The Systems That Run My Life (While I Build a Startup)

A Personal Blueprint for Leveraging AI, Building Discipline, and Balancing Ambition with Daily Action

Building startups - especially at an early stage - is inherently chaotic. Between product updates, investor meetings, client emails, deep tech research, and strategizing for the future, clarity and organization become vital. Having relocated halfway across the world from Sri Lanka to San Francisco with my beautiful wife, Wathmi, the complexity of managing this chaos has only intensified.

My mantra is clear and simple: "Build for the future. But do well today."

AI has emerged as the greatest equalizer of our time, creating unprecedented opportunities and allowing anyone with curiosity and determination to build impactful solutions. Here’s an inside look at the systems I've carefully refined to leverage this immense opportunity, maintain sanity, productivity, and focus, while simultaneously driving forward Marketrix, diving into humanoid robotics research, and building a life worth living - may be you’ll find a golden nugget or two.

Photo Credits : Erick D @ Llama Lounge 18 Live at Zoom HQ

1. Rituals That Guide Me

Every successful system starts with disciplined rituals. For me, a few key habits anchor my daily chaos:

• Early Mornings (4 AM Start): I start my day at 4 AM, hitting the gym before 5 AM or doing a home workout, alternating between yoga and strength training. A Sunday swim is a must - it’s my weekly reset.

• Reading as Meditation: Reading became my refuge and a source of inspiration after moving to San Francisco. It centers my mind and continually broadens my perspective, sparking innovation in AI and robotics.

• Podcast Learning: Podcasts are my primary source of knowledge and inspiration. Favorites include Planet Money, My First Million, All In, a16z, The Indicator, Idea Cast, and the Joe Rogan Experience. Listening regularly (mostly as I shave my head 😅 + shower) helps me stay ahead of AI industry trends and keeps me mentally engaged.

• Deep Research and Study: Leveraging the ChatGPT o3 model coupled with Deep Research, I frequently print out materials for focused study sessions. I then use Google NotebookLM to transform these printouts into live podcasts, allowing me to absorb insights even during commutes or breaks.

• Weekly Reflections: Each Sunday evening, I take time to review my progress, adjust my priorities, and mentally map out the week ahead. It's my method to continuously align short-term actions with long-term visions.

2. Notion: My Comprehensive Digital Brain

Introduced by my friend and mentor, Sahan Bakmiwewa, Notion evolved from being just another app to an essential lifeline for organization. It handles task management, project roadmaps, and research notes seamlessly:

• Task Management: My daily and weekly priorities are clearly laid out and structured within Notion. Tasks are fluidly managed across statuses - Today, This Week, Backlog - allowing me to shift dynamically as priorities evolve.

• Marketrix Dashboard: From product roadmaps, patent filing documentation, and investor conversations, to customer implementations, every piece is managed systematically.

• Humanoid Robotics Research: Currently diving deep into humanoid robotics, my research notes, industry insights, and future product visions are meticulously documented here. Robotics isn't just a passion; it's what I believe will be the next transformative wave powered by AI.

3. Financial Clarity as a Core Discipline

Navigating finances can easily become overwhelming in startups, but clarity is critical. Using Mercury and Brex as my primary banking tools ensures that every dollar aligns with strategic objectives, keeping us lean and intentional. Financial discipline allows me to focus my energy on building rather than worrying.

4. Productive Chaos: Thriving, Not Just Surviving

Chaos is inevitable; productivity within chaos is intentional. I embrace the inherent messiness of startup life but remain adaptive:

• Iterative Thinking: Plans are never static - they evolve weekly. My ability to adapt quickly has become my strongest competitive advantage.

• Flexibility Over Rigidity: Systems are important, but flexibility is paramount. Notion dashboards evolve constantly to meet shifting priorities and emerging opportunities, reflecting my belief that adaptability beats rigidity every single day.

5. Your Network is Your Net Worth

In San Francisco, hundreds of AI events happen every month. Being selective and attending the right ones is crucial. Networking isn't just about meeting new people; it's about building meaningful relationships that can shape your trajectory:

• AI Events: Carefully choosing and participating in valuable events connects me with inspiring peers, investors, and industry leaders who share my passion for AI-driven innovation.

• Coffee Chats and Advisors: Regular one-on-one discussions with advisors and mentors provide invaluable insights, strategic guidance, and perspective shifts that significantly impact my startup journey.

• Investor and Customer Feedback: Continuous engagement with investors and customers sharpens our product-market fit and pushes our thinking forward. Every interaction is a learning opportunity.

6. The Importance of "Build for the future. But do well today."

In startup culture, there's often pressure to constantly chase tomorrow’s breakthroughs at the expense of today's execution. My mantra emphasizes the balance required to succeed sustainably:

• Vision with Execution: Long-term vision is meaningless without immediate, actionable steps today. I focus equally on visionary AI projects, like humanoid robotics, and daily, incremental improvements in product and operations.

• Sustainable Pace: Avoiding burnout is crucial. Building for the future requires sustained effort, not just bursts of energy. Consistency and daily discipline compound into significant achievements.

• Immediate Impact: Today's decisions shape tomorrow’s outcomes. Every task, conversation, or research note is intentionally crafted to align with long-term ambitions, ensuring each action meaningfully contributes to future goals.

Building meaningful systems is about balancing today's realities with tomorrow's ambitions. By living by my mantra - "Build for the future. But do well today." - I continually refine my personal and professional systems to ensure that what I'm building today creates lasting impact tomorrow.

I'd love to hear about the systems guiding your chaos. Let's continue building intentionally.