Being in the right boat matters more than how hard you row
Lessons in pursuit of a rich life
I build businesses to pursue a rich life. I share lessons I learn along the way.
Here are this weeks insights:
Being in the right boat matters more than how hard you row
We suffer more in imagination than in reality
The people who tell stories rule the world. The ones who know facts only follow orders.
You can access previous editions of my weekly emails here. Let’s begin!
(1) Being in the right boat matters more than how hard you row
Success often isn’t about how smart or hardworking you are. It’s about being in the right boat. Richard Koch explains this brilliantly in The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less. He argues that being in the right place matters more than how much effort you put in. That is what made him successful.
Take India’s financial markets as an example. Between March 2020 and December 2024, the S&P BSE Sensex rose from 25,638 to 82,133 points. That’s a 220% total return, or a 27.1% CAGR. In the same period, Demat accounts tripled, with 60 million new investors entering the market.
The tide rose, and it lifted all boats. Most of these investors likely made money, not because they were smart, but because they were in the right place during a boom.
But tides turn.
Markets and economies work in cycles of expansion and contraction. When the tide rises, it feels like every decision you make is the right one. But when it falls, you discover who’s been swimming naked.
Here’s how cycles have played out in India:
In the 1990s, we had 5 years of GDP expansion and 5 years of contraction.
By the 2000s, this shifted to 8 years of expansion and only 2 years of contraction.
From 2020 to 2024, we’ve seen 3 years of expansion and 2 of contraction.
The story is similar for market indices. Expansionary phases create wealth, but contractionary periods test resilience.
If you’re in a chronically leaking boat—whether it’s your work, investments, or relationships—jumping to a sturdier one is more productive than patching leaks.
This principle applies to every area of life
Work: A mediocre manager in a great business will outperform a great manager in a mediocre business. As Warren Buffett says, the quality of the business matters more than the quality of the individual.
Investments: Charlie Munger advises investing in businesses that “an idiot could run” because durable competitive advantages ensure they thrive regardless of management missteps.
Relationships: The right people can uplift you, while the wrong ones can sink you.
Dream of a rich life, not a retired life. Retirement is a curse. Work with people you admire, in industries with room to grow for decades. And always focus on the 20% of inputs that drive 80% of the results.
Because in the end, it’s not about rowing harder—it’s about being in the right boat.
What boat are you in?
Work, investments, relationships—are they rising, or are they leaking? If they’re not lifting you, it’s time to change course.
(2) We suffer more in imagination than in reality
Our mind wanders into the future. It creates scary scenarios that are the opposite of what we want. We become anxious. We stress. We suffer.
We then respond to our anxiety in one of two ways:
We either become paralyzed and just can't function, or
We work tirelessly to make sure that those imagined scenarios never become reality.
But is there a better way?
Can the attitude of calm beat the impulse of anxiousness? Think about someone like MS Dhoni - calm and composed even under immense pressure! That kind of zen is possible, but it doesn’t come naturally. It’s a trained response.
This reminds me Seneca words:
"He who suffers before it is necessary, suffers more than is necessary."
When you allow imagined fears to control you, you’re creating unnecessary suffering.
The next time anxiety strikes, ask yourself: Is this real or imagined?
Just being aware of the difference can help you break free from the spiral of negativity and pull your focus back to the present. Anxiety may feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to define how you respond. Train your mind to stay calm, and you’ll find yourself handling challenges with clarity and purpose.
(3) The people who tell stories rule the world. The ones who know facts only follow orders.
The people who know how to tell stories give orders to the people who merely know facts.
Stories have the power to inspire, unite, and provide purpose. They’re not just entertainment—they’re a leadership tool. Elon Musk is a master of this. His storytelling brings together some of the brightest minds in the world.
Let’s break down how he inspires:
“Saving humanity”: Musk frames his companies as working on missions critical to humanity’s survival. Tesla isn’t just making cars—it’s accelerating the transition to sustainable energy. SpaceX isn’t just launching rockets—it’s ensuring the survival of humanity by making us a multi-planetary species. This gives employees a purpose beyond a paycheck.
“Can you solve it?”: Musk challenges brilliant minds to tackle the impossible. “We’re building the world’s best electric car. Want to join us?” This framing appeals to people who thrive on solving big, seemingly unsolvable problems.
“Be a part of history”: Musk inspires people with the idea that their work will be remembered. It’s not just a job—it’s a legacy.
Even the most fact-driven leaders tell stories. As Yuval Noah Harari explains, those who invent fictions are far more powerful than those who merely know the facts. Stories are the glue that holds teams, companies, and movements together.
The question is, what’s your story?
Whether you’re leading a team, building a company, or working on a personal mission, your ability to inspire others starts with the story you tell. Will your story make others want to follow?
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.