I Fell in Love Twice Last Week

Hey Beyonder! 👋

Last week, something weird happened. I fell in love with spreadsheets. I know, I know - hear me out before you click away thinking I've lost it!

When Numbers Started Making Sense

So there I was, knee-deep in business accounting, categorizing expenses like my life depended on it. We've been doing this at TownScholar before, but never with this level of obsession.

Then I created my first dashboard. Then another chart. Then another.

And here's the crazy part - I woke up the next morning genuinely EXCITED to create more charts. Like waking up on Diwali morning as a kid, except instead of crackers and sweets, I was excited about revenue graphs and expense breakdowns.

My team probably thinks I've gone insane.

But you want to know what happened? For the first time in months, I felt like I had actual control over my business.

Look, we've been generating good revenue. The work is coming in, clients are happy, everything looks great from the outside. But here's what nobody tells you about running a business - unforeseen expenses are like that friend who always shows up uninvited at the worst possible time.

You think you're ahead, then boom - equipment cost. Boom - emergency expense. Boom - something you never even knew you had to budget for.

Now? I can SEE it all. Every pattern. Every leak. Every opportunity.

We're still running neck-to-neck financially, but knowing exactly where you stand? That's a different kind of peace. And with some big projects lined up and an amazing roster of podcast guests coming up, I finally feel like we're building something sustainable, not just running on a hamster wheel.

Then Life Gave Me Goosebumps

Speaking of those podcast guests - let me tell you about something that still doesn't feel real.

Next week, I'm interviewing the founder of Adayar Anand Bhavan. Yeah. A2B. The place where half of South India has eaten at least once.

I'll be sitting in his home, asking him about his journey, his business, his life.

And here's what keeps hitting me: Growing up in Tirunelveli, whenever we'd visit Srivilliputhur, going to A2B was a BIG DEAL. My parents would take me there, and it meant celebration. It meant something special was happening.

That same kid who sat there eating idlis, completely unaware of what life had in store, is now going to sit across from the man who built the entire chain.

How does that even happen?

Sometimes I think about that Epaphra - the small-town kid who had big dreams but no real idea how any of it would unfold. And now here I am, with a whole lineup of incredible guests, creating conversations that I hope will inspire someone else sitting in their small town, wondering if their dreams are too big.

(Spoiler alert: They're not.)

The Other Love Story

Okay, confession time - while I was falling in love with analytics, something else was happening simultaneously.

Badminton.

If you follow me on Instagram, you already know I've been obsessed. I'm playing almost every day now. And yeah, I go to the gym, that's great and all. But badminton? It's different. It's high-intensity cardio disguised as fun. I'm sweating buckets, my legs are burning, and I'm having the time of my life.

Last week, I bought myself a proper racket. Not just any racket - a GOOD one.

Walking into that sports shop brought back this specific memory. You know that feeling as a guy when you walk into a sports shop? There's something almost magical about it. It took me back to being a kid, going to pick out a new cricket bat. That pure, uncomplicated excitement.

Now I'm down the YouTube rabbit hole watching footwork tutorials and hand technique videos. I'm actually trying to get GOOD at this. Not just casually hitting the shuttlecock - I want to learn the proper game.

There's something beautiful about learning a sport as an adult. It's not about becoming a professional. It's about finding something that makes you forget about client calls and revenue charts for a few hours. Something that makes you feel alive.

The Week That Worked

You know what made last week special? Balance.

I worked hard during office hours - those charts weren't going to create themselves. But I also made room for life. Quality time at a restaurant. Caught a movie. Played badminton till I couldn't feel my legs.

It was one of those rare weeks where work didn't consume everything. Where I actually felt like I was LIVING, not just grinding.

And somehow, in between all of this, I managed to record a bunch of videos. So if you're following me on Instagram, get ready - I'm about to be very, very active in the coming days.

Your Turn

Now I want to hear from you.

Hit reply - let's talk. Some of the best insights I've gotten have come from these random email conversations with you guys.

See you soon!

Cheers,
Epaphra

P.S. If you're sitting in your small town right now, wondering if your dreams are too big - remember that kid from Tirunelveli who's about to interview the founder of A2B. Your story is just getting started. Trust the process.