#AskDushyant Reflections on Workplace, Memoir & Thoughtful Living
Retiring early was never merely about leaving the race. It was about creating the freedom to observe, think, travel, and reflect more deeply on life itself. The path to that freedom demanded persistence, calculated risks, and a willingness to move against conventional expectations. What I share here are not just achievements but the struggles that shaped them ā reflections that echo a simple truth: āThe most meaningful journeys often emerge from paths few choose to walk .ā
Bravery in Action: Captain Smit Machchhar – In a moment where fear could have frozen anyone, Captain Machchhar chose courage. His decisive action prevented a plane catastrophe ā proving that true Hero is not about superpowers, but about standing firm against evil when lives depend on it. We often look for heroes in movies, but real heroes walk among us. Bravery is a choice, and Captain Machchharās choice saved countless lives.
#HeroPilot #Bravery #Courage #AskDushyant #NextStruggle
I have done many adventurous things in life, but nothing matched the adrenaline rush of riding a Harley Davidson on open roads. That belief changed completely when I decided to learn horse riding in April 2025 at Uma Public School, Greater Noida. The horse riding school had some of the finest and most powerful horses I had ever seen. To start with i want to make statement with old saying that if you can ride a horse, you can control the state, and I experienced it firsthand. On my first day, I made the classic beginner mistake of leaning forward…
In 2009, I returned to my village, Mohad near Kareli, Madhya Pradesh, seeking something I could not yet define. A simple bike ride on my Bajaj Avenger became more than a journeyāit became a path to self-reflection. The rustic roads, open fields, and silent skies created a space where thoughts slowed down and clarity quietly emerged. Village life in Mohad had its own rhythm, untouched by urgency, deeply rooted in tradition, and beautifully connected to nature. Riding through Kareliās countryside, I felt a rare stillness, something modern life often forgets but the soul deeply understands. Those days were spent with…
In December 2012, I found an innovative way to break the monotony of office life and boost my teamās creativity at PeopleStrong HR Tech, sector 34 gurgaon office. As a leader, I firmly believe that regular motivation at workplace is crucial for employee retentionāfar more impactful than monetary rewards or occasional outings. To inspire creativity, innovation and out-of-the-box thinking, I personally organized a Rubik’s Cube challenge for my tech team.The premise was simple: solve the Rubik’s Cube, and the winner gets a hearty lunch treat on me. To make it inclusive, I offered smaller rewards for solving single or multiple…
Somewhere along the way, we started wearing exhaustion like a badge. A packed calendar became a personality trait. “Creating meeting notes” turned into the default answer to “How are you,”…
One developer ships products that once required a full engineering org. A single marketer now runs campaigns that used to need a five-person team. A solo operator handles finance, support,…
Every organisation has two systems. The first one is documented. It includes policies, processes, job descriptions, reporting structures, performance reviews, values, and employee handbooks. The second system is rarely documented….
For generations, employees were taught to pursue a good education, join a respected organization, work hard, remain loyal, and build a stable career. The formula seemed simple. Get a good…
In Part 1, I wrote about the warning signs that appear when good employees quietly disengage. The bigger question is: What should leaders do when they see those signs? The…
Most good employees do not suddenly decide to quit. The resignation letter is usually the final step in a much longer process. Before they leave, something changes. They stop sharing…
Iām Dushyant Gadewalā#AskDushyant, a small-town dreamer turned tech entrepreneur and advisor. From chasing cricket dreams and Indian Army SSB interviews to riding solo across India, my journey has been fueled by passion, curiosity, and a relentless drive to explore the unconventional.
My professional foundation was laid at NIT Rourkela, where I graduated in Computer Science & Engineering in 2006āan experience that shaped my problem-solving mindset and long-term view of technology.
Over the last two decades, Iāve lived and worked through the GurgaonāNCR startup ecosystem, experiencing it across multiple cyclesāearly-stage experimentation, rapid scale-ups, and acquisitions. My journey spans hands-on roles at Travelguru (Desiya), Vriti Infocom, and Nagarro, where I operated in fast-moving environments that demanded product-first thinking and execution at speed.
In 2010, I joined PeopleStrong as an early member of the core technology team, where I played a hands-on role in shaping the platformās foundational product architecture. Over nearly a decade, I had the opportunity to see the organisation scale into one of Indiaās leading HR technology companies. Importantly, this journey gave me perspective not only as a technologist, but also as a shareholderāincluding exit participation in its April 2025āGoldman Sachsāled transactionāand, therefore, a front-row view of how disciplined long-term technology and product decisions compound into sustainable enterprise value.
These experiences ultimately came together in the founding of ArcTop Labs, my own venture recognized under the #StartupIndia DIPP7405 initiative. Here, I apply everything learned from the startup trenchesābuilding scalable, resilient technology platforms designed for real-world business impact, not just launch-day success.
In 2022, after two decades in the industry, I stepped away from full-time employment #RetireAt40 to pursue work rooted in freedom, creativity, and long-term impact. Now, I guide students, startups, and businesses as a tech advisorāhelping them align technology with vision, growth, and strategic clarity.
Through my blog, NextStruggle, I share personal memoirs, tech insights, and social reflections drawn from a life of experiments, risks, and reinvention.
Letās connect if you’re building, transforming, or simply seeking clarity in your tech journey.
#AskDushyant #NextStruggle
#RetiredAt40
Branding My True Self:#AskDushyant #NextStruggle: Tech, Memoir, Social & Thoughtful Life Experience Chronicle š”šš¤š.
BlackDemon.IN CreativeAI Universe [www.blackdemon.in]: Engineering the Next, Creative Revolution. Powered by Machine Intelligence, Guided by Human Vision š»šš§.
Embracing the Power of Fitness, Fueled by the Energy of My Little Angel. Conquering Realms with XBox Mastery, Roaring along on the HarleyDavidson Bike. Crafting a Purposeful Existence, Rooted in Tech Innovation. Proudly an Early Tech Member and Shareholder of Peoplestrong. Forever Connected to the Legacy of NIT Rourkela Alumni, Where Dreams Ignite and Achievements Resonate.
Always Prepared for Building The Next, One Struggle at a Time.
Workplace, Memoir, Social & Thoughtful Life Experience Chronicle
