Founder of 1% Better™ | Former accountant, future author | Follow me for the best self-development content on LinkedIn

Former accountant.
Future author.

I share actionable, educational, and entertaining self-development content to help my readers live their best lives.

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Colby Kultgen

A few weeks ago, I caught myself thinking "wow, that was a really good presentation" about someone I work with.

And then I just...didn't say anything.

I've been noticing that this happens pretty often. 

I'll think something genuinely kind about someone, yet I just keep it to myself. 

Why is that?

I think it's because saying something nice to someone feels a bit exposed. There's this tiny moment of vulnerability between the compliment leaving your mouth and their reaction. 

What if it comes off wrong? 
What if they don't take it the way I meant it? 

So we say nothing. 

We let a 0.001% chance of awkwardness win over a near-certainty of making someone's day.

To be honest, I think most of us are walking around with a backlog of unspoken kind words. Compliments we thought but didn't give. Gratitude we felt but didn't express.

So I don't know about you, but I'm embracing the Tell Them Theory.

No more keeping the good stuff to myself.

A reframe that changed my life:

Failure = Data.

Every time you try something (win or lose), you get valuable feedback.
A real-time report on what works—and what doesn’t.

Personally, I let the fear of failure hold me back for wayyy too long.

I would overthink. Overplan. Overperfect. Then never actually do anything.

But then one day I realized something:
The information I needed was in the reps I was avoiding.

The lessons weren't in the planning. They were in the doing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not out here actively seeking failure. But I understand now that it's an unavoidable part of the process. And if it's going to happen anyway, I might as well squeeze every lesson out of it.

So now, after every failure, I ask myself 3 questions:

1. What went wrong? (Be specific.)
2. What decision or action led to that outcome?
3. What can I do differently next time?

That's it. No spiral. No shame. Just data.

Fail forward.

———
image credit: valuethemind on IG

I've been thinking about this a lot lately.

Rejection can be terrifying.

So why, when someone frames it like this, does it suddenly not seem so scary anymore?

Here's what I've realized: 

We're not scared of the rejection itself. We're scared of the uncertainty.

It's not the volume of "nos" we can't handle—it's not knowing if the next one will be the "yes".

That's why I find this so interesting.

If you KNEW you were guaranteed success after 100 rejections, you'd be hunting them down. 

You'd be applying to everything, pitching everyone, practically begging people to say no because each one gets you closer.

And the funny part is that in reality, it usually takes WAY less than 100.

Most breakthroughs happen at like rejection #8 or #15. But people quit at #3 because they can't bear the uncertainty. 

So here's the trick: Just pretend you know it's coming. 

Treat every rejection like you're counting down to something guaranteed. Because honestly? If you keep going, you kind of are. 

It's basically tricking yourself into success by removing the thing that was going to stop you anyway—the fear that it might not work.

Hot take:

"Be grateful" is terrible advice.

Not because gratitude isn't powerful (it is).

But because this "advice" almost never comes with practical ways of actually doing it.

We've all heard the “write 3 things down in a journal” advice, but for me it's always felt a bit forced.

And besides, why would we expect one method to work for everyone?

That’s why I gave myself a mission:

Come up with a handful of gratitude practices that don’t involve writing in a journal (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Here's what I came up with:

1. Look for glimmers
Glimmers are the opposite of triggers. They're those tiny moments in your day that make you feel joy, peace, or gratitude. Once you train your brain to spot them, they start appearing everywhere.

2. Snap a joy photo
Take one picture per day of something that brought you joy. A cup of coffee, a funny street sign, the way the sunlight hits your desk. Not for social media, just for you.

3. The "Tell Them" Theory (h/t Vex King)
When someone does something you appreciate, actually tell them. Doesn't have to be profound. Just: "I'm glad you're in my life" or "Thanks for always making me laugh."

4. Practice future nostalgia
Throughout your day, pause and ask: "Will I miss this moment someday?" Your current morning routine, the commute you complain about, even your kid's phase of asking "why?" fifty times a day.

Which of these resonates with you?

Let me know your favorite ways to practice gratitude.

The 8 most dangerous words in the English language:

“I’ll do it when work gets less busy.”

I’ve caught myself saying this more times than I can count.

Trying to convince myself that one day everything will settle down. That I’ll finally have time for the trip, the hobby, the experiences I keep putting off.

But that’s just not how life works.

The reality is, you have to make time for those things. Otherwise, work will quietly take over your entire schedule.

It’s Parkinson’s Law in action:
​“Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”

I’ve noticed this in my own life.

When I schedule work first, it expands to consume everything.

But when I schedule something meaningful first, the opposite happens. Work compresses to fit around it.

We’ve even seen this play out at scale with the four-day workweek experiments. Companies reduced working hours, yet productivity stayed the same or even improved.

That’s why I’ve started being more intentional about putting meaningful things on the calendar first.

One framework I love comes from my friend Ben Meer, originally popularized by Jesse Itzler:

The 1-6-4 Method.
​
1. Plan 1 big “year-making” event​
Something that defines your year. A marathon. A major trip. A personal challenge. Something that forces you to grow.
​
2. Schedule 6 mini-adventures throughout the year​
Lock in one small, exciting experience every other month.
A camping trip. A concert. A weekend away. Hosting a dinner party. Exploring a new part of your city.
​
3. Implement 4 positive habits, one each quarter​
Add one small habit every three months that improves your life.
Reading daily. Walking more. Waking up earlier. Being more intentional with your time.

♻️ repost this if you found it helpful.

I dealt with negative self-talk for years.

And trust me, it's no fun going through life as your own worst critic.

That’s why I love this GPS reframe.

You don’t need to turn a mistake into a story about yourself.
Just treat it like a missed turn.

Recalculate.
And keep going.

———

P.S. I share 5 ideas like this in my newsletter every Monday: 
percentbetter.com

We're all guilty of doing this (myself included).

Someone cuts us off in traffic, and we're fuming about it for hours.

A coworker sends a passive-aggressive email, and suddenly the whole afternoon feels ruined.

We allow five bad minutes to contaminate our mood for the rest of the day.

The best way I've found to combat this?

​Gretchen Rubin's Four Quarters Technique:

“Split your day into four quarters: morning, midday, afternoon, evening.
​
If you blow one quarter, you don't blow the whole day. You just reset for the next one.
​
Fail small, not big.”

Don't let a bad five minutes ruin a good 24 hours.

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5 ways to build unshakeable confidence (in work and life):

➊ Do what you say you're going to do
It really is that simple. Set achievable goals for yourself and follow through on them daily. As Alex Hormozi puts it, “You don’t become confident by shouting affirmations in the mirror, but by having a stack of undeniable proof that you are who you say you are.”

➋ Don’t play the comparison game
Comparison is the thief of joy and confidence. Define what success means to you, and tune out the noise. Be so busy watering your own grass that you don’t have time to notice if someone else’s is greener.

➌ Learn to say “no”
Saying “no” isn’t selfish, it’s self-respect. Do things because you genuinely want to, not because you feel obligated. The more aligned your choices are, the more confident you become.

➍ Build your body, build your mind
Taking care of your physical and mental health is one of the highest-leverage things you can do. Everything gets easier when you feel strong, capable, and energized.

➎ Surround yourself with people who lift you up
Confidence is contagious. The more you’re around people who believe in themselves, the more it reinforces your belief in yourself. They remind you what’s possible, even on days you forget.

Confidence doesn’t arrive all at once. It’s earned through small, consistent actions that build trust in yourself over time.

DISCLAIMER: This is just my opinion.

P.S. I made a list of 25 books everyone should read before they die. 

👉 Link in the comments.

Productivity isn’t just about “getting more done”.

It’s about spending the short amount of time you have on this planet intentionally, rather than losing it to distraction.

♻️ Repost this if you found it helpful.

how to finish 8 hours of work in 4 hours

A few free things online I think everyone should take advantage of.

What did I miss?

free things online everyone should take advantage of

I saw this post and loved it.

Credit to peakperformancewithjulia on IG.

Make sure to save so you can revisit it later.

12 work habits that will transform your 2026

How to rewire your brain to enjoy doing hard things:

How to rewire your brain to enjoy doing hard things

A step-by-step guide to decluttering your mind.

👉 P.S. I spent 100+ hours building a habit tracker—link in the comments.

A step-by-step guide to decluttering your mind

7 skills we should have learned in school but never did

7 addictions you need to break in 2026 to become your best self.

I've been guilty of every one of these.

Awareness is the first step, then you can start to do something about it.

Save this post and send it to someone who needs it.

7 addictions to break in order to become your best self

which of these resonates with you?

Let’s face it...

The modern attention span is cooked.

10-second TikTok videos.
18 tabs open at a time.
7 apps checked before getting out of bed.

This post is designed to help you fight back.

How to build your focus like a muscle

I'm an overthinker.

In fact, right now I'm overthinking what I should write for this caption.

Luckily, over the years I've gotten much better at choosing my overthinking battles.

Which is why today I want to share 7 things that aren't worth your spending your precious mental energy on.

Repost if it resonates!

7 things you're probably overthinking

Soft Skill & Corporate Trainer | 41K | I Help Individuals Master Public Speaking with Confidence | Professor-PW | Speaker - G Summit 2023 | 30+ Webinars | Resume Review & Interview Prep Coach | Trained 1000+ | 30+ Brands

Is communicating with confidence holding you back?

I’m Vrinda Gupta, a Leadership Communication Trainer and 2× TEDx Speaker.

I work with corporate professionals, founders, and high-potential students who know their work but struggle to articulate it with confidence, clarity, and authority.

My work sits at the intersection of confidence, communication, and performance.

Over the years, I’ve trained 4,500+ professionals and students, helping them:

- Speak clearly in high-stakes meetings and interviews
- Build executive presence without changing who they are
- Communicate ideas confidently with clients, leadership, and stakeholders
- Overcome the silent fear of speaking that limits growth

Where my work shows up

- Fortune 500 companies & corporate teams, training professionals across roles and seniority
- Top institutions, including IIT Ranchi, Amity University, FORE School of Management, PayPal learning cohorts, and other leading campuses
- Founders and senior professionals navigating leadership communication, presentations, and influence

My work has been featured across platforms focused on leadership, culture, and professional growth, including:
- TEDx & Josh Talks
- Humans of Bombay
- LinkedIn News & ET (Economic Times) features
- Favikon - Top Creators
- LinkedIn Top Voice (2025)

What I train people on

- Executive & workplace communication
- Interview and placement communication
- Leadership presence & stakeholder conversations
- Client communication & professional confidence
- Public speaking and high-pressure communication scenarios

Whether you’re an early-career professional, a people leader, a founder, or an academic institution preparing students for industry, communication is the skill that decides how far capability actually travels.

If you’re exploring structured communication training for yourself, your team, students, or leadership cohort, you can reach out here.

📩 vrindagupta02@gmail.com

Vrinda Gupta

English language is a scam.

We say:

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
But also:
“First impression is the last impression.”

So… judge softly? Judge strategically? 😭

Then there’s:

“Actions speak louder than words.”
But also:
“The pen is mightier than the sword.”

So… speak? Or act? Or write essays??

“Many hands make light work.”
But also:
“Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

So invite everyone… but not too many… but also collaborate… but don’t?

English doesn’t give advice. It gives options and leaves you confused.

No wonder meetings end with
“Let’s circle back.”

2× TEDx Speaker | Corporate Communication Trainer | I Help Teams & Leaders Communicate with Authority | Better Client Conversations, Stronger Leadership Presence, Higher Conversions | Top Voice 2025

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I almost cancelled that evening.

It wasn’t even something important. Just one of those “haan haan I’ll come” plans that you low-key hope get cancelled on their own.

I was tired. Didn’t feel like talking. Didn’t feel like explaining myself to anyone.

I even typed the message.

“Hey, something’s come up…”

And then just stared at it.

For some reason, I didn’t send it.

I went.

The event itself was very normal. Average. Loud. Slightly awkward.

But I had one random conversation in a corner with someone I barely knew.

They said something so casually about how they handle self-doubt and it hit me harder than it should have.

Not because it was profound. Because it was honest.

I came back home thinking about that one line.

It’s strange how perspective sometimes comes from places you almost skipped.

Now I think about all the times I’ve cancelled things because I didn’t “feel like it.”

Maybe half the growth in life is just showing up on low-energy days.

Three people said "thanks for bringing this up" yesterday.
None of them actually addressed it.

I keep seeing phrases that sound validating but shut down conversation.

"That's interesting" when they've already decided.
"Let's explore that" with no intention to explore.
"Good observation" before changing topics.

These aren't lies. They're polite exits that create the feeling of being heard without anyone listening.

The person saying them thinks they're being diplomatic.
The person hearing them feels dismissed but can't explain why.

Supportive language should change what happens next.
If it doesn't, it's just comfort avoiding discomfort.

Next meeting, notice what you say when someone shares an idea.
Then notice what you do with it.
That gap is where conversations die.

This Valentine’s Day, I said yes!

It’s not what you thinking lol..

Valentine’s has become this very couple-heavy thing. Which is fine. But it also feels very limited.

So I spent it with my girls.

We got dressed, took 200 photos. Later my sister and I did a small surprise for our parents, watching them get awkwardly happy over something so simple made me realise how quietly they’ve loved us our whole lives. And then on 15th it was Shivratri.

I went to the very famous Balbulnath temple in South Mumbai. The line was mad. Three hours.

Usually I would’ve complained but this time I didn’t feel that irritation.

People around me were super annoyed but idk what changed exactly. Maybe I’ve become calmer. 

And when I finally stepped out after darshan. Peaceful. That’s the only word I can think of.

Nothing very dramatic happened like I didn’t have some spiritual breakthrough. I just noticed that I wasn’t reacting the way I used to.

And that felt like growth.

You know I can take a training session for upto 5 hours straight or I can sit in an intense 1:1 conversations for hours.

Those don't drain me at all.

What drains me is 

--> Repeating the same feedback to someone who's not actually listening. 
--> Sitting in meetings where everyone talks but no one takes ownership. 
--> Doing work that looks important but creates zero real impact.

What energizes me is the opposite. 

--> Watching someone's posture change mid-session when they finally understand why their communication wasn't landing. 
--> A 1:1 where someone walks away with actual clarity, not just polite agreement. 
--> Creating something that helps people think and speak more clearly.

Same effort. Completely different effect.

The work that exhausts you isn't always about the hours. Sometimes it's about whether anything real is actually happening on the other side.

Look at your last week. What drained you wasn't the hard work. It was the work that led nowhere. Start saying no to that.

An HR head from an IT company reached out to me with a simple problem.

“Our team is technically strong. But our emails are costing us deals.”

Follow-ups sounded unsure. Proposals felt unclear. Client responses were slow or cold.

The issue wasn’t capability.

It was communication.

So we ran a focused session on business email writing:

– Structuring intent clearly
– Removing passive, apologetic tone
– Writing with outcome in mind
– Stronger subject lines
– Clear call-to-actions
– Client-centric language

No theory. Just real emails. Real rewrites. Real practice.

A few weeks later, I got a call.

“Something’s changed. The emails are sharper. Clients are responding faster. And Conversations are moving forward.”

Sometimes the gap between effort and results isn’t strategy.

It’s how you articulate value.

If your team is technically strong but struggling with conversions, the issue might not be competence.

It might be clarity.

My DMs are open if this sounds familiar.

taplio

The Battle

Colby Kultgen

Vrinda Gupta

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taplio

The Battle

Colby Kultgen

Vrinda Gupta

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Colby Kultgen's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreVrinda Gupta's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreColby Kultgen's LinkedIn Performance