Welcome to The Knowledge Toolkit
We live in a world where more and more value is created by knowledge work, i.e., working with information.
There are over a billion knowledge workers worldwide, yet most of them don’t spend enough time learning the skills that will help them achieve their full potential.
Knowledge workers need two types of skills to succeed at what they are doing:
Technical skills - like programming, design, engineering, editing, financial analysis, etc.
Meta skills - higher-order skills that help you learn new skills and improve existing ones.
When people think of upskilling, they generally mean technical skills. A lot of time is spent sharpening these skills, but almost none on the meta-skills - skills like learning to prioritize a deluge of tasks, taking better notes to retain information, learning to identify and hone in on the highest leverage work for you, and much more.
The best pianists in the world practice scales every day. They practice warm-ups and many variations daily to play the piano better.
What is the equivalent of practicing scales for a knowledge worker?
Are you doing it? Daily?
I’ve worked in big companies and small companies. I’ve worked with effective people and not-so-effective people. I’ve worked with elite performers and normal performers.
What I’ve found is that there are a set of tools, ideas, and frameworks that anyone can use to operate at their highest potential.
This website is about exploring and learning those mental tools, ideas, and frameworks to build the meta-skills that will unlock peak performance for you at work and in life.
About me
I used to work in one of the top Investment Banks in the world, but I quit last year to make videos on the internet. Currently working at a creative venture firm where I split my time across Adventures, Fellowships, and Media.
You can find some of my work below. You can also follow my Twitter for micro-thoughts.
Professional
As a Strategist, I’ve helped launch one of the fastest-growing banks in the UK, helped align the largest US bank with the Paris agreement, and much more.
As an engineer, I’ve built data warehouses for hedge funds as well as apps used in the largest breast cancer screening program in India.
Everything else
Music: Singer-songwriter, pianist, and a guitarist
Videography: I’ve shot, edited, and created hundreds of videos over the past decade. Here are some of them.
Art & Design: Carousels and designs on Instagram
Programming: I got back to coding a while back. Now focussing on two things - AI and JS
Here are some of my favorite things
Favorite Books
Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
This book changed the way I saw the world. It introduced a whole new way to think about decision-making under uncertainty. Few books have been as joyous to read as this one. All books in the Incerto series are worth reading over and over again.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
The first time I read this book, I was a teenager. The book made no sense. The second time I read this book, I was a grown adult. The book made complete sense.
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
My brother gave me this book. I read it at 22, and the ideas have stuck with me since
Two of the habits, in particular, changed my life
Begin with the end in mind
Sharpen the saw (every day)
Barking up the Wrong Tree by Eric Barker
There is a chapter on maintaining balance in life. That chapter led me to create my own framework for life. Life-changing book indeed
Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don't Make Sense by Rory Sutherland
The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
On the Shortness of Life by Seneca
Principles by Ray Dalio
Favorite Articles
How to do what you love and make money by Derek Sivers
This article is why I have a day job and why I pursue the creative arts at nights and weekends
Mental models by Farnam Street
Mental models are shortcuts for making decisions in the face of uncertainty and complexity. The better your mental models, the better your thinking. The better your thinking, the better your life
The Tail End by Tim Urban
We don't have as much time as we think we do.
Peter Thiel's Religion by David Perell
This article introduced me to Girard's mimetic theory and changed how I saw the world. It also introduced me to David Perell, because of whom this blog and this page exists
Favorite Videos
Take the Stairs by Rory Vaden
Timelapse of the Future: A journey to the end of time by melodysheep
Favorite Quotes
This too shall pass
Anonymous
Success is never owned, success is only rented and the rent is due everyday
Rory Vaden
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
Mae West
