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By:

Divyaa Advaani 

2 November 2024 at 3:28:38 am

Your Success Is The Problem

He had been doing things his way for decades. A business built from the ground up, a reputation earned over years, a way of showing up so ingrained it had become indistinguishable from identity. When I pointed out what was not working, he listened politely. And then continued exactly as before. He was older than me. More successful than me by most conventional measures. And in the quiet of his reaction, I could sense what he did not say out loud — what could a young woman possibly tell him...

Your Success Is The Problem

He had been doing things his way for decades. A business built from the ground up, a reputation earned over years, a way of showing up so ingrained it had become indistinguishable from identity. When I pointed out what was not working, he listened politely. And then continued exactly as before. He was older than me. More successful than me by most conventional measures. And in the quiet of his reaction, I could sense what he did not say out loud — what could a young woman possibly tell him about how to show up in his own industry. I did not push. I shared my own story instead. I told him I had once been exactly where he was. Unclear in how I presented myself. Inconsistent in how I communicated my value. Holding onto patterns that felt like strength but quietly cost me every opportunity I worked so hard to create. I told him what shifted when I finally chose to change — not overnight, but consistently, one uncomfortable step at a time. The clarity. The leads. The conversations that finally converted. He went quiet. And then something in the room changed. This is the part most founders never examine. Not the website or the pitch. The invisible patterns so habitual they have stopped feeling like choices. The way you dominate a conversation believing it signals confidence, when the room reads it as insecurity. The way you resist being seen differently because the old version of you built everything — so changing it feels like betrayal. The way leads walk away without explanation and you tell yourself it was the market, the timing, the competition. It was none of those things. For accomplished founders this is the most expensive blind spot in existence. The patterns that need to change are not weaknesses — they are the exact behaviours that built the success. Which is why they are the last thing anyone examines and the first thing everyone else notices. Ask yourself honestly. When was the last time you had a significant conversation that should have converted — and did not? When was the last time you walked out of a room that should have remembered you — and did not follow up? When was the last time an opportunity chose someone less qualified, and you genuinely could not understand why? If any of those questions created even a flicker of recognition — that flicker is not coincidence. It is your brand telling you something your revenue has been masking. He called me weeks later. Changes made — small, consistent, uncomfortable. People responded differently. Conversations converted. Someone who had known him for years said he seemed entirely different. He told me — I am so glad I listened. Thank you for not giving up on me. I had not given up on him because I had once needed the same. That is the work that never makes it into a profile or a post — the courage to examine what no longer serves you, even when it built everything you have. The discipline to change when change feels like loss. And the moment, always worth waiting for, when the world reflects back the leader you have been building from the inside out. The founders who do this work stop chasing. The ones who do not keep running harder on a track that quietly leads nowhere. Your next level is not waiting for a better market or a bigger team. It is waiting for you to close the gap between the leader you are and the brand the world currently experiences. A Founder Brand Audit is a focused consultation call — not a free chat, not a discovery exercise, but a direct and honest diagnosis of exactly where your brand is working against you and what it will take to close that gap. Four slots open each week, reserved for founders who have decided this has cost them enough. Book your call here: https://calendly.com/divyaaadvaani/founder-brand-audit (The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

Gun Violence in America

Updated: Jan 2, 2025

Gun Violence in America

On December 16, 2024, tragedy struck Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where a 15-year-old student, Natalie Rupnow, fatally shot a fellow student and a teacher before taking her own life. Six others were injured, with two in critical condition. This devastating event is a grim reminder of the United States' ongoing struggle with gun violence, particularly in schools.


A Long History of Gun Ownership in America

The issue of gun violence in the United States cannot be discussed without acknowledging its deep-rooted history of gun ownership. The right to bear arms is enshrined in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1791, which states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”


Initially, this amendment was intended to empower citizens to form militias for self-defense during a time when standing armies were distrusted. Over the centuries, however, the interpretation of the Second Amendment has evolved. Today, it is often cited as a justification for individual gun ownership, a concept reinforced by landmark court cases such as District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), which affirmed an individual's right to own firearms for self-defense.


Gun culture is deeply ingrained in American society, with nearly 400 million firearms in civilian hands—more guns than people. This level of accessibility, coupled with a powerful gun lobby led by organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA), has made significant legislative reform difficult.


Gun Violence in Numbers

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), firearms cause approximately 40,000 deaths annually in the United States—equivalent to 109 deaths per day. This figure includes homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings. Among children and teenagers, firearms are now the leading cause of death, surpassing motor vehicle accidents.


School shootings are a particularly horrifying aspect of gun violence in America. Since 1990, there have been over 800 incidents in K-12 schools, resulting in more than 500 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. High-profile tragedies such as the Columbine High School massacre (1999), the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting (2012), and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School attack (2018) have shocked the nation and the world, yet meaningful reforms remain elusive.


A Global Comparison

The United States stands out among developed nations for its high rate of gun violence. In countries like Australia, Canada, and much of Europe, strict gun control measures have significantly reduced firearm-related deaths. For example: By contrast, the firearm-related death rate in the United States is 12.2 per 100,000 people, significantly higher than other developed nations. The prevalence of guns and the lack of uniform gun control laws contribute to this disparity.


Challenges in Addressing Gun Violence

Efforts to reduce gun violence in the U.S. have faced significant obstacles. One of the most notable is the prohibition of federal funding for gun violence research. In 1996, Congress passed the Dickey Amendment, effectively barring the CDC from studying gun violence as a public health issue. Although the funding ban was partially lifted in 2019, its legacy has left the country with a limited understanding of the causes and solutions to gun violence.


Advocates have long called for measures such as:

• Universal Background Checks: Closing loopholes in gun sales to ensure that all firearm purchases are subject to background checks.

• Safe Storage Laws: Requiring gun owners to store firearms securely to prevent unauthorized access.

• Bans on Certain Firearms: Prohibiting the sale of assault-style weapons, which are often used in mass shootings.


The Debate Over Gun Rights and Reform

The debate over gun control in the United States often pits the rights of gun owners against the need for public safety. Opponents of stricter gun laws argue that restrictions infringe on constitutional rights and fail to address the root causes of violence, such as mental health issues. Proponents, however, point to the success of gun control measures in other countries and the overwhelming public support for policies like background checks.


A Way Forward

Despite the challenges, there is growing momentum for change. Grassroots organizations, survivors of gun violence, and some lawmakers are advocating for comprehensive reforms. The Madison school shooting serves as a stark reminder of the urgency of these efforts. As the nation grapples with its gun violence epidemic, it must look to both its history and the experiences of other countries to find a path toward a safer future.


(The author is a resident of US. Views personal.)

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