Striving towards Excellence

-Karthik Gurumurthy

-Karthik Gurumurthy

Dr. Louis Brus delivered his Nobel Prize lecture today  at the Aula Magna, Stockholm University. He was introduced by Professor Heiner Linke, Member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry. He was awarded the Nobel Prize this year for his work in Quantum dots.

“We’re all trapped by our educational backgrounds. You come out of school knowing a certain field but you don’t know about any other fields of science. That limits what you can do for sure. The way to combat this is to every day learn something new. I tell my grad students that the greatest skill they have is to continue to learn by themselves after they have left graduate school. Most of the things I have used in my life are things that were invented after I left graduate school and I had to keep learning just to keep up with the field.”- Louis Brus

You can watch the entire lecture here.

Continuous learning is the key to staying relevant in an ever-evolving world. Louis Brus's perspective resonates deeply – the ability to adapt and acquire new knowledge independently is indeed a priceless skill.

It's fascinating to hear about Louis Brus's emphasis on continual learning beyond formal education, especially in a field as dynamic as science.

It reinforces the idea that success isn't just about innate genius, but about a commitment to growth and staying curious. 

-Karthik Gurumurthy

From a young age, I've harbored a deep desire to become a valuable member of society. I believe that each of us has a unique purpose and the potential to make a positive impact on the world around us. As I look ahead to this new chapter, I encourage all of you to consider how you too can become valuable members of society. It's not about fame or fortune, but rather about the lasting impact we leave on the lives of others.

As I step into my 50s, I am filled with gratitude for the journey thus far and excitement for the adventures that lie ahead. My wish is that each of you embarks on your own journey of becoming a valuable member of society, leaving a legacy that shines brightly for generations to come.

Thank you for being a part of my journey, and let's continue to inspire and uplift one another.

For my birthday, I have shared a list of lessons to document on the lessons I have learned over the years.

• Stop talking and start doing. NOW!
• Get over yourself. Anything worth doing is worth sucking at it…at first.
• Be your own boss—no matter who you work for.
• Please make sure your wife is well taken care of. Marriage is a garden that requires consistent attention to flourish.
• Give your kids the gift of working through their own struggles.
• Assume any text, email, or anything in writing will become public.
• Embrace change before it’s forced on you.
• Stop arguing and start listening. You don’t win people over with logic. You win them over by listening.
• Be generous with your time, ideas, attention, smiles, compliments, and money.
• Remember the Caterpillar and the Butterfly. In your struggle to break out of your darkest moments, you transform into something new and build the strength in your wings to soar.
• Persist until you succeed, but also know when it’s wise to quit.
• Earn respect by respecting yourself first.
• Demand more of yourself than anyone else could ever imagine expecting of you.
• Pursue excellence in the 5 F’s of your life—Faith, Family, Finances, Fitness, and Friendships. Weakness in any area puts your entire life out of balance.
• Stretch your comfort zone daily. Life’s best opportunities lie on the other side of fear.
• Embrace failure, but don’t repeat it.
• Celebrate success, but don’t rest on it.
• Live each day with urgency—and patience.
• Don’t worry about the failure that could be. Worry about the regret that’s guaranteed if you don’t try.
• Stay grounded by deepening your faith.
• Accomplish big goals with small steps.
• Thank those who doubted you.
• Inspire others to break through their barriers to success by breaking through your own.
• Reject rejection. People don’t reject you as a person. They reject your words, ideas, offer, or product. Don’t take it personally.
• Always Be Serving
• Solve people’s problems, and you’ll never be unemployed.
• Treat everyone with dignity and respect—especially your enemies and critics.
• Dress to show respect.
• Surround yourself with people who raise your game.
• Find joy in the journey-especially your struggles.
• Fear mediocrity, not failure.
• Learn how- and when-to say no.

-Karthik Gurumurthy

18262 days in this planet. and starting 18263rd day here. Thankful to amazing parents, wife, brother, teachers, friends and family for being there throughout this journey. My journey would have ended in 3176 days if not for all the Blessings and prayers from parents. 

There’s something about milestone birthdays that make us reflect. And as great as it is to look back and be grateful for all the experiences that have shaped who I am today, I’m even more excited to look forward at what’s yet to come. You see, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that every day is a gift. We only get one life, and it’s up to us to decide how to spend our time. Working on making each day count for making a positive impact to make sure dash counted for something good. Don’t let people scare you. 50 is amazing!

I have more life experience than ever before.
I know myself better than ever before.
I have more meaningful relationships, and a purpose that drives me to get up and be excited about my work.
I have no idea what aging gracefully means, but aging happily is pretty sweet.

My wife Shobana was so thoughtful and kind to reach out to my long list of students and created an amazing video which made my day. I can't imagine the amount of work that went for creating that. It was lovely to see students from different timelines joining hands. Awesome to see everyone. Thank you, Shobana. It was the best Birthday gift, ever.

Spending time with my mom, son and wife. What more can I ask for? I do miss my dad, though. But I know he is there with me all the time guiding us every step on a day-to-day basis.

My advice is don’t get so busy with life that you forget to live. Spend your time wisely and invest in the things and people worth your time and energy.

• It's an opportunity to reflect and share some life lessons.
• The world is not black and white. Life is full of complexities and nuances, shades of gray that make every situation unique. Embrace the ambiguity and learn to navigate through it.
• Getting along is more important than being right. You don't always have to win every argument. Sometimes, maintaining relationships and harmony is far more essential.
• Nothing is more important than family. They are your rock in times of storm, your source of joy and balance. Cherish them.
• Elevation requires separation. Go work on yourself.
• There is a difference between giving your kids the you never had vs. giving them the things you never needed.
• Carpe diem: Seize the day, seize the moment, seize the opportunity. Make the most out of every day.
• Let go of what you can't control. Worrying about things beyond your control only drains your energy. Focus on what you can influence and let the rest unfold as it will.

As I step into the second half-century of my life, I carry these lessons close to my heart. Hoping they resonate with you too.

Thankful and  feeling Blessed for everything. I have been blessed abundantly in every facet of life. I couldn't have asked for more.

When I was born 50 years ago today, my parents certainly rejoiced in the gift of my life. Today, I know that what I most desire—for my life to have significance, to add value, to be coherent—is not an achievement but a gift.