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By:

Divyaa Advaani 

2 November 2024 at 3:28:38 am

Why Growth Feels Lonely

Success has a strange way of changing the atmosphere around a person. The climb is crowded, competitive, and loud — but the higher you rise, the quieter it becomes. Many founders who once dreamed of hitting big revenues and building powerful teams are surprised to find that the peak feels more isolating than they ever imagined. They have stability, scale, and status — yet they carry responsibilities, decisions, and pressures that very few people around them can fully understand. And that...

Why Growth Feels Lonely

Success has a strange way of changing the atmosphere around a person. The climb is crowded, competitive, and loud — but the higher you rise, the quieter it becomes. Many founders who once dreamed of hitting big revenues and building powerful teams are surprised to find that the peak feels more isolating than they ever imagined. They have stability, scale, and status — yet they carry responsibilities, decisions, and pressures that very few people around them can fully understand. And that isolation doesn’t come from weakness; it comes from leadership. People stay close to successful individuals, but often with expectations — a favour, an introduction, an opportunity, some hidden benefit. Wealth and influence attract attention, but rarely authenticity. And for many business owners, especially those running companies upward of Rs 90 crores, this is where the silent disconnect begins. They are surrounded by people but starved of genuine connection. Yet beneath this loneliness lies a deeper, more strategic issue that most leaders never pause to consider: the brand they project externally no longer matches the identity they need internally. Their success is visible — deals, achievements, awards, numbers. But personal branding isn’t just about visibility. It is about emotional resonance, relational depth, and the quality of the people who enter your space because of who you are, not what you have built. Here’s the truth most high-performing founders overlook: loneliness at the top doesn’t come from success — it comes from the absence of aligned relationships. And that gap is bridged only when leaders intentionally shape their personal brand. When a founder’s personal brand becomes clear, something shifts. People begin to see the human behind the entrepreneur. They understand the leader’s values, personality, and intentions. The communication becomes more meaningful. Teams speak more openly. Partnerships become smoother. Even day-to-day interactions feel less transactional and more genuine. A well-aligned personal brand acts as an emotional filter — drawing in people who resonate with your energy and quietly distancing the ones who don’t. For business owners managing large-scale operations, the need today is not popularity. It is positioning. Presence. Influence. Trust. Because once your personal brand reflects depth, clarity, confidence, and relatability, you stop attracting people who want to take something from you — and start attracting people who want to contribute, collaborate, and grow alongside you. With the right personal brand, authority no longer has to come with isolation. Leadership becomes magnetic rather than demanding. Teams align faster. Networks strengthen naturally. And the circle around you evolves from being crowded to being meaningful. The irony is that most founders think their next stage of growth requires new strategies, new hires, or new markets. But often, what they actually need is a stronger sense of identity — one that the world can see, feel, and connect with. Because expansion doesn’t only happen in revenue charts; it happens in relationships, and relationships are built on perception. The clearer your identity, the stronger your influence. And the stronger your influence, the easier it becomes for people to trust you, align with you, and open doors that were previously inaccessible. So if the world around you has gotten quieter as you’ve risen higher, perhaps it is not a sign of distance — but a sign that it’s time to realign how people experience you. Not just as the owner of a successful business, but as a leader whose presence carries credibility, warmth, and clarity. Success is fulfilling, growth is exciting, but connection is what gives leadership its depth. And only a well-aligned personal brand can create the kind of connection that feels genuine, nourishing, and empowering. If you’ve reached a stage where your achievements speak loudly but your identity feels misunderstood or unseen, then it may be time to reshape the way the world perceives you. Not to impress, not to sell, but to finally be experienced in the way you truly intend to be. If this resonates with your journey, you’re welcome to reach out for a conversation here: https://sprect.com/pro/divyaaadvaani Not for introductions. Not for transactions. For alignment — and perhaps for the first step toward a personal brand that grows with you, not away from you. (The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

India’s Tightrope Trade Act

Updated: Jan 2

Tightrope Trade Act

India’s negative Balance of Trade (BoT) in fiscal year 2023-24, standing at a worrying $73.51 billion, underscores the precariousness of its economic engagements with key global partners. While the trade dynamics with Russia and the United States showcase divergent trends, they share one commonality: both require recalibration. Strengthening these trade ties, while avoiding geopolitical pitfalls, is a task of finesse that India must urgently master.


India’s imports from Russia totalled a staggering $60.07 billion in 2023, with energy, arms, and raw materials constituting 90 percent of the value. Meanwhile, India’s exports to Russia — worth only $4.06 billion — primarily included pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and machinery, leaving a yawning trade deficit of $56 billion. This imbalance is troubling for a relationship steeped in decades of trust and strategic alignment.


The reasons behind this disparity are manifold. India’s lack of advanced manufacturing capabilities and stringent Russian trade regulations inhibit the growth of Indian exports. Despite concerted efforts, including recent dialogues such as the Indo-Russia Business Forum held in Mumbai, progress remains slow. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s calls to dismantle trade barriers, promote local currency settlements, and enhance connectivity through international transport corridors are promising, but the results are yet to materialize.


Russia’s strategic pivot toward China, coupled with its tepid response to India’s proposals for economic diversification, signals a decline in Indo-Russian cooperation. Yet, India cannot afford to let this partnership erode further. Russia remains a counterweight to China and an indispensable supplier of military hardware. The challenge lies in fostering an economic bond robust enough to complement the existing security partnership.


On the other end of the spectrum, the United States has emerged as India’s largest trading partner. Bilateral trade reached a record $128.78 billion in FY23, with India enjoying a surplus of $28.3 billion. Exports to the U.S., valued at $78.54 billion, include gems, pharmaceuticals, and petroleum products, while imports, amounting to $50.24 billion, largely consist of crude oil, defense goods, and coal.


This trade relationship is buoyed by shared economic and strategic interests. The U.S. is not only a major trade partner but also a key source of foreign direct investment. Nevertheless, the alliance is not without its hurdles. Tariff and non-tariff barriers, intellectual property disputes, and regulatory complexities often mar the relationship. India’s data localization policies and reluctance to join U.S.-led trade frameworks have further strained ties.


Opportunities for collaboration abound, particularly in semiconductors, defence, and technology. Joint ventures in advanced manufacturing and infrastructure could deepen mutual dependencies and enhance economic synergy. However, the fragility of this partnership, shaped by domestic political pressures in both countries, demands careful navigation. India’s pursuit of strategic autonomy occasionally irks Washington, while U.S. attempts to influence Indian domestic policies often elicit pushback.


Tightrope Walk

India’s simultaneous engagements with Russia and the U.S. require a nuanced approach that transcends economic calculus. Both partnerships are critical not only for trade but also for their broader strategic implications. Yet, the balancing act is fraught with complexities.


With Russia, India must tread carefully. The growing Sino-Russian nexus and Moscow’s unease over India’s deepening ties with the U.S. are sources of friction. Nevertheless, India’s historical reliance on Russian defence systems and its role as a counterbalance to China demand sustained engagement. Economic interdependence, built on sectors such as energy collaboration and technology transfer, could help stabilize the relationship.


In contrast, the India-U.S. relationship, while economically rewarding, remains geopolitically tenuous. Frictions over trade policies and divergent worldviews persist. India must leverage its strategic location and burgeoning market to cement its position as an indispensable partner to the U.S., especially in the Indo-Pacific. Enhanced industrial cooperation and co-development of high-tech products could anchor this relationship in shared interests.


Balancing these relationships will require India to undertake structural reforms and adopt pragmatic diplomacy. Here are some key strategies: India must invest in high-tech manufacturing to reduce its trade deficits. Collaborations in areas like semiconductors and defence manufacturing with both Russia and the U.S. could yield dividends.


Projects like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) with Russia and strategic participation in Indo-Pacific trade initiatives with the U.S. can facilitate smoother trade flows.


The promotion of local currency trade by reducing dependence on the dollar, particularly in Indo-Russian trade, could insulate transactions from geopolitical disruptions and make Indian exports more competitive.


India’s economic future hinges on its ability to navigate the complexities of these two pivotal partnerships. Its relationship with Russia is a legacy of Cold War pragmatism; its bond with the U.S. is a product of 21st-century realpolitik. Balancing the two is not merely a matter of trade but a test of India’s diplomatic dexterity in shaping a multipolar world.


In the words of Jaishankar, this “tightrope walk” is unavoidable—but if India steps deftly, it could find itself not only balancing but leading.


By forging stronger economic ties while safeguarding its strategic autonomy, India has the potential to emerge as a linchpin in global power dynamics. It is a cliché to say the stakes are high, but so too are the rewards for a nation poised at the crossroads of opportunity and responsibility.


(The author is a retired Indian Naval Aviation Officer and a geo-political analyst. Views Personal.)

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