Your demons are your diamonds
The uncomfortable truth: Our demons and our gifts often share the same source.
Everyone has demons within them - people are grey - not black or white - How to manage those demons shapes our life.
A celebrated founder who built a 100-crore brand destroy his marriage through the same relentless drive that made him successful. The obsession that secured Series B funding also meant missing every family dinner for three years.
A chef who runs people loved restaurants. His perfectionism creates exceptional food. It also drove two sous chefs to therapy and made his own daughter afraid to cook in front of him.
A creative director in our network whose jealousy of peers pushes her to produce award-winning work. That same jealousy has cost her three business partnerships and countless friendships. She knows it. She feeds it anyway.
My own demon? Control. The same need for control that helps me manage multiple ventures and maintain quality standards across brands also makes me a difficult person to work for. I've lost good people because I couldn't let them fail on their own terms.
The uncomfortable truth: Our demons and our gifts often share the same source. The paranoia that helps you spot market threats before competitors also keeps you from trusting your team. The ego that gives you courage to pitch to big clients also blinds you to your own mistakes.
Managing these demons isn't about elimination - that's impossible. It's about conscious choice. Every day, multiple times a day, choosing which wolf to feed. Building systems that contain the damage. Creating space between impulse and action.
Most importantly, it's about radical honesty. Admitting to your team that your "high standards" sometimes mask insecurity. Acknowledging that your "strategic thinking" can become overthinking that paralyzes progress.
The executives who last don't pretend to be saints. They know exactly which demon sits on which shoulder. They've mapped their triggers, built their guardrails, and chosen their battles.
Because in the end, we're all grey. The question is: which shade are you choosing today?
Hi, I am Vijeta Singh
I’m an entrepreneur and consultant working at the intersection of strategy, design, and scale.
I run Rare Ideas, a women-led studio helping founders build brands with clarity and culture.
I’m also a partner at Together Hospitality, behind bars and restaurants like Cobbler & Crew, Elephant & Co., Gather, and Juju.