From Doctor to Entrepreneur | The Real Struggles I Faced | The Daily Dose with Dr Tanya
In this video “From Doctor to Entrepreneur | The Real Struggles I Faced | Dr. Tanya’s Journey”, Dr. Tanya opens up about her personal transition from being a doctor to becoming an entrepreneur. She shares the real struggles, challenges, and tough moments she faced along the way.
During my Firstie (senior) year at West Point, there was a required Philosophy course. I am not sure what my expectations were going into the class, but there were ideas that stuck with me my entire life, including a discussion on God’s existence, or a lack thereof.
Continue reading Philosophy Class
As I step into 2026, I wanted my first post of the year to be something real — not polished, not performative, just honest. This isn’t a victory lap or a highlight reel. It’s a look back at the mistakes that shaped me, the lessons that stuck, and the quiet realizations that changed how I invest and how I think. If sharing this helps someone else navigate their own financial journey with a little more clarity and a little less fear, then it’s worth putting into the world.
If I’m being honest, my investing journey didn’t start a decade ago — it started back in the Scottrade days, when I bought a Paris Hilton penny stock and learned the true meaning of humiliation.
Most people begin their investing careers with index funds. I began with a pump‑and‑dump tied to a “modeling/entertainment” company that slapped Paris Hilton’s name on it like a clearance sticker.
And the worst part? I bought it because a friend gave me what sounded like an insider tip — the kind of whispered “trust me, this one’s going to pop” advice that preys on every beginner’s FOMO. It was the first of two times in my life I let fear of missing out override common sense. (The second was the 2008 real estate crash, when I over‑leveraged myself into a personal demolition derby.)
This was my first “career” in stock trading. It lasted about five minutes.
I watched that thing spike, collapse, and take my dignity with it. After that, I sold everything else (thankfully at a profit), closed the chapter, and walked away from the markets like a character in a movie who’d just survived an explosion.
For a while, I was done.
But I never stopped watching.
When the pandemic hit the stock market in March 2020, the market didn’t just wobble — it collapsed in a way that felt eerily familiar.
Because this wasn’t my first rodeo.
I’d lived through:
So when the world panicked in 2020, I didn’t see chaos. I saw a pattern.
Every major collapse I’d witnessed had the same rhythm:
And this time, I wasn’t the rookie. I wasn’t the one chasing hype. I wasn’t the one getting swept up in the fear.
I combined everything I’d learned from decades of watching market cycles with the fundamentals I’d absorbed from:
And I swooped in like a vulture at a fire sale.
I still had a TD Ameritrade account — the successor to my old Scottrade days — and I started buying the mega‑dips. Not recklessly. Not emotionally. But with intention.
Little by little, I rebuilt my portfolio.
Later that same year, I kept hearing rumors about Chase’s conservative performance. Some people defended them. Some shrugged. Some said they were “fine.”
And I thought:
“Fine isn’t good enough. Let’s see what they can actually do.”
So I transferred one of my old IRAs from Invesco to Chase — not because I expected brilliance, but because I wanted a baseline. A benchmark. A competitor.
Same starting point. Same market. Same timeframe.
And that’s when the real comparison began.
In December 2020, I opened the managed IRA with Chase. In January 2021, I funded it with $23,903.16.
To be clear, Chase didn’t “fail.” Their managed portfolio did exactly what it was designed to do:
It just wasn’t aligned with my goals.
I’m comfortable with volatility. I’m comfortable with long‑term bets. I’m comfortable taking responsibility for my own decisions.
That’s why my self‑directed strategy outperformed — not because they were wrong, but because we were playing different games.
Fast‑forward to December 2025 — five full years later:
Final value before I transferred it to my self‑directed IRA:
👉 $31,659.03
Note: This IRA was just one slice of my broader portfolio — the point isn’t the size, but the difference in strategy and outcome.
Not terrible. Not amazing. Just… fine.
And “fine” is the most expensive word in investing.
At the same time, using the same starting point, my personal portfolio — the one I actually researched, managed, and adjusted myself — hit:
👉 $45,682.01
Same timeframe. Same market. Same starting point.
The difference? Turns out I was the edge all along.
This wasn’t a one‑off. It wasn’t luck. It wasn’t a fluke.
My self‑directed portfolio outperformed Chase’s managed allocation three years in a row, including 2025.
But here’s the important part:
We weren’t playing the same game.
They were operating within a framework built for stability:
I was operating with:
So yes — my approach outperformed theirs. Not because they were wrong, but because I wasn’t bound by the constraints that define a managed portfolio.
Let’s sprinkle a little salt on my own wounds too.
Back in 2020, I bought American Airlines (AAL) and Canada Goose (GOOS) because they were “cheap.”
Cheap is not a strategy. Cheap is a trap.
And I fell right into it.
AAL had years — literal years — to recover. But the fundamentals were never there:
Then came the reverse split — a cosmetic price boost that didn’t change the underlying reality.
I held it too long. In December 2025, I finally said: “Enough. I’m done.”
GOOS was another lesson wrapped in a parka.
The brand had global momentum — especially in Asia — until a series of missteps cracked the growth story. The fundamentals softened. The stock reflected that.
I waited for a turnaround that never came.
This month, I sold it too. Bu‑bye.
Buying during a dip is not a thesis. A dip only matters if the company underneath it is strong enough to rise again.
AAL and GOOS weren’t. And holding them taught me more than any winner ever did.
New Year’s Eve 2025, I did what I should’ve done years ago:
I sold the dead weight.
All of it.
And when I say “dead weight,” here’s what I mean — this is the actual lineup Chase had me holding:
CGLBX, BNDX, BND, GOVT, BBJP, VCIT, CRDOX, BBCA, BBEU, MBB, BBAX, PIMIX, CUSDX
A greatest‑hits compilation of:
Basically, the financial equivalent of a beige waiting room.
And here’s what I kept — the only things in that entire portfolio that actually aligned with my strategy:
CUSUX, CIUEX, VTI
Everything else? Gone. Folded. Cleared out like a garage sale.
And because this is a self‑directed IRA, I didn’t owe a single penny in taxes for rotating out of them.
I freed up $14,857.91 in clean, tax‑sheltered capital.
That’s not a setback. That’s opportunity.
With that capital freed up, I finally had the chance to put it into something that actually fits my long‑term strategy.
So I bought ASML.
Not because it was “on sale.” Not because I was trying to time anything. But because ASML sits at the center of one of the most important technological bottlenecks in the world — advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Their moat isn’t just deep; it’s structural. There is no substitute for what they build.
Even if the price moved a bit before settlement, I’ll live. This wasn’t about catching the perfect moment. It was about aligning my capital with conviction.
And that’s exactly what I did.
My journey didn’t start ten years ago. It started with a Paris Hilton penny stock that wiped out my dignity.
But everything since then — the comeback, the discipline, the wins, the losses, the lessons — built the investor I am today.
I’m not the rookie anymore. I’m not the student. I’m not the guy chasing hype.
I’m the manager now.
And the numbers speak for themselves.
If my journey helps you make sense of your own, then every mistake I made was worth it.
Unpopular opinion: You don’t need a ‘New You‘ this January. We’re told every January 1st that we need to reinvent ourselves from scratch. What if this year isn’t about starting over, but about leaning in? I’m talking about perseverance over perfection.
Continue reading Unpopular Opinion
It’s tough when our favorite person fades away, but remember, each experience shapes us for the better. Let’s cherish memories, embrace the journey with grace, and keep growing stronger! 💪💖
Marketing = free donuts | Curio - The AI Tutor #college #uni #intern #student #study #shorts
Meet your smarter way to study. Curio helps students crush deadlines, master concepts, and build clarity in minutes—not hours. It could be notes, slides, or past papers, just drop your materials and let Curio turn them into clear summaries and study guides. It’s not just another AI tool—it’s your personal learning coach. Perfect for students stressed exam, messy notes, or writer’s block, Curio transforms confusion into confidence. Study sharper. Think clearer. Achieve more—with Curio on your side. Start learning the easy way → curio.to/yt
When Your Intern Spends 10x the Marketing Budget… Literally#shorts
Ever entrust an intern with just a bit of responsibility… and watch your marketing budget disappear? From coffee runs to buying a Nintendo Switch on accident, the story below proves even little mistakes can teach big lessons in accountability, oversight, and team growth.Want to make studying easier?
Every project teaches something — success, failure, or a mix of both.
But here’s the truth: lessons only protect your next project if you apply them.
What’s ignored today often returns tomorrow as a risk, a delay, or a repeat mistake.
That’s how projects slip — not from lack of planning, but from lack of reflection.
Before you move on, pause.
Ask your team:
What worked? What didn’t? What surprised us?
Even a few minutes of reflection can save weeks of rework.
Don’t just document insights — use them.
Update your checklists, workflows, and templates.
A lesson learned once should never be learned again the hard way.
When one team grows, everyone should grow.
Create a shared knowledge space — because collective learning prevents repeated failure.
Before launching your next project, revisit your last one.
Patterns don’t lie — they guide.
Mistakes happen. But the strongest project managers turn mistakes into systems, and failures into frameworks.
Because in project management, the lesson you ignore today becomes the risk you manage tomorrow.
✨ LearnersKart
🌐 Visit: www.learnerskart.com | 📧 Email: info@learnerskart.com
✔️ Follow us for more project management tips & career insights! https://lnkd.in/gYB4Dw4K
THE HUMAN SIDE Of LEADERSHIP: Leadership Solutions and Lessons Learned
Leadership isn’t just about making decisions—it’s about making a difference. In The Human Side of Leadership, Steven Smallwood dives into the real-world challenges leaders face and the lessons that shape their growth. This book goes beyond strategy and management, focusing on the people-centered approach that defines great leadership.
Drawing from decades of experience in leadership, human resources, and coaching, Steven offers practical solutions to everyday leadership struggles—navigating difficult conversations, building trust, inspiring teams, and leading with authenticity. Through personal stories, hard-won insights, and actionable takeaways, this book provides a roadmap for leading with confidence, empathy, and wisdom.
Inside, you’ll discover:
✔ Lessons from the field—real stories of leadership wins and failures that reveal what truly works.
✔ People-first solutions—how to manage workplace dynamics with emotional intelligence and authenticity.
✔ The trust factor—why relationships, not authority, determine leadership success.
✔ How to lead through challenges—turning obstacles into growth opportunities for yourself and your team.
✔ The mindset shift—why great leadership starts from within.
Whether you’re stepping into leadership for the first time or looking to refine your approach, this book will challenge you to lead better by leading human.
Leadership isn’t about being in charge—it’s about showing up, learning, and making an impact. Are you ready?
08292025
Success is not final, failure is not fatal;
It is the courage to continue that counts.
-Winson Churchhill
Love,
🌹🕊️
A Time When my GPS got Jammed by Hackers
Let me tell you, there is always a special kind of panic and terror when my GPS gets jammed by hackers.
During a road trip that summer, my family invited me to a friend’s wedding party at a seafood restaurant downtown. The plan was simple: drive a couple of hours to the destination and let the GPS guide me to where I needed to be. Everything was going to be normal until my GPS suddenly told me to “Exit right on Beach Blvd.”
Instead of heading to the left exit of “Beach Blvd”, it directs me to an unfamiliar area that appears to be a residential neighborhood with public markets. That was mistake number one when I obeyed without a clear thought in mind. I was expecting to see fairy lights across the streets, filled with affordable goods that are available to the public. However, I was driving past them as I saw hackers in the parking lot jamming my GPS. As a result, the hackers are threatening my life through corporate sabotage, nearly driving me to lose my patience in the process.
Then, I started to run away from the hackers as I sought a better solution to fix the GPS that was being jammed. Thankfully, I switched the GPS to a backup navigation system, such as an inertial navigation system, to assist me while I searched for a parking destination. I rechecked the address, and that’s when I knew I was heading in the right direction, 5 minutes from the destination at a seafood restaurant.
The fear and panic fade away as I escape from the hackers to arrive at a seafood restaurant- 20 minutes late, relieved, and sweaty. My story stole the spotlight as my family is thankful to see me for the rest of the night. You never know when an electronic device, such as a GPS, holds a personal resentment that you use often, whether in the dark or daylight.
My lessons learned: Technology is a great asset and tool, until you find yourself in an unfortunate sequence of events. The next time I take a road trip, I’ll ask Siri or Google Maps on my phone to show me the shortcut routes when I leave.
Word Count: 380
Closure came the moment I realized your need for me was never love—just convenience.”
Life has a way of introducing us to people we never thought we’d meet — and sometimes, the hardest lessons come wrapped in familiar faces.Over the years, I’ve crossed paths with many I once called friend, partner, confidant. They didn’t just disappoint me — they betrayed me. And the deeper the trust, the sharper the cut.
I’ve been cheated by a business partner I built dreams with.
I’ve been…
The road to $50M wasn’t easy. Ashkan Rajaee lived through every mistake.
Completing the Maze Escape VR project offered me an incredible learning experience in environment design, project management, and VR-specific technical workflows.
One of the greatest lessons was the importance of iteration. No environment is perfect on the first attempt, especially in VR, where scale, navigation, and player perception must constantly be tested and refined.
Secondly, collaboration proved vital. The project would not have succeeded without Kamal’s detailed assets, Steve’s character work, Joel’s relentless technical support, and Kevin’s final build assistance. Open communication, quick feedback loops, and shared responsibility defined our workflow.
Another critical learning point was optimizing for performance without sacrificing creativity. Understanding how to balance high visual fidelity with smooth frame rates was essential for VR development, and I now feel much better prepared for future real-time 3D projects.
Finally, the experience reinforced the power of environmental storytelling. Watching players intuitively follow environmental clues, solve puzzles, and experience emotions like awe, fear, and triumph confirmed that good level design truly enhances gameplay.
This project has not only improved my technical skills but has also deepened my passion for creating meaningful, immersive worlds. I look forward to applying these lessons to even larger, more ambitious VR experiences in the future.
Post Implementation Review (PIR) Guide
Once a project has been implemented, it is crucial to conduct a Post Implementation Review (PIR) to evaluate its success, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that the expected benefits are being realized.
A post-implementation review helps organizations assess what went well and what needs adjustment. It serves as a learning tool for future projects and ensures that companies achieve their business objectives effectively.
In this blog, we will explore the concept of post-implementation review, its importance, steps involved, templates, and examples. Whether you’re working on an SAP post-implementation review or any other project, this guide will provide you with valuable insights.
