Desigan Chinniah’s Post

Yesterday was a typical Wednesday in all ways except for one: I woke up with a raging hangover... and it's part of my competitive advantage. Allow me to explain: New York City is notoriously expensive: $3 coffees now cost $10 plus tip (shout out to the barista ipads), a nice dinner for two is more than a month's rent in Gary Indiana, and an Uber from JFK to Manhattan is $100 on a good day. New York is also notoriously busy. If you want a nice dinner reservation on a Friday, you better be prepared to book it weeks in advance! Heading to a popular bar on a Saturday? Good luck getting in. Combine these price and busyness levels on weekends, and you'll find yourself spending $300 on a Saturday night just to sweat and bump elbows with strangers. So last week, I decided to make Tuesday and Wednesday the new Friday and Saturday. Tuesday is objectively the worst possible night for an expensive date or a big night on the town, which actually makes it the best possible night for both. Every restaurant has open tables on Tuesday, and the prices are lowest when the restaurant is at its cheapest. And if you have a wild hair and want to "send it?" There's not gonna be a line at the Spaniard at 10 PM on a Wednesday, you're not going to pay a cover, and the drinks will never be cheaper. It's perfect. And by going out on Tuesday and Wednesday, I can spend Friday and Saturday grinding. Everyone works on week days, there's no alpha to be gained from following the crowd. But on weekends? No one is working. Weekends are when you can actually outperform your competitors. I plan to continue this new schedule for a year, and I look forward to outperforming my competitors along the way. Thoughts? #WhiteClawWednesday #GrindingOnTheWeekend If you liked this post, give me a follow Jack Raines and check out my blog. I publish my best content there: https://lnkd.in/gbRY3QGx

Where do you keep your #phone when you're having dinner with your #family ? 📱 Above the dining table, upside down? Ever wondered what that signifies? It implies that the phone is more important than your family at that moment. And it's not just during dinner; we do this often. Wherever we go, our phones are upside down during #conversations , sending a message that the other person is less #important . 🚫 Do you habitually carry your phone from room to room, even when not in use? That might indicate some serious #problems . Here's a suggestion: Keep your phone in the invisible zone when talking to your family or anyone else. Make them feel important. 💑 Improving the #quality of #relationships starts with valuing the #people around you. 🤝💖 #familyfirst #qualitytime #relationshipbuilding #digitalwellbeing #FamilyTime #respectfulcommunication #mindfulliving #humanconnections #healthyrelationships #bepresent #emotionalwellness #relationships #relationshipsmatter #mentalwellness

What if you got your coffee “to stay” instead of “to go”? (or matcha or tea or whatever beverage you prefer) And what if you stayed with your thoughts a little longer instead of making them take a back seat to the rest of your routine? I had an hour of free time between an appointment downtown and daycare pickup. So I brought my computer with me and went to a coffee shop to squeeze in a bit of work. “To stay or to go?” the cashier asked. I thought for a minute and said “to stay”. This beautiful cup arrived a few minutes later. I sipped and I wrote and I took my time with both. The result was this post. And another one, too. When it feels like we have endless things to do, it’s hard to pause and reflect. It's hard to see the ideas that are floating around right in front of you. I almost always get my drinks "to go" in case I need to run before I finish them. But reflection is where the best thought leadership is born. And best of all, it doesn’t take hours a day. It doesn’t even have to take hours a week. Once you start to flex that “reflection” muscle (by yourself or with a thought partner who can help you get those reflections out of your head and onto paper), the ideas WILL start coming to life. And then? Well, then the content you create will be richer and resonate more deeply with the specific people you want to reach. So what if you ordered your coffee AND your ideas "to stay"?

"Use this trick, the next time you’d like an upgrade…" And it works! “What are the CHANCES…?” I heard someone on social media share this thought. The next time there is an opportunity to “receive more”, simply ask nicely and use this phrase, “what are the chances I could have a nicer room?”. “What are the chances I could have a premium rental car for the same price?” I decided to try it for the silliest task. “What are the chances I could have 8 pretzel bites instead of 7?” The young gentleman behind the counter said “SURE”. Upon check out he shared that he gave me 9 instead and he hoped that I enjoyed them as much as he does. Plus he gave me a small discount without me asking. (I gave him my appreciation and a gratitude stone in return, and shared my reasoning for the mini-social experiment.) When we don’t expect When we don’t demand When we ask nicely When we engage in conversation When we don’t act privileged When we show appreciation When we treat each other as humans and humanely The most amazing things started to happen. Without any expectation, and without asking, other GOOD THINGS STARTED TO OCCUR. The hotel that I was staying at had a fun marketplace for coffee, pizza, and healthy snacks. It was one of the coolest and best stocked that I had ever seen, so I told them. They gave me a chocolate chip cookie for free. At dinner with my family, we complimented the manager who greeted us and had always been so kind. We shared that so often she made us so comfortable with her extra service and hospitable attitude. Without asking… she delivered a complimentary appetizer to our table. What are the CHANCES that you’ll try this? #mostpeopledont #mostpeopledontnewsletter #mostpeopledontstory

It was raining, so I took shelter under the roof of a bathroom building. I was in Epcot as part of a multiday trip to Disney World, where afternoon rain exists as a persistent possibility. Under the three feet of the bathroom building overhang, my group debated what to do. Should we wait and hope the rain stops so we can continue on to the Food & Wine Festival? Or should we call it quits and head back to the resort? Decisions like this show up in life and in business. We get sucked down the rabbit hole, trying to gather more information (What does the weather app predict? How about yours because it says something different than mine…). Or we go round and round trying to feel secure that we’re making the right decision. Sometimes, we try to justify it. And sometimes we rely on signs to give us a reason (There’s a food stand right across from us — it must be a sign). ➔ When you get to the point of having only a few options, or you’ve landed on one and can’t commit, ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen?” This question has you look at the downsides instead of trying to pick between equally good upsides. It can also free you from having to be right and empower you to take action. Once you start, you can adjust or adapt, and now you’re constantly moving forward rather than stuck — a state that provides no benefit and gets you nowhere. In the case of my group stuck under the bathroom overhang, both options would get us to food (the outcome that was most positive from the perspective of my gurgling stomach). If we continued to the Food & Wine Festival, the worst that could happen was that we’d be wrong about the rain letting up and thus soaking wet trying to eat. If we went back to the resort, the worst that could happen was that it would stop raining. In that case, we’d eat outside at the hotel and visit the Food & Wine Fest another day. We went with option # 2. And as it turned out, it rained most of the night. #management #productivity #strategy

My dad bought me this amazing float and brought it to me during the holidays. I love collecting big floats for the pool, and this pairs well with the very large flamingo he gave me earlier in 2023. I noticed it this morning, still sitting on the dining room table, waiting to be put up until Spring. The pool is currently covered not only with a cover but also in lots of frost, waiting for a good snow. Then, I thought, this float is as useless in the winter sitting on the dining room table as you are taking up time to think about all the reasons you cannot get something accomplished. Yes, my mind is an interesting place to be sometimes. But, if you think about it, staring at the float all winter long won't do me any good and will be distracting. Your brain isn't doing you any favors if you let it dwell on all the reasons you cannot. So, I'll put up the pool float today in storage so I can focus elsewhere. Do yourself a favor and work on your brain to think of reasons how you can. One way something could be possible is much more helpful than 10 reasons why it is not. That one possibility gets the brain moving forward and creates positive thinking momentum. I'm going to put the float away while you book some time to think about how you can get started on your goal. Make it an amazing day! By the way, my Dad is super cool! #yesyoucan #thoughtscreateresults #confidence #clarity #accountability #momentum #goalgetter #salescoach #goals #emotionalintelligence #emotionalwealth #lifecoach #businesscoach #blackburnboutiquecoaching 

Whatever you're doing, do it in a way that fosters connection. Brian and I went to dinner on New Year's Eve at a new restaurant we knew very little about except that it was Italian and had great reviews. It was on the smaller side, but not too small. The tables were close enough together to feel intimate, but not so close that you felt like you were on top of someone else's conversation. The service was nearly impeccable and the food was to die for. Many restaurant kitchens are completely concealed from the guests. And I understand why. I worked in a restaurant for 6 years. Kitchens can be a tense environment. In this particular establishment, the kitchen was completely open to the restaurant. Except for a half wall, we had a complete view in and they had a complete view out. So we were all together. They were cooking fabulous food and we were the lucky recipients. They moved about efficiently and they looked happy. No one was yelling or scowling. I got the feeling that they were enjoying their craft. Which is a pretty perfect thing to experience. And guests everywhere had big grins on their faces. As our teenagers say, it was a vibe. It got me thinking. Human beings are better when they're connected. So as you get going in the new year, whatever you're facing, good or bad, see if you can move forward in a more connected way. Open the door when you can. Have the conversation. Maybe even the one you've been putting off. Chances are it'll help. Happy 2024. How was your New Year's? #connection

Today marks Louie Syred's birthday celebration! Louie stands as one of the co-founders behind Peak Moods, a pioneering venture in the soft/non-alcoholic drinks sector, reshaping the industry landscape. We firmly believe that mood is the new energy! Gone are the days of relying on hardcore energy drinks or overindulging in coffee and caffeine, which often exacerbate feelings of anxiety. There's no longer a necessity to reach for an alcoholic beverage when seeking relaxation and happiness, nor any other alternatives. Enter Peak Hype and Peak Calm – healthier, superior alternatives to traditional options. We've crafted these beverages to offer a balanced and uplifting experience without the drawbacks associated with stimulants or depressants. You can find Peak Hype and Calm in corner shops across London, including our flagship location on Portobello Road, as well as online. Additionally, Peak has secured its place in some of the most prominent tech offices, banks, and universities. Wherever people value team or student performance and well-being, Peak is there, setting the standard. If you're interested in bringing Peak to your establishment or stocking our products, feel free to reach out to either myself or Louie. Wishing Louie a fantastic birthday! I'm genuinely thankful that he took the initiative to address a problem I hadn't even realised existed! #itsamood #peakmoods #mooddrinks

The Perils and Pleasures of Breakfast, Coffee, and Work In the grand theater of life, where each morning unveils a new act, breakfast, coffee, and work dance together like a trio of chaotic performers, each vying for the spotlight. Let us embark on a comedic expedition through the ups and downs of this morning spectacle. Act One: The Breakfast Conundrum Ah, breakfast, the meal that's supposed to kickstart our day but often leaves us pondering life's mysteries. Do we opt for the nutritious yet bland oatmeal or dive headfirst into the sugary abyss of cereal? And who decided that avocado toast should require a small loan? But fear not, brave breakfast warriors, for in this battlefield of culinary choices, there's always the trusty toaster, ready to char our bread into submission. Act Two: The Coffee Chronicles Enter coffee, the elixir of life, the nectar of productivity, and the reason why the human race hasn't devolved into a collective nap. But beware, for the path to caffeinated enlightenment is fraught with peril. From the dreaded empty coffee pot at the office to the overly enthusiastic barista who insists on spelling your name wrong, every sip is a gamble. And let's not forget the existential crisis induced by realizing you've developed a dependency on a bean-infused beverage to function. Act Three: The Work Whirlwind Finally, we reach the pièce de résistance: work. Whether you're a corporate titan or a humble freelancer, navigating the treacherous waters of productivity is no easy feat. There's the constant battle against procrastination, where even the most mundane household chores suddenly become irresistible. And who hasn't experienced the sheer panic of accidentally hitting "reply all" on an email meant for your eyes only? The Grand Finale: A Symphony of Chaos But fear not, intrepid adventurers of the morning routine, for amidst the chaos and calamity, there lies beauty. There's the camaraderie forged over shared breakfast mishaps, the bonding moments in the coffee queue, and the triumphs of conquering deadlines against all odds. So let us raise our mugs to the glorious mess that is breakfast, coffee, and work, for without them, life would be a dull and dreary affair indeed.