48. The Power of a Life Lesson: Learn to Fuel Your Genius Using the Network Effect with Deepak Ramola

Time stamped show notes:

[0:14] Deepak is from Dehra Dun, India.

[1:43] Live with abandon instead of dying with regret.

[1:52] What Project Fuel does - share stories and fuel people to reach their potential

[2:11] Project Fuel - collects life lessons from around the world (human wisdom)

[2:55] Deepak’s life journey

[3:02] His journey started with his mother, who was pulled out of school because girls in India at the time were not allowed to study.

[4:05] When he asked his mother what her education was, she answered that life taught her.

[4:41] Her experience made him believe that everyone who is living is learning something.

[5:22] As he grew, he realized that learning from other was not to avoid mistakes, but to make newer and unique mistakes and avoid the mistakes others have made.

[6:07] At 17, he was given a book deal.

[6:33] He started to design the life lessons in different ways: poems, games, etc.  

[6:54] His idea grew through word of mouth. It became a movement/organization.

[7:24] Examples of how people have been transformed

[8:02] Favorite lesson #1: wash your socks regularly.

[8:52] Favorite lesson #2: try to relate to everyone with a sense of humor.

[9:42] Business side of Project Fuel: advertising, revenue, virality, etc.  

[10:02] Project fuel grew organically.

[10:59] Primary source of revenue: workshops

[12:04] Launched Project Fuel’s online store

[13:05] Learning from “regular people” not only “gurus”

[13:52] Sex worker lesson: value your own work. The value is of the person; the work is second.

[14:23] Sex worker lesson: “Interpretation is a dangerous weapon; use it wisely.”

[16:55] Stepping into people’s shoes can be enlightening.

[18:06] Painted houses with stories from who live in the village

[19:15] Don’t judge people by how they make money.

[20:10] Ego vs. spirit

[20:20] “Man plans; God laughs.”

[20:51] “When you know better, you do better.” - Maya Angelou

[21:10] There’s different ways of telling the same story.

[22:51] Where he sees Project Fuel going | 5 year plan

[23:26] Wants to have an app or a digital tool. Is in the process of building but is in the process of finalizing.

[23:36] In the next 5-10 years, he wants Project Fuel to close. He doesn’t believe the success of the organization is when it is no longer needed, because it is part of the culture.

[25:05] “The purpose of life is not to become a star; it is to become a constellation.”

[28:08] He has no story framework. People don’t want to talk to someone who has an agenda. Listen as much as you can.

[29:52] Never ask people what their life is directly. Ask them what is the piece of advice you would give to your most loved person right now?”

[30:15] Be patient. Listen to as much as you can. Be open to vulnerability. You’re not ready to take if you’re not ready to give.

Three key points:

1. His journey started with his mother, who was pulled out of school because girls in India at the time were not allowed to study.
2. Sex worker lesson: “Interpretation is a dangerous weapon; use it wisely.”
3. “The purpose of life is not to become a star; it is to become a constellation.”

Last question:

Give as many life lessons as you can. It is the more useful thing for him.

Connecting him to collaborators.

How to reach him:

Website: www.projectfuel.in

Social media:

Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/projectfuel/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Project-FUEL-294060794066273/?ref=br_rs