Stay naked.

By Anamika Joshi on June 10, 2013 23 Comments / 4155 views

There is a naked truth behind everything and everyone.

A start-up hides the head count when on a pitch; a woman hides the financial conditions of her house to her neighbors, a student hides his real percentage from his distant cousin, an employee hides the intentions of switching the job from her boss, the boss hides about how much he values his employee in fear of (you know what), a performer hides his real emotions on stage and teacher hides lack of knowledge about a specific topic to his students.

While many naked truths are hidden to make you feel confident in front of others and to be perceived as perfect and normal, there are some truths that would help you un-complicate your life if presented bluntly in their naked form.

If you mention the real head count of your agency, chances are you may not be trusted with quality work, but if someone trusts you and you are able to deliver quality, you have struck a gold mine. Telling your real percentage to your distant cousin will help you not continue with the fear of being caught and be more open in attitude when interacting – numbers never matter (if only parents could teach this). If a teacher could be brave enough of accepting that he will have to explore more on a topic to teach his students, you can’t imagine the trust he builds with them.

There are many more instances that tells you that being true to yourself first and to others can turn your world up-side down for a moment but then straighten a lot of things for you for a lifetime.

Stay true. Surprise yourself!

This article, first appeared here.

Comments

Anamika Joshi

23 Comments

asha chaudhry June 10, 2013, 8:08 am

JUST LOVED THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

can totally relate to it!!!

great going anamika. you keep surprising me and that to me, is a remarkable quality!!!!!
Tejas Vishnu Nimbargi June 10, 2013, 9:52 am

Absolutely loved it.
The article is not verbose, hits the right chord, has subtlety and perhaps shows how nice a human being you are(Although we haven’t personally met)

Keep writing!

Tejas
Anamika Joshi June 10, 2013, 10:02 am

Thanks a lot Asha.. Feels so glad to be able to surprise you – someone who everyday reads many many inspiring stories and gets them across to us.. Great compliment for someone like me 🙂
Anamika Joshi June 10, 2013, 10:03 am

Wow Tejas – salute to your humble comment.. Feels so good. Hope to meet you soon!
Tejas Vishnu Nimbargi June 10, 2013, 11:35 am

Sure thing 🙂 🙂
Next Open House….
Aman Jha June 10, 2013, 4:53 pm

Great thought…. It never crossed my mind before. I would like to add that, tell 1000 lies to others but, you are naked in front of your own conscience (If your conscience is not dead, of course!)
Akshata Udiaver June 11, 2013, 5:41 am

Well said 🙂
Anamika Joshi June 11, 2013, 5:50 am

well said Aman… That’s so true.
Anamika Joshi June 11, 2013, 5:51 am

Thanks Akshata!!

PS: lovely name 🙂
Akshata Udiaver June 11, 2013, 5:59 am

Thanks, Anamika.

(Funny coincidence – will let you in on a secret. While in school, I used the pen name ‘Anamika’ – I wanted to officially change my name to that too!)

I like all your posts – they have this element of honesty and vulnerability – people usually don’t write about those things. Keep writing!

PS: I’m a ‘nailbiter’ too and I completely agree with the ‘benefits’ you have listed 😉
Anamika Joshi June 11, 2013, 6:15 am

:)))))))))))))) Ok let me share a secret too- My mother wanted my elder sister to be named ‘Anamika’, but somehow it couldn’t happen. Then I landed (;)) and so was lucky enough to get this name.

And thanks a lot for the wonderful words.. Sincerely hope to keep writing the same way… always!

PS: Welcome to the nailbiter’s club!! 🙂
Jasveer singh June 11, 2013, 7:08 am

Really Great Anamika!! just love it, bitter truth.
Anamika Joshi June 11, 2013, 7:21 am

Thanks Jasveer… glad you liked!
Kartik R June 11, 2013, 8:12 am

Staying naked is actually really easy and makes life a lot simpler. While I myself follow this route, I always remember one more saying ” Straight trees are cut first ”
Haresh Motirale June 11, 2013, 8:28 am

How true….useful read…Cheers !!
Anamika Joshi June 11, 2013, 9:33 am

Hi Kartik – the ones who get cut are the ones who are not flexible with the changing situations. While being naked will only add more power to you and your attitude. There is a certain transparency you keep and that makes a lot of difference.

And yes, as you said, it will make life a lot simpler!
Anamika Joshi June 11, 2013, 9:33 am

Thanks Haresh. Glad that you found it useful!
Suresh Mansharamani June 14, 2013, 12:03 pm

Dear Anamika

Loved this post. I would like to share my story which I shared in Gurgaon Rodinhood meetup. My first trip to USA when I was in Garment business and I met a customer who was talking order quantity in 1000 plus dozens per style. I very innocently told him my capacity is only 5000 garments per month and I cant handle big quantities. He loved this truth and said he will see me after few weeks in Delhi. He called me one Sunday morning from a 5 star hotel and asked if we were open on Sundays. Again I told him keys are in my pocket and I will open my small factory on Sunday. He requested me to pick him up. I took my bike and went to his hotel. ( If anybody else would have been in my place he must have hired a car or borrowed from a friend or so). I requested him to hire a taxi and follow me but he insisted he never rode a bike before and sat like both legs one side which was difficult for me to balance. When he saw my cutting master cutting the layers of cloth by hand scissor he gave us advance to buy cutting machine. He ended up giving us advance to buy cloth and quota because he wanted us to handle bigger quantities. I actually stuck a gold mine, so the lesson is its better to tell the truth and stay naked. Customers love it GOD LOVES IT.
Sarvesh R June 14, 2013, 12:43 pm

I have seen and even worked in a couple of startups who hide the real head count. I am about to start pitching my own service to prospects soon. I may have followed the others suite.well, not after this blog. Thankyou.
Anamika Joshi June 14, 2013, 1:38 pm

That’s such an inspiring incident that you have shared… And its so evident that being truthful helped you struck a gold mine in a huge way! Perfect example to summarize my post 🙂 Thanks a lot for sharing sir.
Anamika Joshi June 14, 2013, 1:40 pm

Sarvesh, you have just made my day. To see someone take positive decisions after reading the post is the highest prize I could wish for. Best wishes for your start-up. And yes, you will rock!
manoj surya July 14, 2013, 7:25 am

Awesome post !!!
Rahul Chhajer July 14, 2013, 11:41 am

Very well written Anamika !!

Stay Hungry.. Stay Foolish.. Stay Naked..

Cheers !!