: Checkout Project Kickoff Hey Erica, Seems like eComm shifted focus, or kicked off their checkout project already. Either way’s cool. But our Success team’s still holding time for you just in case. (We'd need to kickoff by March 31, to be ready for summer shopping season.) What can I let them know? Any other "breakup" emails you all like, that actually get replies?

I constantly get recruiter reachouts from big tech companies and top AI startups- even when I’m not actively job hunting or listed as “Open to Work.” That’s because over the years, I’ve consciously put in the effort to build a clear and consistent presence on LinkedIn- one that reflects what I do, what I care about, and the kind of work I want to be known for. And the best part? It’s something anyone can do- with the right strategy and a bit of consistency. If you’re tired of applying to dozens of jobs with no reply, here are 5 powerful LinkedIn upgrades that will make recruiters come to you: 1. Quietly activate “Open to Work” Even if you’re not searching, turning this on boosts your visibility in recruiter filters. → Turn it on under your profile → “Open to” → “Finding a new job” → Choose “Recruiters only” visibility → Specify target titles and locations clearly (e.g., “Machine Learning Engineer – Computer Vision, Remote”) Why it works: Recruiters rely on this filter to find passive yet qualified candidates. 2. Treat your headline like SEO + your elevator pitch Your headline is key real estate- use it to clearly communicate role, expertise, and value. Weak example: “Software Developer at XYZ Company” → Generic and not searchable. Strong example: “ML Engineer | Computer Vision for Autonomous Systems | PyTorch, TensorRT Specialist” → Role: ML Engineer → Niche: computer vision in autonomous systems → Tools: PyTorch, TensorRT This structure reflects best practices from experts who recommend combining role, specialization, technical skills, and context to stand out. 3. Upgrade your visuals to build trust → Use a crisp headshot: natural light, simple background, friendly expression → Add a banner that reinforces your brand: you working, speaking, or a tagline with tools/logos Why it works: Clean visuals increase profile views and instantly project credibility. 4. Rewrite your “About” section as a human story Skip the bullet list, tell a narrative in three parts: → Intro: “I’m an ML engineer specializing in computer vision models for autonomous systems.” → Expertise: “I build end‑to‑end pipelines using PyTorch and TensorRT, optimizing real‑time inference for edge deployment.” → Motivation: “I’m passionate about enabling safer autonomy through efficient vision AI, let’s connect if you’re building in that space.” Why it works: Authentic storytelling creates memorability and emotional resonance . 5. Be the advocate for your work Make your profile act like a portfolio, not just a resume. → Under each role, add 2–4 bullet points with measurable outcomes and tools (e.g., “Reduced inference latency by 35% using INT8 quantization in TensorRT”) → In the Featured section, highlight demos, whitepapers, GitHub repos, or tech talks Give yourself five intentional profile upgrades this week. Then sit back and watch recruiters start reaching you, even in today’s competitive market.

Here's how to simplify your pitch and 10x your sales: 1. Talk less, sell more. Short sentences = more sales. Hemingway once bet he could write a story in 6 words that'd make you feel something: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." Your pitch should pack the same punch. 2. Complexity is for people who want to feel smart, not be effective. The worst salespeople make simple things sound complicated. The best make the complex simple. 3. Complexity says, "I want to feel needed." Simplicity limits to only what is needed. 4. Read your pitch out loud. I remember when I'd asked my COO to read the manuscript of my book. He chose to do it aloud. All 258 pages. Ears catch what eyes miss. The final version reads like butter. 5. "Be good, be seen, be gone." This was the best sales advice I ever got. - Good: Deliver value - Seen: Make an impression - Gone: Don't overstay your welcome People buy from those they remember, not those who linger. 7. Speak like your customer, not a textbook. We like to sound sophisticated. "We create impactful bottom-line solutions." But we like to listen to simple. "We help small businesses explode their sales." Which one would you buy? 8. Every word earns its place. Your pitch should be lean and mean. - Be specific - Avoid cliches - Check for redundancy - If it doesn't add value, cut it out 9. Abstract concepts bore. Concrete examples excite. ❌ "We'll increase your efficiency." ✅ "We'll save you 10 hours a week." Paint a picture. 10. People buy on emotion & justify with logic So tap into their feelings: - Fear of missing out - Desire for success - Need for security Then back it up with facts. 11. The "Grandma Test" never fails. If your grandma wouldn't get your pitch, simplify it. No jargon. No buzzwords. Just plain English. 12. Benefits > features. Dreams > benefits. ❌ "Our group hosts 10+ events per year." ✅ "Our program helps you close deals." 🚀 "Let's take back Main Street through ownership." 13. Use power words: - You - Free - Because - Instantly - New These words grab attention and drive action. Two final things to keep in mind... Simplicity isn't just for sales. Apply these principles to: - your business operations - your thinking processes - your next investment - your relationships - your to do list Sales isn't just for car dealerships. You pitch when you: - Negotiate a raise - Interview for a job - Post on social media - Hire someone for a job - Talk to an owner about buying their biz If you found this useful, feel free to share for others ♻️

The difference between a good design doc and a great one is usually clarity. Technical writing should be crisp and to the point. So, it is always better to treat every sentence like it has a cost. After writing, cut aggressively. Remove extra words. Then check if a line can go. Sometimes even a full paragraph is unnecessary. One thing I always do is to start the doc with the conclusion; this way, the reader/reviewer knows where we are heading. This is contrary to how most engineers write docs - listing every approach first and only concluding at the end. That slows readers down. I avoid this because long explanations make people lose track; most readers want the conclusion quickly. So, always start with the answer and why it matters. Then add details and alternatives below for those who want depth. A habit that helps is a quick editing pass like this: - Remove filler words and repeated ideas. - Break long sentences into smaller ones. - Prefer bullets when listing options or steps. - Check if the first section clearly states the outcome. - Add a link or short explanation where a reader may pause. Empathy matters more than most people realize. Try to read your document as someone new to the topic. Ask yourself what might confuse them. Add the missing context. Add the helpful link. Let the ideas evolve naturally from problem to solution. This skill develops over time. Use simple language and fewer buzzwords. The goal is to communicate, not impress. Simple documents get read more. More readers means better alignment and better visibility for the work. Finally, always provide enough context. A short setup about the problem, constraints, and prior decisions goes a long way. It helps readers understand why the decision exists, and, of course, it prevents unnecessary back and forth later. Hope this helps.

We analyzed 4 million recruiting emails sent through Gem. Most get opened. But only 22.6% get replies. Half those replies are "thanks, but no thanks." We dug into what actually works. Here are 8 factors that drive REAL responses: 1. Strategic timing beats everything else - 8am gets 68% open rates. 4pm hits 67.3%. 10am lands at 67% - Most recruiters blast at 9am when inboxes are flooded - Avoiding peak times alone can boost your opens by 7-10% 2. Weekend outreach is criminally underused - Saturday/Sunday emails get ≥66% open rates consistently - Why? Empty inboxes. Zero competition. Candidates actually have time - Yet few recruiters send on weekends. Their loss is your gain 3. Keep messages between 101-150 words - Shorter feels spammy. Longer gets skimmed - You need exactly 10 sentences to nail the essentials - Every word beyond 150 drops performance 4. Generic templates kill response rates - Generic templates: 22% reply rate - Personalized outreach: 47% increased response rate - Even adding name + company to subject lines boosts opens by 5% 5. Subject lines need 3-9 words - Include company name + job title for highest opens - "Senior Engineer Role at [Company]" beats clever wordplay - 11+ words can work if genuinely intriguing, but why risk it? 6. The 4-stage sequence is optimal - One-off emails are dead. Send exactly 4 follow-up messages - You'll see 68% higher "interested" rates with proper sequencing - After stage 4, engagement completely flatlines. Stop there 7. Get the hiring manager involved - Having the hiring manager send ONE follow-up boosts reply rates by 50%+ - Yet most recruiters don't use this tactic - Weekend advantage: Minimal competition for attention 8. Leadership involvement is a cheat code - Role-specific timing (tech vs non-tech) matters - Technical roles: 3 of 4 best send times are weekends - Engineers check email differently than salespeople. Adjust accordingly TAKEAWAY: These aren't opinions. This is what 4 million emails tell us. Most recruiting teams are stuck in 2019 playbooks wondering why their reply rates won't budge. Meanwhile, recruiters who implement these 8 factors see dramatically better results. The data is right there. The patterns are clear. The only question is: will you actually change how you operate? Or will you keep sending the same tired emails at 9am on Tuesday? Your call.

7 out of 10 of my projects start with fixing what most people ignore. This includes: - making copy easier to read - making images informational - making product name impactful Simple, but yet forgotten. In this post, using URturms example, I'll be sharing 11 underestimated changes that can increase your website sales. 1. Adding breadcrumbs. Important if you drive ad traffic to the PDP directly. They take shopper to the parent category page. Reducing bounce rate. 2. Adding a badge. Like "Bestseller", "Most Loved", "Few Left". This reassures the shopper that they're making the right decision. 3. Making images easier to swipe. Add a sneak peek of the next image along with navigation dots that show the count. Cap them at 8. 4. Making the product name impactful. Add key USPs. Show your current product name to 10 people. Do they understand what it is? 5. Add a short description below product name. Keep it in 1 line. Highlight it's most important feature here. 6. Consider adding an offer close to price. This motivates the shopper as they see some potential savings or benefit. 7. Highlight key product strengths in bullets or with icons. Avoid sentences. Keep this before the add to cart CTA. 8. Keep your add to cart CTA full width. Don't combine it with quantity or another CTA next to it. Make sure it's readable and prominent. 9. Highlighting shipping time or return policy below the CTA. This solves for common questions - when will I get it? can I return it? 10. Cross-selling complementary products. Like bottoms with tops. Earrings with necklace. Do this close to the add to cart CTA. 11. Adding 'Benefits' to your accordion. This gets a higher click through rate, while helping shoppers understand why they should buy this. Other UX/UI changes I did: - Removed quantity button - Made the information bar non-moving - Removed log-in, moving search next to cart - Changed the font for product name and CTA - Increased font size in places for better readability Found this useful? Let me know in the comments! P.S. If you want to maximize your PDP’s potential, start by understanding your visitor's behavior and the gaps. Get heat maps for your site (Microsoft Clarity is free). Observe what they like to (and don't like to) interact with.

Stuck in an endless loop of client changes? Lost track of what revision this constitutes? Yeah. Been there. Done that. The secret? It's not about saying no. It's about saying yes to the right things upfront. Every project that goes sideways starts the same way: Vague agreements. Fuzzy boundaries. Good intentions. Six weeks later you're bleeding money and everyone's frustrated. Here's my framework after 30 years of running two 8-figure businesses: The SOW is your salvation. Not some boilerplate template. A real document that covers: • Exact deliverables (not "design work" but "3 homepage concepts, 2 rounds of revisions") • Hours of operation ("We respond M-F, 9-5 PST. Weekend requests get Monday responses") • Revision rounds spelled out ("Round 1 includes up to 5 changes. Round 2 includes 3.") • Feedback cycles defined ("48-hour turnaround for client feedback or the project may be delayed or additional fees may be incurred") But here's what most people miss— Don't work on client notes immediately. Client sends 37 pieces of feedback at 11pm Friday? Producer sends conflicting notes from the CEO? Marketing wants one thing, sales wants another? Stop. Collect everything first. Resolve the conflicts. Get on the phone and discuss it with your client to get alignment. Separate the "have to haves" from the "nice to haves". Then present unified changes. "Based on all feedback received, here are the 8 changes we'll implement. This constitutes revision round 2 of 3." Watch how fast the random requests stop. No extra work that goes unappreciated. No more feelings of being taken advantage of. Communicate before the crisis, prevents the crisis from happening. "Just so you know, we're entering round 2. You have one more included. After that, it's $X per additional round." No surprises. No awkward money conversations. No resentment. Scope creep isn't a them problem. It's a you problem. And that's good news, because that means you are in control. They're not trying to take advantage. They just don't know where the boundaries are because you never drew them. Draw the lines early. Communicate them clearly. Everyone wins. What's your most painful scope creep story? What boundary would've prevented it? Small Business Builders #projectmanagement #clientmanagement #businessgrowth

Here’s one tiny 2 minute nightly habit that boosts creativity, reduces stress, and helps you sleep better In 5 years, it will give you something priceless… Almost every night, I open a small notebook. I write one line. It might be: • A sentence I read earlier that stuck with me • An observation I made • A question I want to ponder A simple ritual that does three powerful things for me. 1. It marks the end of the day. That one sentence is my mental “off” switch. It helps me de-stress, shift my mindset, and prepare for sleep. 2. It invites reflection. A question I write might drift into my dreams. A funny line might make me laugh and relax. It’s a moment to process, instead of scroll. 3. It builds an idea bank. My notebook is a 5-year journal. 300 days × 5 years = 1,500 smart sentences, questions, and deep thoughts. A personal treasure trove I can return to forever. We overcomplicate journaling. We think it has to be long, poetic, or perfect. It doesn’t. One line a night. That’s enough.