Narrator: What if life wasn't a mysterious journey, but a video game? A game with levels to conquer, obstacles to overcome, and enemies to face. In this game, success isn't about luck; it's about knowing the rules and finding the cheat codes. This is the central premise of Lilly Singh's guide to conquering life, How to Be a Bawse. Singh, the comedian and YouTube sensation also known as Superwoman, argues that a "Bawse" is not just a boss at work, but a person who exudes confidence, reaches goals, and hustles relentlessly in every area of their life. The book serves as a playbook, filled with the lessons and "cheat codes" Singh learned on her own journey from a period of deep depression to global stardom, providing a blueprint for anyone ready to stop just surviving and start conquering.

Narrator: The foundational principle of being a Bawse is mastering one's own mind. Singh argues that while we cannot control external situations or other people's actions, we have absolute power over our own reactions and preparation. Wasting energy on things outside of our influence is inefficient and frustrating. A Bawse understands that power lies not in controlling the world, but in controlling their response to it.

Singh learned this lesson the hard way early in her career. Before her YouTube fame, she ran a small Indian dance company in Toronto. She had a grand vision, investing her time and money to turn it into an empire. She converted her basement into an office and worked tirelessly. However, her team members didn't share her commitment. Dancers would show up late, wear unprofessional attire to events, or miss practice altogether. Singh’s attempts to control them and force them to share her passion only led to immense frustration. The dream eventually faded, but the failure taught her a critical lesson. When she discovered YouTube, she found a medium where she was in complete control of her own content, her work ethic, and her creative vision. By shifting her focus from controlling others to controlling herself, she built the Superwoman empire.

This mindset also applies to handling negativity. As her channel grew, so did the volume of hateful comments. Initially, these comments about her ethnicity or appearance deeply affected her. Instead of letting them control her emotions, she began to analyze them. She developed what she calls "cheat codes" for her mind. She reframed the situation, realizing that a hateful comment often says more about the commenter's own unhappiness than it does about her. By conquering her own thoughts and controlling her reaction, she learned not to let the opinions of anonymous strangers dictate her self-worth.

Narrator: The second part of the Bawse framework is to "Hustle Harder," but this isn't just about working long hours. It's about working with intense commitment and a clear vision, free from the distractions of FOMO—the fear of missing out—and the temptation of shortcuts. Singh is adamant that there is no escalator to success; you have to take the stairs.

This means building a career on a strong foundation of consistent, quality work, rather than chasing fleeting viral fame. A viral video might bring a temporary spike in attention, but a library of valuable content creates a lasting legacy and a loyal audience. This principle of taking the stairs requires an unwavering commitment to Plan A. Singh argues against having a Plan B, because it implies an expectation of failure. Instead, a Bawse creates Plan A 2.0 and Plan A 3.0, adapting their strategy within their chosen field rather than dividing their focus.

This level of dedication requires sacrificing short-term pleasures for long-term goals. Singh recounts a time when she was on a world tour and staying in a Hollywood Hills mansion with her friends. The night before a major shoot for a YouTube campaign, she could hear her friends partying downstairs. She had a choice: join the fun or get the sleep she needed to perform well the next day. She chose to sleep. Six months later, she was standing in Times Square with her family, taking pictures in front of her own massive billboard. The joy of that accomplishment, she explains, far outweighed the disappointment of missing one party.

Narrator: Success is not a single destination but a series of ladders to be climbed. A key lesson in How to Be a Bawse is that success in one area does not grant an all-access pass to another. Even after achieving massive success on YouTube, Singh found herself at the bottom of the ladder in Hollywood. One day she would be at a glamorous movie premiere with fans screaming her name; two days later, she'd be in an anonymous audition room, being treated like just another aspiring actor. A Bawse, she argues, must be humble enough to start from the bottom of a new ladder, putting their pride aside to earn their place.

However, sometimes climbing the ladder means knowing when to break the rules. While protocols exist for a reason, blindly following them can stifle progress. A Bawse does what needs to be done, even if it means challenging the system. For years, Singh’s idol was Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. After becoming a creator, she tried to arrange a meeting through all the proper channels—her manager, her agency—but nothing worked. Frustrated, she decided to break protocol. The night before the MTV Movie Awards, she sent a direct text to Johnson, who she had become text buddies with. He responded immediately, not only agreeing to meet but ensuring she had the credentials to get backstage. By breaking the rules, she achieved a goal that years of following protocol could not.

Narrator: A single achievement, no matter how great, cannot define an entire career. Singh warns against the "make or break" mentality, where one opportunity is seen as the single key to success. This mindset creates immense pressure and is fundamentally flawed. A Bawse doesn't build a house of cards that can be toppled by one failure; they build an empire with multiple pillars of support.

Singh shares her experiences collaborating with A-list celebrities like Selena Gomez and Priyanka Chopra. Each time, she felt immense pressure, believing this one video would be the one to launch her into the stratosphere. But after the hype died down, she found the videos performed similarly to her other content. No single video "made" her career. Her success was the cumulative result of over a thousand videos, a world tour, and consistent hard work. Her empire was built on a foundation of experience, skills, and diverse projects.

This is why a Bawse approaches every opportunity with their best effort but without the expectation that it will be the definitive moment of their career. If one project fails or a video gets negative feedback, the empire remains standing because it is supported by many other pillars. If you feel that one opportunity will make or break you, Singh advises, it's a sign that your foundation isn't strong enough to begin with.

Narrator: Ultimately, How to Be a Bawse is a guide to building a life by design, not by default. The single most important takeaway is that being a Bawse is an active, ongoing process of taking control. It’s about mastering your mind, hustling with intention, strategically climbing ladders, and building a resilient empire. It’s a rejection of the survivor mentality—just getting by—in favor of a conqueror's mindset.

The book challenges its readers to stop waiting for permission or for the "right" opportunity. It asks a powerful question: In what areas of your life are you simply playing the game, and where could you start rewriting the rules? By embracing the principles of a Bawse, you don't just navigate the game of life—you start to win it.