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Water Water Everywhere, Not a Drop to Drink: The Knowing-Doing Gap (11)

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We live in a world that is soaked in knowledge. Everywhere you turn there is another book, a video, another “life-changing” podcast. LinkedIn is bursting with thought leadership. YouTube offers everything from strategy lessons to how to peel a banana using quantum physics.

And yet most of us are stuck.

It is not that we do not know enough. It is that we are not doing enough with what we already know.

This, my friends, is the Knowing-Doing Gap.

At an individual level, we know we should eat better, move more, email less, and be more present but somehow we are still ordering takeaways while multitasking between 14 tabs and wondering why we feel tired and slightly existential.

At a team level, businesses attend workshops, post selfies from strategy offsites, and have action plans colour-coded to within an inch of their lives. Yet somehow, the actual action bit gets delayed until Q4 when “things quiet down a bit” which of course they never do.

And at the organisational level, there are enough frameworks floating around to make a PowerPoint cry. Vision statements, Transformation journeys, Capability matrices, Innovation hubs. It all sounds very impressive until you realise that Tuesday’s big decision is still being made based on gut feel and Susan’s spreadsheet from 2019.

It is not about knowing. It is about doing.

Everyone is busy gathering knowledge like a precious gem. And then it sits in a folder somewhere. Untouched. Unused. Forgotten.

Let me bring it to life with an example. In Breaking Bad, Walter White goes from high school chemistry teacher to drug kingpin. Now setting aside the moral debate for a moment what is fascinating is that his success does not come from learning something new. It comes from applying what he already knows. He simply starts doing. Ruthlessly. Relentlessly. Effectively.

Knowledge in isolation did nothing for him. Action did. That is what changed his world.

Now I am not suggesting anyone start cooking meth, let us be absolutely clear on that. But I am suggesting that bridging the Knowing-Doing Gap can be life changing. In fact it can be happiness changing.

Happiness is not just about dreams or ideas, it is about progress. When we feel stuck it is often because we know what we should be doing but we are not doing it. That disconnect creates frustration stress and eventually burnout.

I spend a lot of time helping people and organisations close that gap. Not by giving them more theory or fluff but by working with what is already in front of them and turning it into action. My methodologies are designed to create those small shifts that unlock bigger momentum. No hype. No magic wands. Just intentional movement.

And sometimes, doing less knowing and more doing is the smartest move of all.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a webinar to ignore.

❤️ASB

Per-fectly Fine… Until It Wasn’t : Defect vs Perfect-A Two-Letter Mystery (10)

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Have you ever stared at a brilliant plan, only to watch it unravel faster than a cheap jumper in a tumble dryer?

You’re not alone.

Turns out, the line between defect and perfect is thinner than we think ; just one tiny prefix, in fact.

Both words come from the Latin ‘facere’, which means to make.

So “fect” is just the thing being made. Then comes the twist:

  • Add “de-” and you’ve made a defect. Something’s wrong. Off. Missing a piece. Probably squeaks when it moves.
  • Add “per-” and you’ve got perfect. Complete, works like a charm, might even sparkle a bit.

The difference? Literally a couple of letters.

But the result? Worlds apart.

It’s like giving Voldemort and Harry Potter the same wand and asking them both to build a team.
One ends up with loyal friends, a bit of chaos, and eventual success.

The other ends up with a snake, questionable leadership choices, and no nose.

And here’s the thing: in our personal and professional lives, we do this to ourselves all the time.

We know what needs to happen. We’ve got the strategy, the plan, the slides, the stakeholder sign-off.
Then somehow, between the knowing and the doing… things go sideways.

Suddenly, what was meant to be perfect starts to crack.

Maybe the communication wasn’t clear.
Maybe the rollout missed the mark.
Maybe someone decided to change the brief after everything was built.

Whatever the reason, the end result gets labelled a “defect” ; even if it started with the best of intentions.

This, friends, is the infamous Knowing–Doing Gap. Where ideas go in shiny and come out slightly disappointing.

It’s not always because people don’t care or don’t try. It’s just easy to trip over that tiny prefix ; to slide from “Per” to “De” without even noticing.

So next time something feels off; whether it’s a personal misstep or a business idea that didn’t quite stick, don’t be too harsh on yourself. Often, what looks like a flaw is just the starting line. The real journey begins when we notice the gap, take ownership, and work with intent to close it; bit by bit, day by day

In both life and business, “perfect” isn’t a fixed point; it’s a moving target shaped by clarity, action, and growth. And the good news? Defect doesn’t disqualify you from the journey. In fact, it starts it.

What if every so-called defect was just a perfect excuse to begin again, this time with more purpose?

❤️ASB

Fork It, I Miss My Spoon: Choosing Authenticity over Acceptance, One Grain at a Time (8)

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Fluffy basmati rice, steam rising; a little dal pooling at the edges. Maybe a bit of pickle for the brave. That perfect bite, balanced, warm, slightly messy, lovingly scooped with a Spoon; Not stabbed with a Fork; Not chased around like you’re playing tag with your dinner.

That was my childhood in India. Rice and spoon were a team, they understood each other. Then I moved to the West, and somewhere between work lunches, dinner invites, and the occasional “Oh you still use a spoon?” look, I made the switch. I forked my rice; Badly!

Not because it worked better , but because it helped me fit in. Or at least felt like I was trying to.

That’s how it often starts; Small things. A spoon here, a phrase there. You adjust to blend in, you stop correcting people when they say your name wrong, you laugh politely at jokes you don’t find funny, you wear the neutral colours, speak the expected way. Slowly, without noticing, you trade little pieces of your authentic self for the comfort of belonging.

We’ve all done it. Sometimes it’s survival, sometimes it’s strategy but sometimes, it’s just habit. And after a while, you forget what eating with the spoon even felt like.

But here’s the twist. Fitting in is not the same as being seen.

Have you seen The Devil Wears Prada ? Andy starts out as herself. Unsure, curious, maybe a little out of place. Then she transforms. Sleek clothes, designer shoes, fluent in fashion speak. She fits in, but somewhere along the way, she loses her spark. She realises she’s no longer herself, just a high-functioning version of who she thought she needed to be. In the end, she walks away. Not out of rebellion, but out of clarity. She chooses authenticity over approval.

We don’t connect with perfect people. We connect with real ones. The ones who occasionally spill dal on their shirts or pronounce things differently or eat rice the “wrong” way. Because that’s what being human looks like.

So yes, I can use a fork. I’ve adapted. I know my way around a salad. But when I’m home, when it’s Rajma Chawal night, when the food means something, I reach for the spoon.

Not just because it works better but because it feels like me.

And maybe that’s the point. You can learn the rules, adapt when needed, and still keep the parts of you that matter. You can show up with your spoon in a world full of forks.

Because sometimes, the best way to fit in is by standing out ✨.

❤️ASB

Credibility isn’t a Costume. It’s your Own Skin! (4)

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We live in a world that’s constantly whispering in our ears… and by whispering, I mean yelling in 100 point font across social media posts and “10 things never to do if you want to be taken seriously” articles.

Don’t say this.
Never post that.
Avoid these phrases if you want to appear credible.

It’s like credibility has been turned into a checklist, a formula, a script. Smile just enough, speak just right, and for heaven’s sake, never let them see the real you because that might be too much.

Here’s the problem. The more you try to become what you think the world wants, the further you drift from who you actually are. And the further you drift, the more you sound like an AI-generated coach from 2025. Respectfully.

Now let’s take this idea to Hollywood. Remember The Greatest Showman? Hugh Jackman’s character, P.T. Barnum, spends most of the movie trying to impress high society. He wears the right clothes, says the right things, and courts the “credible” people. But in chasing their approval, he starts sidelining the very performers who made him special; the ones who were unapologetically different.

It all falls apart. Because in trying to gain credibility by being something he’s not, he loses connection, trust, and eventually, himself.

He does find his way back but only by embracing his authentic crew ; the bearded lady, the trapeze artists, the oddballs. And the moment he does? That’s when he truly becomes credible. Not because he ticks the boxes. But because he owns his story.

In real life, it’s the same. I’ve seen leaders who try to “present well” and end up sounding like a podcast with the playback speed set to 1.5x. ( Self included 😳) and I’ve seen people who speak with simple honesty and light up the room. No filters, no corporate gloss. Just truth, passion, and the courage to be seen.

Authenticity isn’t a vulnerability. It’s a superpower. Because when you speak from who you are, not from what you think people want to hear, you earn something no strategy can buy: trust.

So the next time someone tells you “never say this if you want to be credible,” pause and ask yourself ; is it really about the words, or is it about the intention behind them?

Because you can’t fake your way to being believable. People don’t trust perfect. They trust real.

Be you. Weird quirks, quiet confidence, chaotic brilliance, subtle disasters and all. It beats polished pretence any day.

Are you searching for that Secret Ingredient of Success? (3)

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Let me begin with an apology.

Spoiler alert: If you haven’t watched Kung Fu Panda; firstly, where have you been? Secondly, this post will absolutely ruin the surprise ending for you. So either go watch it now and come back (we’ll wait) or accept that today is the day you learn a life lesson with or without animated animals.

Now, let’s talk about success.

It’s the golden goose. The treasure chest. The scroll guarded at the top of the mountain (or in this case, the Jade Palace). Whether you’re a leader chasing the next growth target, a professional climbing the corporate ladder, or someone just trying to figure it out; it’s likely you’ve wondered:

“What’s the secret ingredient?”

The formula. The edge. The “X” factor

“What do top performers really have that others don’t?”
“What makes certain change projects succeed when others fail?”
“What’s the silver bullet, Ankur?”

And that’s when I point to the legendary showdown in Kung Fu Panda

🐼 The Scroll, the Showdown… and the Shocker

Tai Lung, the formidable villain, spends the entire film battling (quite literally) for the Dragon Scroll. Said to hold the secret to limitless power and ultimate Kung Fu mastery, this scroll has been mythologized for years

He finally gets his paws on it; after a fight that breaks walls, bridges, and possibly all safety regulations, and what does he find?

Nothing.

Just a shimmering reflective surface. A mirror

It’s empty. Or rather, it reflects back the one truth that no one dared say out loud:

The secret ingredient is… YOU.

Yep. That’s it. No glowing orb. No magic spell. Just belief.

🧠 Sounds Simple, Feels Ridiculous, Works Like Magic

I know. It sounds like one of those motivational posters with eagles soaring above mountain tops.

But the truth is; It’s YOU.

The leader who chooses to lead with clarity instead of chaos.
The team that stops outsourcing accountability and starts owning their evolution.
The individual who dares to act on their Intent; even before they’re 100% ready.

That’s the secret. You are the ingredient.

💡 Wait, So What Does That Mean Practically?

Let’s get real. We’re not saying, “Just believe in yourself and unicorns will fund your next business.”

We’re saying:

  • Before you chase another tool, technique, or training… pause and ask: What belief am I operating from?
  • When launching a change project, don’t just cascade goals; build conviction.
  • When applying Intentonomics®, especially the “I”: Integrity of Thought; ask yourself if you’re coming from fear, doubt… or authentic purpose.

🥢 Final Bite of Wisdom (Panda Style)

The film ends with Po finally understanding what his father meant when he said the secret ingredient in his Secret Ingredient Soup… was that there is no secret ingredient.

It was always just… him.

And similarly, you my friend, are the secret ingredient in your own scroll.

Now go unleash it.

Love, ASB

Am I on the Right Path? (1)

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It’s a question that comes back to haunt all of us at different stages of life, career, or business:

Sometimes it whispers. Sometimes it screams. And often, it creates unnecessary anxiety because somewhere deep inside, we’ve been conditioned to believe that the right path is a single, straight, unchanging road.

But what if that belief itself is flawed?

The Myth of the Fixed Path

We live in a world that idolises clear roadmaps.

  • Start here.
  • Do X.
  • Accomplish Y.
  • Reach Z.

Certainty is comforting. Predictability feels safe. But the reality of life, leadership, and enterprise rarely works this way.

Paths are not railway tracks.
They are more like rivers ; meandering, adaptive, shaped by the terrain they flow through.

Rigid attachment to a fixed path often leads to frustration when life throws up unforeseen bends. Industries evolve. Technologies disrupt. Personal priorities shift. Global events reshape the playing field. The destination you had in mind at the start might no longer even exist by the time you’re halfway there.

The path is simply how you’re trying to get there. And that can, and often should, change.

  • A business model might need pivoting.
  • A career trajectory may demand reinvention.
  • A product may evolve into a service.
  • A personal ambition may mature into something deeper.

Staying rigid on the path often closes doors that may actually be better suited to fulfilling your original desire.

Flexibility Is Not Failure

Too many people confuse flexibility with weakness.

They say:
“But if I change course, does it mean I failed?”

Not at all. Flexibility is a sign of intelligence. It reflects awareness, adaptability, and an ability to navigate reality rather than fight it.

In my own journey; whether building businesses, guiding leaders, holding public office or growing intellectually , I’ve seen that my intent stays largely consistent, but my methods evolve continuously.

  • The brands I build today are different from what I envisioned years ago.
  • The frameworks (PIFFLE®, Intentonomics ®, Route to Shopper ®, K.SA.R™) emerged as my understanding deepened.
  • The markets I serve expanded as opportunities unfolded.
  • Even my personal priorities shifted as life progressed.

The desire to build excellence, create impact, and help others strengthen their choices remains intact. But how I do it? That’s fluid by design.

The Real Danger: Quitting vs. Adapting

Let’s make one distinction very clear:

  • Changing direction is adaptation.
  • Giving up entirely is abandonment.

The danger isn’t that you’ll change direction ; the danger is that fear or pride will make you stop moving altogether.

Keep moving. Keep recalibrating. Hold the intent tightly, but hold the method lightly.

Excellence is not found in perfect plans.
Excellence is found in the intent to continue, adapt, and grow.

– Ankur Shiv Bhandari (ASB)