Seize the opportunity...

Its been a while since I wrote... I have been busy at work. The year is fast coming to an end its time to plan for the next year...

I got this note below in an email and thought it was good to share.

Prakash Iyer, Managing Director, Kimberly-Clark Lever and Executive Coach shares two important management lessons he learnt from a 500-rupee note. Read on: -

It happened some years ago but I can recall the evening like it happened just last week.

I was in an audience listening to a motivational guru. The speaker whipped out his wallet and pulled out a five hundred-rupee note. Holding it up, he asked, "Who wants this five hundred rupee note?" Lots of hands went up. Including mine.

A slow chorus began to build as people began to shout "Me!" "Me!" I began to wonder who the lucky one would be who the speaker would choose. And I also secretly wondered - and I am sure others did too - why he would simply give away five hundred rupees.

Even as the shouts of "I want it" grew louder, I noticed a young woman running down the aisle. She ran up onto the stage, went up to the speaker, and grabbed the five hundred-rupee note from his hand.

"Well done, young lady," said the speaker into the microphone. "Most of us just wait for good things to happen. That's of no use. You've got to make things happen." The speaker's words have stayed with me ever since. 'Simply thinking about doing something is of no use' Our lives are like that. We all see opportunities around us. We all want the good things.
But the problem is we don't take action. We all want the five hundred rupee notes on offer. But we don't make the move. We look at it longingly . Get up, and do something about it. Don't worry about what other people might think.Take action.

Several years later, it was another day, another time. And another motivational guru. As I watched him pull out a five hundred rupee note and hold it up for all to see, I thought I knew what he was going to do next.

But he just asked a simple question. "How much is this worth?" "Five Hundred rupees!" the crowd yelled in unison.
"Right," said the speaker. He then took the note and crumpled it into a ball and asked "How much is it worth now?" "Five Hundred rupees!" screamed the audience. He then threw the note on the ground, stamped all over it and picked up the note and asked one more time: "And how much is it worth now?" "Five Hundred rupees!" was the response.
"I want you to remember this," said the speaker. "Just because someone crumples it, or stamps on it, the value of the note does not diminish.
All of you should all be like the five hundred rupee note.

In our lives, there will be times when we feel crushed, stamped over, beaten. But never let your self-worth diminish.Just because someone chooses to crush you - that doesn't change your worth one bit!

Whats your view.... Do share your comments..

Beyond the Price tag?

I saw this picture on Facebook....This prompted me to write this blog...

Let me start with a decliner- I love Lay's and it  is one of the best tasting potato chips in the market.

I am looking at this more on the value? How many times do we look beyond the price tag? If a price is cheap does it mean its low in value?

Often Brands, Advertisement, and peer pressure are the reasons for making financial decisions. I sometimes come across clients who decide on a financial plan because a friend also did it. Its quite a challenge to explain that each of our financial needs are different. 

To compare Value with cost is a challenge. Some of the criteria in assessing are 

Meets the objective- The first criteria is to see if it meets the objective. It cannot be decided on impulse. How many times have you bought something because you think you may need it sometime in the future and never used it. It maybe at a discount but if you don't NEED it, there is no Value.

Reliable- When it comes to food, the most important decision is the reliability of the company manufacturing. The quality control processes in place, the food handling methods, cleanliness and the quality of the raw materials used helps us make the decision. 

Functionality- A lot of times we come across products that are lower price but have more functionalities.

Accurate- Functionality and accuracy go hand in hand. There maybe a lot of functions in a product, but if they do not perform accurately the purpose is lost.

Efficiency- My daughter always prefers a particular brand of pen. She argues that the flow of INK and the smooth movement makes her handwriting look neater when she writes. Especially in exams, when she is trying to race against time.

Coming back to the picture above, What do we get when we look beyond the price tag!!!!!.....

Financial tips for Women

The general impression about women and money is that we don't know how to handle it. Although it may not be 100% true, many women do not take interest in Financial planning.

For many money is emotionally connected. Our beliefs about Money and our emotional connections decided how we handle and spend money. Money also affects relationships, love and other matters in our life. There are also sometimes Psychological stumbling blocks that also prevent one from achieving their Financial goals.

Here are some tips to achieve financial independence.

Set Financial Goals-  Having a goal is key to financial success. You need to work out what you want and where you are currently in achieving it.

Spend less earn More- That's the primary step to build wealth.


Be Financially independent - Depending on your spouse or family to handle your finances will not help you reach your goals. You need to be involved.

Watch your Spending- Don't spend to feel good. This can never help you build your self esteem. Look for other ways to boost your self esteem.

Education- Make a conscious effort to learn about money and finance. Read books, attend talks and educate yourself to handle money wisely.

Get involved- Get involved in the day to day spending and accounts of your house.Talk to your spouse about money and how he handles it.

Not late to Start Its never too late to start. So start getting involved and learn to handle your money TODAY....