Take a pause with Varun Duggirala

We love to hate on labels, as we should. And yet, we tend to label ourselves so many things – ‘lazy’ and ‘procrastinator’ being two common ones. But ask yourself if these are just habits you can change, or are they really innate characteristics that define who you are? In this episode, Varun explains why you may need a mindset reset on how you label yourself. It might actually give you more contro...

Growing up, did your parents and teachers tell you to give it your all? Even as an adult, do you feel the pressure to perform at your 100% all the time? Maybe you don’t need to. Perhaps you could get a better outcome if you did a little less than 100%. In this episode Varun talks about why NBA star LeBron James believes in performing at 99%. Tune in to find out why he chooses to hold back that 1%....

Do you feel the need to overshare on social media out of the fear of being forgotten? Perhaps it would be helpful for you to learn about NOMO - the Necessity of Missing Out! In this episode, poet, performer and artist Megha Rao takes some time out of her digital detox for an insightful chat with Varun. She talks about the importance of being mindful & present while searching for internal valid...

How often do you let fear decide for you? Do you end up not trying something simply out of fear? But growth and evolution cannot happen without failure. Listen to this episode to help you change how you perceive failure. As someone who has grappled with this fear himself, Varun delves into an excerpt about the fear of failure from his book Everything Is Out of Syllabus.  You can Order Varun’s...

Is brilliance an outcome of one mind or the coming together of many minds? In a world that champions the likes of Elon Musk and Steve Jobs, it’s hard not to want to emulate the kind of success they have enjoyed. Don’t we all want to be called a mad genius? But that’s a lot of pressure to place on our own shoulders. Instead, why not embrace the collective concept of a “scenius”? What’s that you ask...

We’re constantly juggling the various spheres of our life – work, family, friends, health – trying to find a balance. Our inner juggler may not be a pro, resulting in us dropping the ball sometimes. Varun explains the 4 Burner Theory, which may not be a solution but may help you better understand how to bring balance.  You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction...

Problems can appear at times like a whirlpool, surrounding you entirely and pulling you in deeper. The small, mundane ones to the bigger, life-altering ones; it’s easy to get sucked in and start seeing problems that don’t exist. Swim back to the surface, focus on the present and what’s in front of you. Varun talks about how he channels his overthinking into a more positive place. Sign up for Mari...

Does it feel like the world is out to get you? Like fate is not benevolent in your specific case? In Stoicism, there is a concept called Amor Fati. Varun explains this concept and how it can be used to change your perspective about this unyielding, all-powerful fate.  You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335Q...

In the first chat episode of Take a Pause, Varun is joined by entrepreneur, content creator, and author Ankur Warikoo on approaching creativity as a process, finding what works with an audience, and also finding what actually brings happiness. Ankur Warikoo is a public speaker, angel investor, and YouTuber. He’s also the author of Do Epic Shit and the founder of Nearbuy.  Time Stamps (00:00 -...

Every time you choose to learn something, are you only learning enough to hold conversations about it, or are you trying to understand the subject in depth? Surface-level knowledge is like standing on thin ice; it might break under pressure. Varun’s guilty of making this blunder too, tune in as he discusses how he’s making change.  You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An...

How is it that everything The Rock touches turns into gold? Find out on today’s episode, as Varun decodes the formula for success. Music used - cover of The Rock's entrance theme by Zombie Thirteen - https://youtu.be/R07zgX0SKng Originally by Jim Johnston and WWE. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow ...

Ever been asked this question – Who do you want to be like? Have you ever found yourself emulating someone you truly look upto? Then you might love this beautiful lesson from Bhagavad Gita. It could become your key to overcoming an identity crisis. Take a deep dive into this lesson with Varun on this episode.  You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual fo...

Luck shows up in all our lives. More for some, less for others but luck does show up. Varun shares an example from his book, 'Everything Is Out of Syllabus” where he learnt the importance of taking the effort after getting lucky. Tune in to find out more.  Read more life lessons in “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ which can be ordered here - https://...

We all want BIG victories in life. Pop culture has glamourized them with the scenes of big tournaments and boardroom sessions. Before getting to those big victories one needs to achieve small wins. Varun shares the importance of small wins and the impact they have with examples from the gym and also relationships.  Also listen to The Bare Performance Podcast episode with Jim DeCicco of Super...

We keep worrying about the future and all it entails. What's going to come?  What's going to happen?  Where you're going to end up How things will turn out? Varun shares insights from the Amara tribe that will change one’s mindset about the future and also past. Inspired by a scribble by author Austin Kleon. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual...

Often we are guided by the results we see instead of our goals, this leaves us disappointed and give up on them. Instead if we focus on the intentions, the goal stays in sight and keeps us motivated. Varun shares how this perspective has helped him stay fit, write and other aspects of his life. Also listen to “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” episode - 7 steps to Manifesting results in 2022 - https://o...

"Slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be" this line by Andre De Shields, the American Tony Award winning theater actor hits hard in the rush of current times. In the daily hustle, we often miss out on opportunity to enjoy and end up tiring ourselves out. Varun shares why life is like a marathon and maybe it's time we start focusing on it one step at a time instead of treating it l...

We try to do too many things at the same time. This leads us to feeling stretched, burnout and dissatisfied with the level of focus we can give all our areas of action. This lack of focus stems from what is called "Time confetti" and in this episode Varun drills down into the concept, its effects and how you can beat it. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction man...

We all have moments before a big meeting, an important exam or anything that has a lot of stakes to it. And in the brief pause before the big moment we all need to practise 5 steps that bring the most value to our mindset and performance. Understanding these stages can help us find ways to practise and use them better in our lives. In this episode, Varun drills down on these stages and the value t...

We all need to “Take a pause”, a moment in-between the chaos. To reflect on the past, to focus on the present and prepare for the future. A pause to unravel all the things that seem out of syllabus in our lives. A pause to help us find motivation, develop the right mindset & perform at our best. Welcome to “Take a pause” with Varun Duggirala". Subscribe and tune in on your favourite podcasting...

We all have a zone of genius inside us. Something that’s inside us all along, we just need to spot and use it right. I dig into this in today’s classic episode of “The Varun Duggi Show”  You can Order my book “ Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow   You can also access the Introduction of the book for free by subscribing to...

Fear is something we all run from. But, it can also be a great tool to thrive and grow in our lives. This holds true especially in the practise of “Fear Setting” and I dig into it in today’s classic episode of “The Varun Duggi Show” You can Order my book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow . You can also access the Introduction of the...

Our lives are filled with uncertainty. Things happening around us that we have no control over. Yet, we need to get up everyday and move forward. And there is a singular mindset filter that can help you do just that in the best way possible and I dig into that on today’s episode of “The Varun Duggi Show” You can Order my book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “...

My first book drops on MONDAY the 7th of February and today’s episode is a throwback/ (Best of ) episode where I spoke of my process of creation and writing. Hope it gives you a framework to start or refine your own process. That’s what’s ahead on today’s episode of “The Varun Duggi Show” You can Pre-order my book “Everything is out of syllabus “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow it’s out on 7-February-2...

This weeks episode is a throwback to an episode I did a few months ago on how visualising your ideal day can drive balance in your life. That’s what’s ahead on today’s episode of “The Varun Duggi Show” You can Pre-order my book “Everything is out of syllabus “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow it’s out on 7-February-2022 Follow me across social media platforms @VarunDuggi And to be a part of my exclusive...