Most People Want You To Fail

I listened to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, one of the most articulate and successful lawyers in the country. At one point the interviewer asked him:

“Take me through the difficult moments of your life and how you have overcome them or not overcome them.”

Singhvi said:

“I genuinely believe that all the MAs and the PHDs that I have are of no use unless I have a degree from the University of Adversity.

When adversity strikes and mostly it is untruthful and unfair, there are four things that matter at such times and in that order:

1. ⁠If you believe in anything called a god or a being or a guru.

2. If you convince yourself that it’s your soul which matters and nobody can take your soul away unless you give it to them.

3. Your immediate family.

4. Friends, not the acquaintances you meet

I was in two professions - public life and litigation - that were heavily competitive. There is a lot of jealousy. There is this huge envy quotient. I have seen the worst part of human nature. My contemporaries. My rivals. My so-called friends. And then the ones who are largely unknown to me but turned out to be true friends.

Life is made up of three categories of people.

1. ⁠If they see you in the ditch they will pickup a shovel and put more earth on you. Unfortunately this number would be between 50-70%.

2. ⁠If they see you in the ditch they will just pass you by. Uncaring. Indifferent.

3. If they see you in the ditch they will give you a helping hand. This remarkable bunch are just 15%-25%.

This is a world that looks up to the rising sun. But you must not lose your equanimity.

Here is what I took away from that:

1. Human nature is flawed including yours.
   Most people don’t wish you well. They don’t even need a reason. The more you achieve, the more you threaten someone else’s narrative. But this isn’t just about them; it’s also about you. You too can slip into jealousy. You too want what others have. The solution isn’t to change human nature. It’s to anchor yourself in what really matters - your health, your work, your family, and your journey. Comparison is a distraction. Deliberate progress is the cure.

• Fame attracts envy. Privacy protects peace.
  Signaling success can be useful if it helps you build. But if it’s only to be seen, it might hurt more than help. Share your wins with those who truly care. Beyond that, stay focused. The best case scenario: be rich and anonymous.
  

• Adversity is inevitable. Be ready.
  People you love will pass. Markets will crash. Health may falter. You can’t predict when, but you can prepare. Invest in a safety net when times are good. Build the habits, finances, and support system that can carry you when life gets heavy. This will help ensure that you don’t have to bounce back immediately. But you do have to bounce back!

See you next Sunday.

👋 I’m Harsh. I collect useful ideas to win in business and life.

Here’s where I spend most of my time:

• iDeals Virtual Data Rooms – building a $1B business by helping dealmakers close deals faster

• M&A Community – uncovering personal stories and strategies of M&A, private equity, and investment banking leaders

• Happy Ratio – growing a food company the hard way: profit-first, purpose-led

• Marcellus Investment Managers – evangelizing long-term investing to build financial independence

Harsh Batra
(LinkedIn)