bhaskar saikia

I don’t usually complain in the traditional sense, but if I had to choose something, it would be when people fail to appreciate the beauty of life and its limitless possibilities.

It saddens me to see people weighed down by struggles, forgetting that life, at its core, is an opportunity to explore the unknown.

But people do complain, and their complaints are valid, right?

True.

However, instead of just complaining, why not dig deeper into the root cause? Why do people complain in the first place?

People complain because, for the most part, they don’t fully understand how the world operates. The world functions on a different level. While society often operates within a rule-based framework, the true power lies in a network-based system.

Those who complain are often trapped by the mindset of rules, while those who forge ahead in life recognize the power of a “fast lane”—the network effect.

Paulo Coelho, in his brilliant book The Zahir, introduces the concept of a “favor bank,” which is essentially the network effect. As he writes, “… this world is made up of contacts and nothing else.”

If we look back at history, those who have risen through the ranks of society are often the ones who either tapped into existing networks or created their own, where mutual success was the goal.

Stick together, you become stronger. Work together, you grow richer. Rule together, you gain power.

So, are rules inherently bad?

Not really.

But following the rules makes me a follower. Making the rules makes me a ruler.

But who makes the rules? Is it an individual, or a network of people?

I guess, the answer is obvious.

So, do you still want to complain?

Or do you want to harness the power of the network effect as your ally?

Or perhaps, dedicate your life to exploring the unknown?