12 lessons to overcome whatever is holding you back
How to avoid family conflict over inheritance. And why we're less happy in a better world.
I build businesses to pursue a rich life. Along the way, I share lessons from the three pillars that matter most: self-help, money, and relationships.
Here are this weeks insights:
12 Lessons To Overcome Whatever Is Holding You Back
How to Avoid Family Conflicts Over Inheritance
Why We’re Less Happy in a Better World
You can access previous editions of my weekly emails here. Let’s begin!
(1) 12 Lessons To Overcome Whatever Is Holding You Back
Whenever I come across wisdom that resonates, I copy it. No one owns wisdom. Implement these words shamelessly to become a better version of yourself. I do.
Here are 12 lessons Leila Hormozi learnt from her husband to unlock her potential:
1. It’s okay to be weird. Different. Misunderstood. Normal people get normal outcomes - your weirdness is a gift.
2. You’re not bad at anything. You need more reps. Stop judging yourself and do the work.
3. At the end of the day we are a tiny spec within a giant galaxy and when we die nothing matters. So stop putting so much pressure on yourself.
4. Anxiety isn’t bad. Being terrified isn’t bad. Fear isn’t bad. The worst case is you continue to feel bad, but you won’t die.
5. Your life is a story. When you’re faced with hard times ask yourself: "What story do I want to tell about what happens next?"
6. Material things are only valuable if they give you attention back rather than take it.
7. If someone hates you and it bothers you. There’s probably truth to it. And so what?
8. Fight for what you want. You can’t expect people to give it to you just because you’re a good person. Be a good person and ALSO fight for it.
9. There are no rules on how much and when to work. When and how to work out. How to be married. Rules are a substitute for people who don’t have values.
10. You don’t need therapy for everything. Accept life is unbearably painful at times, and that’s okay.
11. Happy people don’t spend their lives TRYING to be happy, they do what they want and happiness is a byproduct.
12. The person that’s capable of saving the day and fixing all your problems, is you.
In a world where most tried to keep me in a box. Alex always showed me there were no limits for myself. Inspired me with a vision for my life and self bigger than I ever had. Thank you for being an example of what a true man is.
(2) How to Avoid Family Conflicts Over Inheritance
Inheritance impacts everyone. But more often than not, it brings chaos. I’ve seen families torn apart in courtrooms, fighting over what was left behind. Relationships crumble, and the negativity can last for years.
But is there a way to get it right? I came across Warren Buffett’s thoughts on inheritance in a recent Marcellus newsletter. Here’s a man giving away 99% of his wealth to society, not his children, yet he shares advice on how to handle inheritance wisely. His words struck a chord with me:
“…hugely wealthy parents should leave their children enough so they can do anything but not enough that they can do nothing.
“I have one further suggestion for all parents, whether they are of modest or staggering wealth. When your children are mature, have them read your will before you sign it. Be sure each child understands both the logic for your decisions and the responsibilities they will encounter upon your death. If any have questions or suggestions, listen carefully and adopt those found sensible. You don’t want your children asking “Why?” in respect to testamentary decisions when you are no longer able to respond. Over the years, I have had questions or commentary from all three of my children and have often adopted their suggestions. There is nothing wrong with my having to defend my thoughts. My dad did the same with me.
I change my will every couple of years – often only in very minor ways – and keep things simple. Over the years, Charlie and I saw many families driven apart after the posthumous dictates of the will left beneficiaries confused and sometimes angry. Jealousies, along with actual or imagined slights during childhood, became magnified, particularly when sons were favored over daughters, either in monetary ways or by positions of importance. Charlie and I also witnessed a few cases where a wealthy parent’s will that was fully discussed before death helped the family become closer. What could be more satisfying?”
Buffett’s advice goes beyond just money—it’s about clarity, fairness, and communication:
• Involve Your Children: When your kids are mature, share your will with them before signing it. Explain your reasoning, listen to their feedback, and adopt sensible suggestions. Don’t leave them wondering “Why?” when you’re gone.
• Update Regularly: Buffett revisits his will every couple of years to make minor updates, keeping it simple and clear.
• Prevent Jealousy: He notes that many families fall apart over perceived slights—favoring one child over another in wealth or importance. Transparency during your lifetime can prevent these conflicts.
• Strengthen Bonds: Buffett and his partner Charlie Munger observed families grow closer when wills were discussed openly before death. This proactive approach fosters understanding and reduces resentment.
The lesson is simple: inheritance isn’t just about money. It’s about relationships, fairness, and leaving behind clarity instead of chaos. If one of the wealthiest people on earth can focus on these principles, maybe we all should.
Ask yourself: are you prepared to leave behind not just wealth but peace?
(3) Why We’re Less Happy in a Better World
Imagine living in a world where life was brutal, short, and limited—no medicine, no plumbing, and the constant agony of losing half your children to illness. Fast forward 200 years, and humanity has made unimaginable progress. But here’s the paradox: we’re more dissatisfied than ever. Why?
In the thousands of years before 1822, life barely changed. Survival was harsh, and suffering was a constant. Then came the 100 years from 1822 to 1922, with innovations like the steam engine, railroads, and better farming and plumbing—small steps that hinted at progress.
The last century, however, brought a complete transformation: electricity, modern medicine, automobiles, airplanes, movies, air conditioning, the internet, and mobile phones. In just 100 years, civilization made leaps that previous generations couldn’t have imagined.
And yet, despite this incredible progress, many people are less happy today than when life was far tougher. The reason is simple: envy.
Even as living standards soared—freedom expanded, racial inequities diminished, and starvation became rare in many parts of the world—our focus shifted. Instead of appreciating how far we’ve come, we fixate on what others have.
Envy drives dissatisfaction. It’s why ancient teachings warned against it—it’s an enduring part of human nature. As life gets better, people paradoxically feel worse. And this envy, while fueling unhappiness, also drives the pretentious spending that keeps our capitalist society buzzing.
You don’t have to live this way. You can conquer envy. Stop caring about what others have or their pretentious displays. Find joy in your own life and let others exhaust themselves chasing status.
The secret to happiness isn’t in what others have—it’s in learning to value what you already do. Envy might drive the world, but it doesn’t have to drive you.
Harsh Batra (LinkedIn)
Thank you for reading. Writing helps me learn, reflect, and share—it’s how I grow and connect with purpose. If you’re curious about the businesses I build as part of pursuing a rich life, here they are:
iDeals VDR - If you are running M&A transactions, planning an IPO, or sharing anything confidential online, you won’t find a better Virtual Data Room partner than us. Here is a 90 second video of iDeals. Companies like Pfizer, Mercedes and Tata trust us. Thousands of investment bankers, lawyers and insolvency professionals use us everyday to run their due diligence processes. If you have a need to share anything sensitive online, send me an email on harsh@idealscorp.com. I’d love to work with you.
Happy Ratio - I founded Happy Ratio because I am immensely passionate about health. To get the most out of life you need to be healthy. To be healthy you need to eat the right foods and drink the right beverages. But this is not always possible or easy. Happy Ratio provides clean, tasty and healthy foods and drinks. Check out our menu on Zomato and Swiggy. Or visit us at our quick service restaurant at CyberHub in Gurgaon. We serve employees from Deloitte and Marks & Spencers and do events for companies like Samsung and Oppo. If you want us to do an event for you reach out to us at ops@happyratio.com.
Marcellus Investment Managers - I am a Marcellus client because their investment philosophy resonates with how I think about investing. Their approach to investing in clean, honest and cash flow positive businesses can yield stupendous results over time. I trust them with my savings and evangelize their approach. Investing comes with inherent risks so please do your own due diligence before deciding where to put your money. I am also an Independent Financial Advisor with Marcellus.