Stop Maximizing, Start Optimizing - Karam Veer Kanwar

As students or new grads, we’re constantly bombarded with pressure to chase the “best” path—banking, consulting, product management, software engineering. These are the jobs people fight for. And the road to getting there? Packed with endless applications, clubs, case prep, side projects, coffee chats… it’s a never-ending grind.

But in chasing the “maximum,” we often forget to think. Really think.

We stop asking the most basic question: What are we optimizing for?

For a lot of people, the unspoken answer is prestige. Or income. Or optionality. But here’s the thing—if we’re not careful, we end up living life like a spreadsheet, always trying to hit the top percentile in every cell. We max out our resume, our GPA, our LinkedIn—but forget to consider whether we’re actually enjoying the process.

I don’t think the goal is to maximize one thing—be it salary or status. I think the goal is to optimize for a life that feels fulfilling. And fulfillment is rarely found in a singular outcome. It comes from balance. From intentionally designing a life that works for you—not one that looks impressive from the outside but leaves you drained on the inside.

Here’s a simple framework I use to break it down (consulting habits die hard). I think of life satisfaction as a function of four key levers:

1. Work

Are you doing something intellectually engaging? Do you feel a sense of purpose, impact, or growth? You don’t have to love every second of your job—but if your 9 to 5 consistently leaves you burned out or empty, that fatigue bleeds into everything else.

More importantly, work-life balance (WLB) isn’t a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential. A great role that leaves no time to actually live your life isn’t worth it. A prestigious job that kills your evenings and weekends isn’t success—it’s silent sacrifice.

Optimization tip: Don’t chase titles—chase environments. Work with people you admire and problems that feel meaningful. Prioritize companies and roles that protect your time and value your growth. You can be ambitious without sacrificing your peace. And if you enjoy a hectic lifestyle, then go for it! At the end of the day, know what you’re signing up for.

2. Social Life

Friends, family, community—this is what keeps you grounded and human. Yet it’s often the first thing sacrificed in the name of “hustle.” The irony? When things fall apart—professionally or personally—it’s the people you neglected who you end up needing the most.

Connection doesn’t just happen. It’s built. And especially as we leave university and friends scatter across cities, being proactive matters. Your calendar says a lot about what you value—make sure it includes people you care about.

Optimization tip: Block time for relationships like you block time for meetings. Host a monthly dinner. Call your parents. Plan group trips. Consistency > intensity. A good social life isn’t a distraction from success—it’s part of it.

3. Health & Fitness

We often treat physical health like a bonus. Something to do once the important stuff—work, school, side projects—is done. But your body is your operating system. If it’s crashing, everything else slows down too.

Fitness isn’t about looking good. It’s about having the energy, clarity, and discipline to show up fully in all areas of life. And just like work-life balance, this too needs structure. Long nights of work or study shouldn’t become an excuse to neglect your health. It’s a feedback loop: the better you feel physically, the better you perform mentally.

Optimization tip: You don’t need a perfect gym routine. Start small—20 minutes of movement, 3x a week. Walk more. Eat real food. Sleep properly. Protect your mornings or evenings as sacred time for your body.

Climbing photo of me!

4. The Mind

You can have the perfect job, a loving circle, and be in peak physical shape—and still feel lost. That’s because internal peace doesn’t come from external metrics. It comes from how you interpret and process your experiences.

Even with the best conditions, your mind can still sabotage you with anxiety, self-doubt, or comparison. That’s why mental clarity is its own domain—something that needs just as much attention as your resume. Creating space to reflect isn’t indulgent. It’s strategic. Thinking deeply about your values, fears, and goals helps align your choices with who you actually want to be.

Optimization tip: Make reflection a practice. Journal a few times a week. Meditate, even if it’s just 5 minutes. Go on walks without your phone. Read more books and fewer tweets. Create margins in your life for thought—not just productivity.

There’s no universal formula for fulfillment. But if you step back from the noise, define your values, and design around what actually matters to you, you can live a life that feels rich—not just one that looks good on paper.

So maybe the question isn’t “How do I win the game?”

Maybe it’s “What game do I even want to play?”

About me

Hey! My name is Karam Veer Kanwar, and I am a final-year finance student at UBC Sauder. 

I have a background working with startups, consulting firms, tech companies, and non-profits, and I enjoy working across industries and disciplines. Most recently, I was employed by a software company, where I got to design and implement internal scalable systems.