I advice on Product Management | Growing your customer base | Career Growth

2X-Founder | Author | Growth | Ultra Runner | Writer

From failed startups to scaling Truepush to 100B+ notifications monthly and 4,500+ customers worldwide, I've learned what it takes to build products people need and grow them relentlessly.

I built Truepush from paper wireframes to becoming a top 10 global player in our category. At Alohaa.ai, I doubled sales within just 3 months and drove consistent month-over-month revenue growth.
Beyond business, I push limits personally. 

I recently completed an 82.4km ultra run during a 12-hour stadium event. Mountains, travel, and nature are where I find liberation through both excitement and boredom.

Learning obsessively fuels everything I do. I've devoured 336+ books, and continuously invest in courses (Mindvalley, MasterClass, Matt Gray, Justin Welsh, Reforge and more).

When knowledge compounds with consistent execution, results follow:

- Built a 25,000-person startup community across 3 cities
- Published 250+ LinkedIn posts in 2024 alone
- Recognized among the top 1% of mentors on Topmate.io
- Created Solopreneur OS to help others identify market gaps and build growth systems

All while maintaining 7 hours of sleep nightly, seeing friends regularly, and maintaining my unusual preference for vegetables over chocolate (though I love both).

Want to build something great? Let's connect.

Manoj Surya

A lot of things happened over the weekend 

1) Spoke at TG10x in morning walks session, sold 19 books instantly (+1 gifted)  

2) Crossed 100 books sales on the same day (currently 125 sold)

3) printed 2nd batch of books and dispatched to Amazon (last 5 left from the first batch)

4) Did not have Zero books sales day so far(got book purchases every day from the launch)

5) Two nice people from my network suggested podcasts/Insta live and I applied to talk in one online (so 3 opportunities all with in next 7 days)

6) Got 10 5-star reviews on Amazon (and more of them to be approved by Amazon to be made live)

This is a great start of the launch week and trying make the best out of this.

If you still haven’t bought your copy, you can find it here - https://amzn.in/d/42ldCCz 

PS: I’m looking for a workshop or speaking slot at Hyderabad Literary Festival , if someone can refer to the right person, will be grateful. 

Also if you know any podcasts / events / people who like to do podcasts / linkedin / Insta lives, please do refer.

2X Founder | Author - The Serotonin Addict | Head of Growth | Ultra Runner | I write on Growth for B2B and Personal Learnings

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There are 4 types of people (the 4th type is the dangerous)

1) Unconditional love and support
These are people who will support you because, well, you are putting in the work.
These people may or may not know you, but  their nature is for you(and everyone) to succeed

2) Support from proof
These are people who will support you after seeing your journey and have built trust from you (most people)

3) Not your audiance
These are people who aren't the audience for your work. They are good people, just that, your work isn't a fit for them

4) <irrational> Humans
These are people who may have met you years ago and still refuse to believe you are doing great work now. Because they have an image of your immature self when you were young and stupid

I kind of didn't like crossing paths with this 4th kind of people until recently. Now started feeling pity for them that they have never grown as humans because they can't see growth in others and live in a decade(s) old delusion.

Publishing The Serotonin Addict exposed me with this truth again of different kinds of people.

PS: I sent Amazon 80 books in the first batch, thinking it would take a few months to sell. It's only a month, and it has sold close to 200 books (online and offline together).

You can get your copy here: https://amzn.in/d/izkzfP9

At Hyderabad Literary Festival , 

- Found one of the youngest reader picking The Serotonin Addict book 
- Found an elder person reading a book (randomly)
- Rajat sir started La Ultra series (111km to 555km runs), read how first book. So glad to exchange our books today (with his second book)

More to come.

PS: If you are in Hyderabad Literary Festival, do buy your The Serotonin Addict book from Orient Black Swan book stall :)

171 sales in total 

Crossed 101 physical books sales on Amazon  today 
7 kindle sales
Remaining offline sales

(All paid. Not including giveaways in this)

Publishing a book is something 
But seeing more people reading your book and benefiting is something else 

#grateful

graphical user interface, text, application

Out of stock on 8th day of release

So far 132 books sold (physical books and kindle together) 

1) If you use kindle or want to explore, 
you can check the kindle edition here - https://amzn.in/d/3BdSfZd

2) If are in Hyderabad and want a physical book, you can DM me

Will update once it’s back for Amazon physical copies across India

Had good sales for The Serotonin Addict book at Hyderabad Literary Festival.

Today woke up to seeing this happening 

My profile is verified as author profile on Medium

Small shift in identity change as an author - being reinforced in real world

More milestones to come

My own book surprised me(in good ways)

Last month, I published my book, The Serotonin Addict.

I sent 80 copies to Amazon, hoping it would last for a few months.
They were sold out in 5 days.

Amazon replenished my stock after 12 days of shipping my books to them(the wait felt like forever).

Here is what happened in one month

My sales are close to 200 books now :) (both online and offline together)
- I have done 2 podcasts.
- 2 offline speaking engagements
- Books displayed/sold in Hyderabad Book Fair and Hyderabad Literary Fest
- Got 1 blog review
- 25 reviews on Physical copy, 1 on Kindle, 3 on Goodreads.
- About 35 people shared the book on their stories (check my Instagram highlights)
- I approached a few publishers (this may take a few months of work)

This is a surprise I did not expect for so much to happen in a month.

Next month I have

- 1 podcast with a wellness company
- Planning one offline launch (okay, I will start planning this week)
- I am planning 1-2 Insta-lives with friends who suggested they would interview me(one of them is an author)
- I have a few opportunities I can see, but I won’t share them until I discuss and finalise them.
- I want to give this book 6 months for all the promotions I can do. The first month went well.

If you still haven’t checked out the book, do check it here

Amazon India (Physical Copy): https://amzn.in/d/0P3xlKH
Amazon Worldwide(Kindle): https://amzn.in/d/8tr5oyC

If you read the book, do let me know your thoughts in the comments :)

- Manoj

Just crossed 8000 connections on LinkedIn.

8000 real people connected is insane. And grateful.
PS: Just realized, Everything I have written here is hard to do, and feeling good  to have multiple such things (author, ultra runner, founder, etc.)

Just The Serotonin Addict things.

Happy Sankranthi folks!

Wish you a great holiday, have fun.

This is the first podcast I am on, in context of The Serotonin Addict book.

Spoke about my habits, how I came about doing them, and more.

Thanks Rishikesh for such nice questions and having me on this.

Podcast link:  https://lnkd.in/gBAkEZ3f

Over the last few years, we have been building Dawdle.live with one strong belief: The right conversations can change people’s direction in life.

In our latest episode, I had the pleasure of hosting Manoj Surya (Author, Marketer, Ex-Entrepreneur, Marathon Runner) to talk about his first book “The Serotonin Addict” and the deeper idea behind it.

In a world full of instant gratification (reels, constant scrolling, quick dopamine hits), Manoj beautifully explains why the most meaningful growth comes from something very different:
✅ Long-term habits
✅ Serious hobbies
✅ Discipline + consistency
✅ Challenges that build self-respect
✅ Progress that compounds over time

This conversation is not just about a book.
It’s about how we can rewire our lifestyle, build focus again, and choose deeper happiness over temporary stimulation.

📌 A few strong takeaways:
Dopamine is easy, quick, and addictive
Serotonin is slow, intentional, and fulfilling
The goal is not perfection, the goal is returning back even after failure
One habit, for 30 minutes daily, can genuinely change your entire year

If you’re someone who wants to build better habits, improve focus, or reduce burnout, you’ll love this episode- Link in comments

📘 Book Links: The Serotonin Addict
Physical copy (India): https://amzn.in/d/6Eq5SLF

Kindle (Worldwide): https://amzn.in/d/3BdSfZd
 (also available on Kindle Unlimited)

🔗 Manoj Surya on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gEqHDSUY

#Podcast #Habits #Discipline #PersonalGrowth #Serotonin #Dopamine #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #Entrepreneurship #Books

One more detailed review about The Serotonin Addict book :) 

Jia Sarah Jai

TEDx Speaker | Passionate About People, Strategy & Consulting | Mental Health Enthusiast

I recently read "The Serotonin Addict" by Manoj Surya, and as a psychology student in my early 20s, it genuinely changed how I think about happiness, motivation, and emotional regulation.

What stood out to me the most was the idea that having even one thing in your control can make you feel powerful. At this stage of life, where career paths, identities, and future plans often feel uncertain, that perspective felt especially grounding. The book reinforces something psychology emphasizes but we often forget to apply personally: everyone needs something to look forward to.
I appreciate how hobbies were framed not as “time off,” but as meaningful activities that either build skills, expand knowledge, or deepen self-awareness. Even from a psychological lens, the idea that the process of pursuing a hobby can foster discipline and consistency aligns strongly with behavioral principles. The focus is not on motivation, but on showing up.

Another concept that resonated was viewing happiness like an investment. Placing all emotional dependence on one activity or one person can lead to unhealthy attachment. Diversifying sources of happiness creates emotional balance and resilience, something we study theoretically, but this book explains in a very accessible way.

The book also presents self-love in practical terms: setting priorities, letting go of what doesn’t serve you, and making space for activities that support both mental and physical well-being. Overall, The Serotonin Addict felt like a simple, realistic playbook for choosing hobbies, setting goals, and working toward them without feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to set on a new endeavour or is in the process of deciding to :)

Here is the link to purchase the Book-
https://lnkd.in/gqk2FtVU

Marc Lou is doing this as a 1 person company.

I wonder how many companies with teams and funds can beat this revenue or profitability.

Reviews are growing for The Serotonin Addict book

Get your copy here: https://amzn.in/d/9yrVQBA

All Fintechs, NBFCs, Banks now need to adapt 1600 series for service and transactional calls

By Feb 1st you need to be migrating to avoid penalties (and this time it’s not a gray area)

We at Alohaa, helped multiple institutions migrate seamlessly already

For anyone facing issues, having doubts, need clarity on 1600 series migration for your calling, so attend our webinar

Details and registration @ telecom.alohaa.ai 
Webinar at 4pm on Jan 23rd(This Friday)z

Limited seats to attend (and even limited bandwidth on number of companies we can onboard to migrate, if needed)

Sign up now to attend!

Manikanta Racharla Vivek Katyayan Rahul Reddy Anireddy

Marketing is leverage

At base level th leverage is either time or money 

Use them -

- To build familiarity
- To build trust
- To get people onboard with you 

To be effective 

- You need to know what problem you are solving, very clearly
- Who you are solving it for, very clearly 
- Where they hangout (channels)
- Emotions you want to invoke in your prospective customers 
- How easy it is for them to start using your product 
- Then trade offs/ins - emotional/ monetary/social etc

That’s all!

Easy.

It’s surprising how many days it takes for Amazon to make the stock online when sent to their warehouse.

The Serotonin Addict is picked by AI

I need to work on AEO to be suggested for Habits and Goals keywords 

Probably going to take a long time or need a ton of references from articles, mentioned, and websites to make this happen

But it’s good to have wishful thinking, because why not :)

Stealth Startup

Founder

BT&BT Management Consultancy 

I have offered immense value to customers in manufacturing, financials, healthcare, and technology industries. My passion, energy, go-getter attitude, and mission-focused approach have been instrumental in driving my team to work towards a common purpose, delivering outputs and outcomes with high productivity and engagement.

Consulting Excellence
1.	Advised clients including Tech Mahindra, OSI, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Polaris, L&T Infotech, winAMR, L V Prasad Eye Institute, IPMCC Sri Lanka, Union Bank of India, iLabs, GHD Digital, Aeris, IST, MediCiti, and Ramoji.
2.	Defined digital business missions, visions, digital business models, strategic pillars, and strategy maps, along with digital business operating models and digital technology strategy.
3.	Prioritized digital initiatives and established Program Management Offices for streamlined execution.
4.	Designed a blockchain strategy for the State Government of Andhra Pradesh.
5.	Conducted workshops for boards, CXO-level, and other senior executives on Digital Business Strategy and Leadership, training around 500 people.
6.	Delivered approximately 100 keynote speeches and participated in numerous panel discussions, becoming an evangelist for Lean Digital Thinking and Digital Transformation.
7.	Designed International Institute of Digital Technologies (IIDT) in Andhra Pradesh
8. Designed Business Model, Business Operating Model, Technology Strategy for AP Fiber Grid 


Innovations and Investments
•	Introduced the pioneering Lean Digital Business Excellence Model and Lean Digital Thinking.
•	Innovated digital products and platforms such as:
•	Lean Digital Quotient Finder
•	CoInnovator Open Innovation Platform
•	QEnhancer for Real Estate Construction Quality
•	myVoiceToday for Voice of People
•	PlatformWeaver for building digital platforms

Through these efforts, I have driven technological advancements, fostered an environment of continuous improvement and innovation

Chairman & MD | Chief Digital Advisor, Consultant & Execution Champion 

IET India 

As the Chairman of the Open Digital Innovation Working Group at the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET), India, my journey is about envisioning and initiating initiatives that redefine digital engineering and technology innovations. The core purpose of this working group is to champion these innovations with “collective intelligence” to positively impact society, ecology, economy, and the planet.

From the outset, I focused on establishing the Open Digital Innovation (ODI) Platform to foster collaborative digital engineering and technology innovations, addressing pressing problems. I aimed to create a space where diverse minds could drive meaningful change.

To enhance India’s innovation capabilities, we conceptualized the Digital Engineering & Technology Innovation Body of Knowledge (DE&T BOK). This resource improves skills in convergence areas—engineering, technology, thinking, domain, and leadership—elevating our innovation quotient for future challenges. DE&T BOK aims to become a global standard for engineering, aligning with the 4th and 5th Industrial Revolutions.

This working group was formed to act as a strategic advisor, guiding governments and industries on adopting digital engineering and technology solutions, promoting best practices, and recommending policies to facilitate effective implementation.

In summary, we aim to reengineer the engineering discipline to align with the needs of the digital age. Our leadership seeks to integrate engineering, technology, domain expertise, and innovative thinking to drive holistic and sustainable innovations.

•	I have authored a white paper on Digital Engineering, in which I recommended to the Government of India the introduction of disciplines such as Digital Mechanical Engineering, Digital Civil Engineering, Digital Electronics & Communication Engineering, among others – technology/software has now become an integral part of all engineering disciplines.

Chairman - Open Digital Innovation, IET Future Tech Panel

Representative of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) 

Convener for BIS / ISO Blockchain Smart Contracts Standard

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (http://www.theiet.in/)

As Chairman, I led the Smart Cities Working Group to transform urban living and promote sustainable development.

We aimed to reduce migration from rural areas by improving living conditions and opportunities, balancing regional development. Promoting responsible consumption of power, gas, and water, we educated citizens on efficient resource use, positioning our cities as sustainability models.
Advocating for transparent governance, I collaborated with officials to establish frameworks for accountability and responsibility, building trust and fostering community collaboration. Shaping “future living” places that were comfortable, safe, and convenient was a major focus, integrating advanced technologies and innovative designs.

We have evangelized on how to prepare cities for a hyper-connected environment, boosting GDP, driving innovation, and enhancing social harmony through connectivity.

Centers Established:
-	Engineering Centre: Develop smart city solutions using mathematics, science, and technology
-	Policies Centre: Create smart city-focused policies, frameworks, and standards
-	Experience Centre: Promote smart city solution experience centers for community engagement

Subgroups Established:
-	Smart Connectivity: Enabled real-time connections among people, devices, and infrastructure
-	Smart Living: Enhanced life quality through efficient resource use and digital technologies
-	Smart Water: Optimized consumption and reduced distribution losses with water twins
-	Smart Governance: Fostered accountable, transparent governance

We released a research paper on the Water Twin concept. We conducted thought leadership branding sessions through round table events, podcasts, webinars, and white papers.

I have authored Software Defined Smart Cities, published by IET, providing insights into urban living and technology's role in smart cities. I established Think Tank and a Volunteer Team to guide strategic direction, share best practices. perform operational tasks.

Chairman, Smart Cities Working Group, IET, India

One of the Top Eye care Research Institute & Hospital

Executive in Residence for Digital Business 

One of the State Governments in India 

Blockchain Strategy Consultant

The Indus Entrepreneurs

Advocate Entrepreneurship in Cloud and Mobility areas to ignite the sprak for building new businesses. TiE is a non-profit organization

Charter Member & Anchor for Cloud Computing & Enterprise Mobility

Tech Mahindra (Mahindra Satyam got merged with Tech Mahindra)

My journey has been one of driving transformation and innovation. When I took on the role, I managed a comprehensive digital transformation program to prepare 20 practice units and 19 business units for the digital journey.

One of my proudest achievements was nurturing a robust digital leadership team of over 40 talented individuals. Managing change in a matrix organization was no small feat, but with a clear vision and a collaborative approach, we navigated the complexities and drove significant progress.

I worked closely with startups and global alliance partners to co-create an innovative digital strategy. We developed unique digital offerings that allowed us to go to market with a strong value proposition. Establishing digital centers of excellence provided a solid foundation for innovation.

I built relationships with industry analysts, ensuring that our digital initiatives were well-represented and positively perceived in the market.

Execution excellence was another area where we made significant strides. I established a digital academy to nurture digital talent within the organization. Impressively, we certified 25,000 employees on Digital 101 within just six weeks. 

We also created the Digital Mahindra and Digital Tech Mahindra Blueprints. Establishing clear processes, policies, and structures, along with forging strategic partnerships, were crucial steps in driving our digital business forward.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my role was preparing our sales team for the digital era. We trained over 300 sales professionals, equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in a digital-first world. Our efforts paid off, generating around $180 million in revenue through close collaboration with other business units in two years.

It has been incredibly fulfilling to see the tangible impact of our digital transformation efforts and witness the growth and success of our digital initiatives.

Senior Vice President & Chief Digital Officer (CDO)

Mahindra Satyam

I served as the Senior Vice President & Global Head of Oracle Business at Tech Mahindra from 2009 to 2012 in Hyderabad. During this time, I managed the Oracle Rise Program, Balanced Scorecard, Strategy Map, and PMO, driving strategic initiatives across the organization.

My role involved handling CXO-level strategic accounts, both farming and hunting, growing the business from $125M in 2009 to $200M by 2012. I also focused on leadership development, nurturing over 10 AVP and VP-level business leaders to strengthen our leadership pipeline.

In global delivery management, I championed delivery innovations and excelled in quality, productivity, cost optimization, profitability, and time to market. Managing our global Oracle relationship, I developed innovative Oracle xPress Solutions and Delivery Accelerators, helping us bounce back to Challenger status in Gartner's MQ for Oracle Business.

Leading continuous role-based learning programs earned me the title of #1 Knowledge Management Champion at Tech Mahindra. I managed 4000+ Oracle employees, efficiently ramping up teams of up to 300 people at a time, and maintained relationships with 40+ recruitment partners, especially during the Satyam Crisis period.

I addressed annual global analyst meetings and maintained relationships with Gartner, Forrester, and Ovum analysts. As a keynote speaker, panel chair, and blogger, I participated in industry forums, establishing thought leadership in the Oracle domain.

A key part of my role was turning around the Oracle Business during the Satyam Computers crisis, covering various Oracle applications like Oracle eBusiness, PeopleSoft, JDE, Retail, Utilities, Life Sciences, OTM, Oracle Fusion, Oracle BI, Siebel, and others. I also managed the merger of Tech Mahindra’s Oracle business into Satyam’s Enterprise Business Solutions unit.

Senior Vice President & Global Head - Oracle Business

Hello! I’m V. Srinivasa Rao (VSR), a digital transformation leader with 29+ years of experience managing large-scale IT and digital technology businesses at TCS, Infosys, Satyam, and Tech Mahindra. My extensive expertise in advising boards, CXOs, and senior executives on digital business strategy and execution has made me a trusted advisor

In 2014, I chose to leave the corporate world to focus on digital Biz innovations, nurturing startups, and mentoring young talents, allowing me to fully pursue my passion for digital transformation.

In today's fast-paced world, businesses face challenges in embracing digital transformation, aligning strategies with new technologies, and fostering innovation. My expertise can guide you through the digital journey smoothly, preparing you for digital age

I specialize in designing, building, & operationalizing digital businesses for large, medium-sized enterprises. By leveraging the capabilities that emerge from the fusion of multiple technologies, I drive revenue growth and operational excellence.

Services:
1.	Advisory & Mentoring: Guiding CXOs and senior executives on digitalization strategies
2.	Digital Transformation: Developing digital strategies, project portfolios, and managing DPMOs
3.	Building Digital Talent: Establishing skill development academies and leading workshops
4.	Business Operating Model & Change Management: Designing structures, roles, KPIs, and leading change initiatives
5.	Innovation Ecosystem: Creating open innovation ecosystems and COEs, and training digital champions
6.	Thought Leadership: Delivering keynote speeches, leading panel discussions, and crafting thought leadership programs.

Recognized by Gartner, Forrester, Fortune 500 (India), PMI, IET, and many other organizations, I am known as a digital evangelist, having delivered over 100 keynote speeches and authored influential books

Achievements:
1.	Featured in Fortune 500 (India) for the Satyam Computers turnaround.
2.	Top 150 Game Changers at Tech Mahindra.
3.	Meeting with President of India Dr. Kalam.
4.	Top 300 Outstanding Leaders at Infosys.
5.	Indywood Excellence Award in Entrepreneurship.
6.	PMI, USA Global Community Award.
7.	Sought-after speaker and panel chair.
8.	Innovated Lean Digital Business Excellence (LDBEx) model
9.	Authored books: Ignite the Minds to Build a New India, Software Defined Smart Cities, Lean Digital Thinking, and Bharat 2047.

I’m always open to new opportunities and collaborations. Connect with me on LinkedIn, email, or visit my website. Let’s work together to drive digital innovation in your organization.

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Manoj Surya

V Srinivasa Rao (VSR)

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The Battle

Manoj Surya

V Srinivasa Rao (VSR)

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Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Manoj Surya's LinkedIn Performance

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