Life
Personal stories, family, travel, and health
43 articles
Through the Stage Door
Fitz and I went to Broadway to watch his second cousin Emmet Smith perform as Albus Potter in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. What happened after the show wa
Fred Mann
Frederick G. Mann hired me when I was a college kid in 1995 and changed the trajectory of my life. He passed away on February 13, 2026.
No, I'm not doing bodybuilding
Some of my friends from Delhi think my daily fitness training is bodybuilding. It isn't. Here's how I explain the difference.
A Stranger's Words
A theater reviewer wrote about my son's performance. She didn't know she was writing about my kid.
The Tool Chest: What Carrying a Multitool Teaches You
What years of using a Leatherman and a Swiss Army Knife in the situations that allow them have taught me about preparedness, well-made things, and the disciplin
How to Do a Serious Workout on a 19-Hour Flight Without Getting Arrested
How to maintain a serious workout routine on a 19-hour flight with seated exercises, resistance bands, aisle squats, and creative adaptations for economy class.
Travel Checklist for Personal & Business Trips (2024 Edition)
A comprehensive travel packing checklist covering fitness gear, technology, documents, attire by climate, and pre/post-trip preparations for business and person
A Reflection on Accomplishments and Aspirations
A personal reflection on balancing accomplishments with aspirations, sparked by a school vice-principal's prophetic parting message: 'The era awaits you.'
On this Father’s Day, may your life be as marvelous as your social media presence
A Father's Day reflection on the gap between social media personas and reality, the imposter syndrome, and why being a devoted dad matters more than any career
What I am learning from working out daily for 1,001+ consecutive days
Lessons from 1,001 consecutive days of daily exercise on consistency, discipline, variety, mental health, sleep quality, and building sustainable fitness habits
Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World Orlando with Children
Practical tips for visiting Walt Disney World with children, from ride seating preferences and packing lists to safety plans and saving money.
Starting the New Year with Service: Another Day Volunteering with New York Cares
Starting the new year with a New York Cares volunteer project, unloading food deliveries for the West Side Campaign Against Hunger.
Lifting More Than Just Weights: Another Day Volunteering with New York Cares
Volunteering with New York Cares to pack food bags for the West Side Campaign Against Hunger, combining daily fitness with community service.
A Rewarding Evening Volunteering with New York Cares
Volunteering with New York Cares to deliver food from Breads Bakery to a homeless shelter during the pandemic, and why giving back matters.
Make Exercise Your Daily Habit
A comprehensive guide to building a daily exercise habit using behavioral science, kettlebell training, and practical tips from a tech executive's fitness journ
Kindness of Strangers: This Time From a Fitness Expert
A well-respected fitness expert saw my kettlebell videos on Instagram and sent me a custom video with detailed technique corrections. She would not accept anyth
Personal Fitness During Quarantine Times
Rajiv shares his personal fitness journey during the 2020 quarantine at a World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders live-streamed event.
My Personal Fitness Objectives and Key Results
Rajiv Pant shares how he applies the Objectives and Key Results framework to personal fitness goals, with his OKR document and workout tracking system.
Kindness is Powerful
A stranger's generosity on a rainy Manhattan night reminded me that the smallest acts of kindness carry the most weight.
Hurricane Sandy: A Personal Update from Hoboken
A personal update from Hoboken during Hurricane Sandy. No electricity, no cell service, family safe under one roof, and finding what matters in the quiet.
On Busyness, Idleness, and the Courage to Do Less
Tim Kreider's 'The Busy Trap' in the NYT crystallized what I've observed in technology organizations: most busyness is self-imposed, and idleness has real value
Tip: Use regular bars of soap to save money, time and help conserve the environment
A case for using solid bar soap instead of liquid soap for showering, shaving, and handwashing, saving money while helping the environment.
Please help the people in Haiti affected by the earthquake
A call to donate to Haiti earthquake relief through DirectRelief, where 100 percent of donations go directly to Haiti response programs.
Gym Memberships: Tips for Getting a Good Deal
Practical negotiation tips for getting the best gym membership deal, including month-to-month contracts, avoiding hidden fees, and public alternatives.
Diary of Julie & Rajiv’s India Trip
A diary of Julie and Rajiv's trip to India compiled from Twitter status updates, visiting New Delhi, the Himalayan foothills, and the Taj Mahal.
The Kindness of Taxi Drivers
Over the years, taxi drivers in cities across the country have refused to take my money. Today it happened again, and the circumstances made it unforgettable.
Amazon NowNow Gave Me This Answer on Where To Learn Spanish
A surprising and presumptuous response from Amazon's NowNow research service when asked about learning Spanish in Manhattan.
Donate to a good cause and get a useful laptop computer
How the One Laptop Per Child Give One Get One program lets you donate an XO laptop to a child in a developing nation while getting one yourself.
Reddit Alien Mascot Bobblehead Returned
The Reddit alien mascot bobblehead was kidnapped at a packed bar party in NYC, then returned as a surprise at Steve Huffman's birthday dinner.
I Love New York City
First impressions after two weeks living in Manhattan, exploring the Village, Central Park, and Times Square while starting at Conde Nast.
Happy New Year 2007! Highlights from December/January
Ringing in 2007 at the Eiffel Tower, the NAA 20 Under 40 recognition, and exploring Mayan ruins in Mexico.
More photography
Photography has become a serious hobby. Recent favorites from Yellowstone in winter and Atlanta wildlife and nature.
Snow and Ice in Atlanta
A photo essay from a rare Atlanta snow day. Leaves, berries, and branches frozen inside crystal clear ice, captured while the neighbors stayed indoors.
Please Help the Tsunami Disaster Relief Efforts in South Asia
A call to help the 2004 South Asian tsunami disaster relief, with links to donation pages and screenshots of companies featuring relief requests.
Currently in the Philadelphia area
A personal update: currently based in the Philadelphia area working on Effectuation, enjoying time at home with brother and friends.
Citizen Rajiv
After nearly a decade in America, from arriving as a student at Temple University to building a career in technology, I became a U.S. citizen on November 19, 20
With land and air covered, now for the water
Learning to swim as an adult at the local YMCA after covering land and air through hiking and hang gliding near San Francisco.
Visit to Philly for Vik’s Graduation
Vik Pant graduated from Villanova University with a double major in Management Information Systems and Finance, with photos from the trip.
An All-Nighter at Work Followed by a Terrorism Threat Scare
An all-nighter at Knight Ridder Digital turned dramatic when a terrorism threat at the office led to a downtown San Jose police chase.
As a Change from Corporate Travel and Expensive Personal Vacations, Consider Backpacking
The appeal of backpacking as an alternative to corporate travel and expensive vacations, with a shared article about life-changing budget travel.
Hang gliding, Hiking and Sightseeing near San Francisco
I went hang gliding, hiking and sightseeing on weekends recently. Some of the photographs of the scenery around San Francisco look beautiful.
Personal & Business Travel Checklist
A comprehensive personal and business travel packing checklist covering clothes, fitness gear, electronics, documents, and pre-trip preparation.
Writing a Video Game Without a Computer
A childhood story about writing a car racing game in BASIC on paper during a summer vacation in Bhowali, India, and the lessons that came from watching it fail.