Building Calm in Chaos

Hello!

It’s Thursday, 26^th June 2025. Welcome back to Bold Efforts. Every Thursday we take stock of how work and life are changing. Earlier this week I spent long hours outside an ICU while my wife was in surgery. At the same time, it seemed that the world outside might go to war. Private worry met public turmoil. Pain was personal, uncertainty was global. And both made me realize that the world can tilt without notice. That jolt is the theme of today’s issue.

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Key Idea: Uncertainty

Look around. Geopolitics triggers drone strikes that reroute planes. Heat waves knock out city power. A new AI tool can wipe out a revenue stream before the quarter ends. Nobody sends a friendly heads‑up. The first sign is a twinge of worry, then a full‑blown crisis.

Risk stacks on risk. When a single ship got wedged in the Suez Canal, 10% of global trade froze for nearly a week, costing the world billions each day. One stuck vessel exposed countless weak links.

Smart companies treat discomfort as data. Their teams work across time zones, not for style but for early warning. A project lead in Manila flags a shipping delay, and inventory shifts before the story hits the wires. A developer in Warsaw hears talk of capital controls, and finance moves cash while rates stay calm. Scattered eyes spot the flicker, and the organisation shifts before the ground moves.

The same rule applies to careers. Relying on one employer, one currency, or one skill is a bet that tomorrow will mirror today. A side hustle earning in another market, a language that opens a second passport, or a network that bridges industries is not a hobby. It is insurance.

Preparation starts with curious questions. Doctors drill emergency codes. Pilots practice go‑arounds. We can copy that habit. Pick a short list of numbers that matter to your life or work, such as cash on hand, engagement rate, and delivery time. Check them each week. If one drifts, act early while it is cheap.

There is no master manual, only a posture. Stretch your view and move while the signal is still a whisper. Switch suppliers before shortages bite. Learn the next tool before automation sweeps your role. Bank time, cash, and goodwill before a storm turns them into the only currencies that count.

Missiles, models, and megastorms will keep redrawing the map. We cannot stop every tremor, but we can listen early. Readiness keeps the lights on and the work moving when the world tilts. There is perhaps some truth to the below (anonymous) quote.

Pain shows up in real ways for workers. A designer worries that AI will slice her billable hours. A plant supervisor wonders if a reshoring plan might erase his role next quarter. These doubts leak into late‑night searches and tense family chats. Uncertainty is not a headline. It is a knot in the stomach.

Yet uncertainty also cracks windows. If risks can stack, so can skills. One YouTube video marathon can add a new tool to your belt. A small contract in another currency can build a hedge against your local market. A Saturday side project can open a door that your day job never will. Skill stacking turns anxiety into an upgrade path, layer by layer.

Progress rarely arrives as a Hollywood montage. It shows up as tiny bets that compound: writing one newsletter issue, shipping one micro‑feature, recording one tutorial. Each piece clicks onto the next like Lego bricks. Over time the structure is strong enough to bear the weight of a surprise.

So start small and stay playful. Trade tips with friends, test ideas in public, and celebrate every inch of momentum. Chaos is raw material when you use it to build!

Thanks for reading. See you next Thursday.

Best,
Kartik

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Who am I?
I’m Kartik, founder of Polynomial Studio, a holding company and product studio building AI-driven businesses for the future of work. The way we work and live is being rewritten. AI, remote work, and shifting economic forces are reshaping careers, businesses, and entire industries. The big question is where it’s all heading.

For the past eight years, I’ve been at the forefront of these shifts, working across real estate, technology, startups, and corporate strategy. I’ve helped businesses navigate change and stay ahead of what’s next, always focused on understanding the forces shaping our future and how we can use them to build something better. Click here to know more about me.

Why Bold Efforts?
I started Bold Efforts because I believe work should fit into life, not the other way around. Too many people are stuck in outdated systems that don’t serve them. This newsletter is about challenging the status quo and making the effort to design work around life. It brings together bold ideas and actionable insights to help you build a healthier, more balanced relationship with work, leading to greater purpose and fulfillment. If you’re looking for fresh perspectives on how to work and live better, you’re in the right place.

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