YANGA Unleashed: Premal Patel on Self-Belief and Bold Actions

An Exclusive Interview with Premal R. Patel, author of the newly released book, YANGA Unplugged: Your Actions Nourish Growth Ambitions

Meet Premal R. Patel, author of the newly released YANGA Unplugged: Your Actions Nourish Growth Ambitions. This transformative book empowers readers with self-belief, resilience, and actionable steps to fuel personal and professional growth in today’s dynamic world.

Please introduce the concept of FOBO (Fear of Becoming Obsolete) as the “New FOMO.” Can you elaborate on what FOBO represents in the age of AI and automation, and why it’s a more pressing anxiety than the traditional Fear of Missing Out?

Premal R. Patel: We all live in an era where being without our smartphones causes us anxiety and we have a burning need to be connected all the time. We fear missing out on important content, but is it really that important that we have lost the ability to socially interact with each other in physical environments?

FOMO is really the least of our worries in a fast-paced, AI-Driven world which none of us can keep up with. AI is changing the corporate landscape and the way we do business and will continue to change ”the way” for years to come.

FOBO is the ”fear of becoming obsolete”, obsolete in our skills and capabilities because we are all (well most of us are) too busy completing tasks and actions today vs learning for the future.

We procrastinate when it comes to self-learning, ie how many times have you heard someone today say ”I don’t have time, I’m too busy”, but yet they will invest several hours scrolling social media for no real benefit. The job for life is a dead concept and if you want to succeed you need to know how to manage a squiggly career which may move you into new sectors and new functions. 

Over the next 3yrs it is predicted that 85m jobs will be lost globally to AI, but 90+m will be created due to AI – these 90+m will require different skills focused on analytics, critical problem solving, creative thinking and big data.

One of the most important skills for the future is relationship management where the ability to engage others in-person and online will help create better human connections, and with better human connections we will establish effective communities and human networks which get things done faster and differently.

Don’t become obsolete, build new skills and spend a few hours each week learning to become an expert in a new field. FOBO is not going away, just yet.

Please discuss how the fear of failure leads to “analysis paralysis.” Can you share a personal or professional example of a time when you saw this paralysis significantly impede growth?

Premal R. Patel: There is a famous quote by Habib Sadeghi: ”The more you think, the less you understand”.

We have all been there. We have all over thought an issue, a problem, a challenge, even an opportunity. Our minds are just wired that way. Our minds are like water—when it’s turbulent, it’s difficult to see; when it’s calm, everything becomes clear.

Ask yourself the question: What’s the worst that can happen? Is it a matter of life or death? In some instances, it probably is, but even then, these are setbacks that we all have to face at some point in our lives. At these moments, having clarity of thought is what will get us through the other side.

A common cause of overthinking is ”fear of failure” where we have concerns about making a mistake or not meeting expectations, which then lead to excessive rumination on decisions and actions.

When I was much younger, I was an obsessive overthinker. Yet those who know me now probably find that statement surprising. It’s true, though—I used to overthink everything.

What I remember most is when I would become overly fearful of something tragic happening to the rest of my family, exactly like it did for my father who passed away at age 31. I used to wonder, what would I do?

Where would I stay? Who would look after me if something happened to them? This went on for years, because I just could not remove it from my mind. I didn’t know how.

I also overthought what the teachers would say, especially as I wasn’t very academically bright and my grades were always very low. I knew I would face up to consequences and overthink their response to my poor homework or lack of attention.

I would also overthink about whether I could actually make my family proud of me. Could I please them with my results, outcomes, and achievements? Could I deliver on my father’s and grandfather’s dream of being better-educated, getting a university degree and a lucrative job, and eventually settling down?

The incessant chatter of overthinking involves a relentless loop of analysis, doubt, and fear that can transform even the simplest decisions into monumental challenges. As we navigate our daily lives, the weight of overthinking can lead us into a toxic frame of mind, obscuring clarity and complicating our paths.

Overthinking is more than just a fleeting thought or moment of hesitation—it’s a cognitive pattern that can rapidly spiral into anxiety and self-doubt. What starts as a simple question or decision quickly morphs into an overwhelming dissection of every possibility, outcome, and potential failure.

As we free ourselves from the paralysing grip of overthinking, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and experiences. The journey towards overcoming overthinking is not just about silencing the inner critic; it also involves cultivating a mindset that values clarity and action.

By rethinking our approach to daily challenges and simplifying our paths, we can transform the way we engage with the world, fostering a healthier, more fulfilling existence

Overthinking at work can manifest in various situations where pressure and stress are high.

I used to spend excessive time analysing every possible outcome of a decision, fearing the repercussions of making a mistake—wanting to be perfect, I didn’t accept the necessity of making mistakes. This led to analysis paralysis, and I struggled to choose a course of action on many occasions.

Those who know me understand that I am a confident presenter both on stage and off. Earlier in my career, though, I would obsess over every detail, including the slides, the timing of each one, and even how they would be perceived by the audience. The resultant anxiety distracted me from the actual content and delivery.

It’s really important to declutter your mind and achieve clarity of thought, like you would declutter your wardrobe every now and again and send some of the old clothes to charity or sell them through an online platform.

Your mind always needs a refresh, so take action today to start accepting the situation and decluttering. Life’s complexities stem from the daily choices and responsibilities we face. With abundant information and expectations, it’s easy to become overwhelmed.

This can lead to analysis paralysis—the fear of making the wrong choice, or the pressure to achieve perfection, stifles our ability to act. Overthinking, second-guessing, and hesitation set in.

How can someone who is naturally a caretaker or people-pleaser begin to shift their internal narrative to confidently prioritize their own needs without feeling guilt?

Premal R. Patel: Without personal clarity, you will not have clarity on how to best support others. Consequently, your initial goal should be to figure yourself out.

This chapter is all about you and your actions, and being in the right frame of mind to deal with the challenges in your world that prevent you achieving your ambitions.

Putting ‘you’ first is not selfish

If I consider today’s world, the corporate world is very demanding. You have to put customers, employees, and your boss first, make your board happy, and make your peers happy. Yet no one ever really talks about putting yourself first.

It’s often seen as selfish, but it’s actually not. When you reflect on your own needs, you are then in a much better place to attend to those of others, so putting yourself first is probably the most unselfish thing you can do.

It helps you take ownership of your own life as a priority and focus on the important things that matter to you.

We are constantly steered by everyone else’s opinions, ending up with self-imposed barriers and finding excuses to avoid spending time with ourselves and our needs. For years, you can become cluttered with other people’s thoughts, opinions, observations, and comments

Two things my grandfather shared with me have stuck in my mind since I was a child. These are:

1. Trust yourself. Believe you can succeed and adapt to any challenges that arise.

2. Believe in your potential. You may not have all the answers today, but you have the capacity to learn and improve.Em

Self-empowerment is the foundation to being in control

When you realise you hold the reins to your thoughts, actions and responses, you no longer see yourself as the victim of life’s circumstances. Instead, you become an active participant in your own journey, fully accountable for the results you create.

This sense of self-empowerment builds three important capabilities, each of which help you own your life story.

These are:

1. Self-confidence. Knowing that you are in control builds confidence.
2. Freedom. As control brings freedom, you no longer seek external validation.
3. Resilience. When you control how you respond to adversity, you become more resilient.

What is the one thing you are currently focused on learning or implementing in your own life to stay ahead of the curve and model the principles you teach?

Premal R. Patel: There are three things I am learning and implementing right now to stay ahead of the curve and be future ready:

1. Remaining calm and balanced no matter hat life throws my way – believe me, I have had plenty of personal and professional challenges over the last year to last a lifetime, but I am still relatively calm and considered.
2. I prioritise my wellbeing, this is no.1. This helps me focus and provide support to others. Wellbeing for me is giving my brain breaks from social media, calls, and excessive noise…reading books (yes, actual books where you turn the page and slow down), avoid responding to others to fast and then keep responses concise and to the point.
3. Test and Learn AI tools that help me manage and scale my business 

In addition…

To live a truly empowered life:

• You must own your choices, mistakes, growth, and success. When you do this, it is truly liberating.
• Know you have the power to shape your life, no matter your past or present circumstances. When you embrace this power, you step into the driver’s seat of your life.
• Create a future that reflects your values, aspirations, and authentic self. Life is not about what happens to you—it’s about how much self-belief and control (ownership) you have and how you choose to show up in the face of it all.

Amand I often ask myself:

         So at this point, stop, take a step back, and do a mind audit:

• What would it take for me to better control my mindset, actions, and reactions?
• How important is achieving my dreams and ambitions?
• Am I ready to make some hard choices if need be?

There is only one way to learn—through action. In our fast-paced and volatile world, taking action is a critical skill to master.

It is your actions, and how you execute them, that create an impact. We all have ideas, aspirations, and good intentions, yet what truly matters is how we transform these thoughts into tangible outcomes and demonstrate progress. No one remembers all the talk—they remember what we have done.

If you could leave our audience with a single, actionable piece of advice to combat the anxieties of the modern professional world, what would it be?

Premal R. Patel: Our world is in flux. Markets shift rapidly and we experience content overload, creating paralysis. So, remain relevant and keep growing by taking action and getting stuff done.

We are all surrounded by so many negative influences and opinions, whether from our family, our friends, people at work, or people we have just met. Everybody has a perspective, and everyone has opinions about what we should do and how we should do it.

One of the hardest things to do is to cut the negatives from your life. The important things are to navigate your journey and surround yourself with positive energy boosters.

Most important in your life is how you energise yourself. It’s all about you. Your most precious commodities are time and your energy.

You choose where to use your time and how to invest your energy, yet you often waste this power. Precious hours are lost in over-analysing, overthinking, and comparing yourself with what you see on social media. That’s your choice.

Premal R. Patel’s YANGA Unplugged lights the path from intention to impact. Through stories of grit and wisdom, he urges us to act boldly—nourishing ambitions that endure. A must-read blueprint for thriving leaders everywhere.

Read more Success stories of Indian entrepreneurs, Women Entrepreneurs & startups stories at SugerMint. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn