“Operating on less than six hours of sleep, your immune system may function at merely 40 to 50% of its full potential. This is why individuals who suffer from poor sleep quality, including those with sleep apnoea, exhibit a higher incidence of cancer and Alzheimer's disease.”— Darshan Shah
The quote archive
A growing archive of 3,000+ moments, drawn from every interview.
I owned a US$500 million hedge fund when I decided to retire from Wall Street. On paper, I was on top of the world. Inside, though, something was missing. All of the money and material things in the world could never fill that void. It was painful to admit, but I had climbed up to the top of the wrong mountain.
— Chatri SityodtongFounder and Chairman of ONE Championship, premier Asian MMA organization
When I sense stress, I allot three minutes to fully immerse myself in it. Many individuals attempt to escape stress, but evasion often amplifies it. It's akin to instructing someone not to think of pink elephants; the very command makes it impossible not to.
— Rebecca HeissWe're no longer just measuring ourselves against the 120 members of our local community. Instead, with our devices, we're exposed to global icons like Bill Gates, Oprah, or LeBron James, setting standards for our intelligence, beauty, and self-worth. This expanded comparison can be detrimental.
— Rebecca HeissThe brain's adaptability is astounding. The brain is continuously rewiring; it's different now than it was just 30 seconds ago. That is fascinating and offers great promise.
— Rebecca HeissThe stress response is designed for '3 minutes of screaming terror across the Savannah.' If you're not experiencing such an intense moment, it's likely that your stress response isn't calibrated right. In our digital age, it might lead to an inadvertent 'reply all' or perhaps a hastily written email.
— Rebecca HeissOne major overhead entrepreneurial business often grapple with is the exorbitant rent in cities. Moving to a smaller town offers a significant reduction in these costs and promotes regional economic balance.
— Sridhar VembuFounder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, cloud computing company
When you invest in training individuals, they often become more devoted to your organization. It's almost like a karmic cycle - creating a virtuous cycle of growth and loyalty.
— Sridhar VembuFounder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, cloud computing company
Think of bootstrapping like a multi-stage booster rocket, where each stage propels and prepares you for the next, and the momentum continues building.
— Sridhar VembuFounder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, cloud computing company
Choosing not to rely on outside funding offers greater freedom overall. While there's significant sacrifice upfront, about 10 years down the line, you begin to truly value the autonomy it provides.
— Sridhar VembuFounder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, cloud computing company
If I was selling research, why not genuinely sell something in the business world? I realized that entrepreneurship might be the key to growth and economic solutions.
— Sridhar VembuFounder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, cloud computing company
Historically, we've viewed the human mind as the paramount problem solver. Yet, is it still our ally, or has it become our adversary? I believe we're at a juncture where the human mind is shifting towards the latter.
— Bryan JohnsonBiohacker & Blueprint Project Founder focused on extreme longevity optimization
The act of humans making choices will become a mere memory. We'll be spectators in a novel arena. But is this the zenith of liberty or just a cage?
— Bryan JohnsonBiohacker & Blueprint Project Founder focused on extreme longevity optimization
Algorithms understand and can guide me better than I can guide myself. The real game-changer is data. I'm willing to yield control to an algorithm that proves to be superior.
— Bryan JohnsonBiohacker & Blueprint Project Founder focused on extreme longevity optimization
For the first time as a species, we're truly in the dark about what's around the corner. In the past, the human brain could synthesize information and anticipate the future. But now, in an era where computational intelligence dominates innovation, no human can accurately forecast what lies ahead.
— Bryan JohnsonBiohacker & Blueprint Project Founder focused on extreme longevity optimization
In the tech sphere, when you acquire a company, you're seldom buying the present product. Instead, you're investing in their future innovations. This means retaining talent is paramount.
— John ChambersFormer CEO of Cisco Systems, led company through internet boom era
I start by asking: How will our customers benefit from this acquisition? I tend to shy away from companies that don't share a similar cultural ethos. Even if an acquisition seems financially sound, if there's a stark cultural mismatch, I'd usually reconsider.
— John ChambersFormer CEO of Cisco Systems, led company through internet boom era