A few months ago, Virat Kohli was under fire. His form had dipped, critics were louder than ever, and there were even talks of him going back to play Ranji Trophy to rediscover his touch. His 2024 stats weren’t helping either—just 655 runs in 23 matches, averaging a mere 21.83.
But Kohli didn’t waste time proving why he still belonged.
Instead, he focused on improving. He doubled down on his game, trained harder, and fine-tuned his mindset. And on Sunday, in the high-pressure India vs. Pakistan match, he silenced the doubters in the best way possible—with a match-winning century.
This is what separates the greats. They don’t seek validation. They seek growth.
1-1-1 Breakdown: Shift from Proving to Improving
Ask yourself—are you making decisions to impress others or to actually get better? True growth happens when you prioritize progress over perception.
→ Remember: The need to prove yourself will keep you stuck. The drive to improve will take you forward.
Instead of asking, “How can I prove my worth?”, start asking, “What skill, mindset, or habit can I improve this week?”
→ Do this now: Pick one area—business, leadership, or personal skills—and commit to improving by 1% this week.
“If you continuously compete with others, you become bitter. If you continuously compete with yourself, you become better.”
Next Big Leap (NBL): Improvement Leads to Breakthroughs
Your Next Big Leap won’t come from convincing others that you’re capable—it’ll come from becoming someone who’s undeniably skilled, prepared, and resilient.
When you focus on improving, not proving, success stops being a question—it becomes a byproduct of your growth.
So, what’s the one thing you’ll improve this week?
Thanks for Reading!
Hey! I’m Alkesh Agarwal.
An entrepreneur and investor who believes that as we dive into 2025, let’s take bold leaps, embrace growth, and focus on what truly matters – Health, Happiness, and meaningful progress. Here’s to making every step of the journey count!
Start your leap with these tools and ideas:
Read: Mindset by Carol Dweck —A game-changer on the power of focusing on growth.
Watch: This TED Talk on “Why Learning Beats Knowing” —Why the best leaders prioritize improvement over expertise.
Try This Tool: Notion—Track your personal and professional improvements with structure.
