Like a child thrown into water, I wished to learn to swim. So I started my journey back in February - and though the learning curve with this approach is steep, but the learning by doing methodology certainly works for me! 

However, time that you don’t have the ability to mould, and that derives meaning from our collective understanding can create dissonance between what you want, and what you ought to want. The entrepreneurial ecosystem in India today is energetic and blooming, success stories and inspirations run rife, investments and opportunities waiting to be caught. But what we end up seeing are the fully formed walls and rooms, and not as often the reinforcement, pipes, nuts and bolts that allow the building to stand upright, absorb shocks and continue to work well. The invisible machinery that often takes a long time to build and evolve, and forms the foundation of all that grows above ground. In building this, there are many failures, when time either stands still or literally passes by. To be able to catch the signals that can help us learn from failures and adapt to improve, should truly define growth.

These signals can defy time in a way that can make you feel that you’ve missed the train on the unicorn status, the next series E investment or the 30 under 30,40,50 lists, but I believe speed is not a prerequisite to all growth. Take for instance, the human body. We’ve advanced so much today that we’re able to detect the direction of little nerve impulses that run through our bodies. Any small shift in patterns is easily recognisable, but we also continue to discover how much more we don’t know about how the body functions. I chanced upon an article that talked about how long it actually takes for neurons to transfer signals that help you think, feel pain or learn something new. It said,

“Some kinds of signals, like the ones for muscle position, travel on extra-fast nerve impulses at speeds of up to 390 feet per second (119 meter/second). Close your eyes and wave your arms around: you can tell where they are at every moment because the muscle-position nerves are very fast …. But other messages, like some kinds of pain signals, travel much more slowly. If you stub your toe, you feel the pressure right away because touch signals travel at 250 feet per second. But you won't feel the pain for another two or three seconds, because pain signals generally travel at only two feet per second." (Parizh David, 2002, Speed of Nerve Impulses)

It got me thinking about what this might mean in the context of building a brand like Sundooq, that places the values of equitable growth and community at par with that of profit. What signals does it require to fuel growth, get inspired or understand when to look for support?

As we acknowledge that not all learning and action can take place at the speed of light, what signals can help us prioritise? I wanted to reach out to you today to share my heartfelt gratitude for coming on board this journey with us, and further to ask you-

how can we improve and better build Sundooq for you?

No learning is complete without reflection, and no rollercoaster without support beams. You are not just our customers and friends, but early supporters without whom Sundooq would not have been standing. As we slowly but steadily build the machinery that supports all that Sundooq will craft and share, we want you to not just ride, but drive this rollercoaster with us, so that we build Sundooq for what you truly want.

So tell us how Sundooq has helped check things off your annual list of things to be done, and what it can do for you in the year that is to come. I’ve put together a short feedback form to help start things off, and wish to keep this conversation going. I’ve timed it myself and can assure you it should not take more than 3 minutes of your time (unexpanded and unconstrained!). Alternatively, if you prefer to share your thoughts on a call, I would love to chat. Just click here and pick a time that works best for you.

Machine learning researchers train artificial neural networks by feeding them a huge set of solutions to a specific task, for instance, identifying pictures of a tree, pot or a pizza.

Imagine us, to be your personal network of all things flavourful, beautiful and memorable, and feed us all that you can, so what we make will be just as you had wished for. 

It's also the season of giving and how can I not reciprocate for you giving us your time. Once you share your feedback with us, we'll send you a sample of our exciting new chutney mix, something we've been working on for months!  All I'm going to reveal is that it's nutty and smells as fresh as mint :) 

I look forward to all that you will share and feed us, and to get to know you better.

With love and curiosity,

The KHHAT is a medium to share our ideas, explorations and discoveries, while connecting you to mysterious experiences, obscure places, and gifted people, in the form of a letter that reaches your inbox once a month. You can simply respond back to this email telling me what you liked or not in The Khhat, ask a question you wouldn't ask google or bing, or just to say no more khhats please. 

*Khhat or ख़त means a letter, in urdu. 

 Listen to the orchestral score - At the Speed of Stillness by Charlotte Bray

*Remember to mask up, sanitize often and celebrate, but carefully. Eat well, stay healthy.