Gretchen Rubin Interviews Ombuds Author

Earlier this year, Vikram Kapoor published his (first) book, First Serve Yourself: How Young Leaders Around The World Are Winning On Their Own Terms, which draws extensively on his experience as an Ombuds. Last week, Kapoor was interviewed by Gretchen Rubin, author of the best-selling, The Happiness Project. Kapoor talked about about happiness, habits, and coaching.

Among other things, Kapoor explained how he has followed his own advice making decision in his career:

Have you ever been hit by a lightning bolt, where you made a major change very suddenly, as a consequence of reading a book, a conversation with a friend, a milestone birthday, a health scare, etc.

When I was doing conflict resolution work at FEMA, I was set to go help in Texas, but during a meditation retreat I had a sudden urge—an inner pull—to go to Puerto Rico. I just got angry at myself that I was taking the easy road, and that anger consumed me and I decided I had to stop being scared and just go to Puerto Rico. Luckily my boss let me switch deployments and I spent a month in San Juan, supporting the disasters there, which led to a big realization, further study at Harvard, and later my job at the United Nations where I built and ran a peer coaching program in over 40 countries during the pandemic. I can trace all of that back to one moment on the mat.

Kapoor's book is now available from Amazon. (Gretchen Rubin Blog; Bookshop.)

Related posts: The Power of Emotional Detachment; IOA Announces Winner of 2014 Writing Competition; Ombuds and the Exit Interview; FEMA Ombuds Moves to UN Funds and Programmes; Department of the Interior Adds a Seasoned Ombuds