Media has brought to something called the NAMO-Fatigue by making adventurous coverage on how he sold tea at stations, how he spent his youth in Himalayas, how he eats ladoos from his mom’s hand, how he performs pooja at ghats, how he make fun by using some great words like shehzadey, maa-bete ki sarkar and starting the political match with 1-0 against Pakistan.

Now the frenzy has stopped as he has taken oath to be 15^th PM of India and it’s time to get behind the desk and work. Narendra Modi had a humble background till yesterday is an interesting story. I am dedicating this article to him since I being an avid political watcher, have learnt good number of lessons from him. I would honestly confess that rather applying these learnings to finance, if these are implemented in larger life also, the outcomes would be more satisfying. Also I would like to mention that now no more I care that I am praising a man from saffron brigade or man associated with 2002 riots, as now he is leading us and all Indians. So now he is OUR Prime Minister.

Disclosure: My Great Grandmother Kamla Beniwal is current Governor of Gujarat.

What can you learn from Narendra Damodardas Modi…?

You should visualize a grand picture, take risk

Can a normal person dream about MISSION 272+, knowing that 30 years have passed without a single party gaining majority, knowing that the 100+ political national/regional parties command vote on caste/biryani politics, knowing that 16-17% people belonging to a religion will not vote in favour due to past wounds and knowing that your own guru/senior will not like your decent.

In life also you cannot follow someone else. You should be courageous enough to vision your own success story. Life’s biggest stopper is the thought… What If I Fail? Normally people say in financial field, that one should avoid risk… where as I advocate – Go Find Risk. Because where there is risk lies a challenging opportunity. One has to find those opportunities, eye gaps and see a larger frame.

You should build a plan with micro details

Namo travelled 3.5 lakhs plus Kms stretched into 400 rallies with physical presence and 3000 rallies addresses digitally. He assembled one of the largest gathering of social media, advertising, manpower (RSS/VHP/ABVP) and experts on politics. Part of the plan that Amit Shah be deployed in UP, East and South be targeted.

In financial life also we have been advocating that best way to lead a tension free life is to build a plan. If you have made one or in process, you would appreciate the details. The result lies is detail planning. When you summarize and fix goals, you are not only obtaining clarity but you are also freeing your mind with vague thoughts and aspirations.

You should accumulate resource before you act over your plan

Apart from the team and muscle power, Modi had inner qualities like- command over language, oratory skills, hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm, zeal for fitness, leadership and fearlessness. He knew his humble background would sell and his skills as Gujrat CM would come handy. He started preparations very early and even tested his resources long ago before the elections were declared by making speeches to students and woman entrepreneurs.

Same way each of us are packages containing different backgrounds, economic strengths and with different skill sets. It is very important that plan of life be aligned with these resources. So if you are preparing a budget you should be aware of how much money you have in hand and what the expenses are. The information is also an important resource.

You should be patient if you have confidence over your plan

Why don’t you regret 2002? Are you sorry? Do you feel pain? Were you involved? Maut ke saudagar? Butcher man? 100s of question and he had his same answer- DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK. I think last 5 years Modi also learnt this lesson that, if you are 100% sure of your plan you have to be patient and not behave like a kid. He is known to have left 2 or more interviews before 2009 when grilled on his hard core image.

You have to have patient in what you do. You cannot get over-joyed, over-saddened or stressed. There are times when you will be pulled down by your own thoughts arising when you see butter melting on someone else pot. In investments particularly in equity, nothing will happen overnight. You cannot change your course on every 10% gain or loss. Hence patience and maintaining calmness is very important.

You should be ready with back-up, ignore critics/noise and straighten a few

He took a last minute shot – Addressing a rally at Amethi, he made Arnab wait till the last day, tighten loose screws of Giriraj Singh, openly criticizing Mamata Banerji, over playing Diggy Raja, taking pot shot on Priyanka Gandhi and leveraging from book of Sajay Baru. It’s not easy at it seems as when you are making n number of promises every day.

What if you face minor derailment in your plan… for eg you lose your job, meet an accident or face sudden demise of a near one. You have to take charge and make amendments. You have to face it and see what best can you do? You have to access the loss and try to recover it or walk over it so that the bigger plan is not disturbed. In financial plan lot of these hiccups can be managed by insurance and contingency fund. But the idea is to remain on track as major things are on stake.

Enjoy success as it’s your habit to be successful

There were about 5-6 programs and write ups on what he shall wear on oath taking day. All fashion expert had their view but the man showed no difference. He was his usual self. He never credited himself for success and never showed an outburst that he has brought fortunes for his party. His passion for country has over taken his success charm. He has indicated that he will be active around what he has been chosen for.

Finally, as your hopes are high, so are mine… but this man taught us that elections can be more entertaining than movies and cricket. As he starts a new journey I thank him and his amazing story making us learn new lessons and for solidifying what was already being practiced.

Do share your views and emotions in the comments section. 

Pickled In Rum…..

The horse and the mule live for 30 years, And know nothing of wines and beer,
The goat and sheep at 20 die, And never get a taste of Scotch and rye,
The cow drinks water by the tonne, And at 18 is mostly done
Without the aid of rum and gin, The cat in milk and water soaks, And then in 12 short years it croaks.
The modest, sober, bone-dry hen, Lays eggs for others, then dies at 10.
All animals are strictly dry; they sinless live and swiftly die.
But sinful, ginful, rum-soaked men Survive for three score years and ten,
And some of them, though very few, Stay pickled till they’re 92.

Around 2 years ago when I read these lines I thought Late. Sardar Khushwant Singh is just a writer who has seen only one side of the coin. I felt he lacks connected to hardship of life as he was descendant of Sh Shobha Singh Ji, who owned half of Delhi once thus belonging to affluent class. His love for Single malt and Golden Fried Prawns was world known.

But after his death, the obituary messages floated and I came across a beautiful article he wrote once on how to stay happy in life. Technically his points are based on observations that he made experiencing the common folks across the country. He wrote this when he was 96 years old and this gives me confident that these are wise thoughts of a man who was waiting his departure to heavenly abode. In a very simple way he has elaborated how a planned life can help you enjoy life. I am just reiterating his article with my understanding.

How to stay happy in life

He says….

I’ve often thought about what it is that makes people happy—what one has to do in order to achieve happiness.

First and foremost is good health. If you do not enjoy good health, you can never be happy. Any ailment, however trivial, will deduct something from your happiness.
(Now a day’s health is something which is a precious asset. I see youngsters ailing form hypertensions or dealing with sugar levels and insulin. The process by which comfortable life is earned takes a toll on health. So health is first and be in career or business which does minimal impact on your health. Develop investment practices which make you stress free and not stuff you with ailments.)

Second, a healthy bank balance. It need not run into crores, but it should be enough to provide for comforts, and there should be something to spare for recreation— eating out, going to the movies, travel and holidays in the hills or by the sea. Shortage of money can be demoralising. Living on credit or borrowing is demeaning and lowers one in one’s own eyes.

(How much is always a question. Earnings and investments with no goals are always endless. The answer is a simple process called- goal formulation. Make yourself aware what amount you need to accumulate for which goal. Arrive at an accumulation rate. Debt is burden which takes your credit worthiness and prestige. Even if you repay your credit every time, but question is why you resort to short term credits to fulfill your monthly consumption needs?)

Third, your own home. Rented places can never give you the comfort or security of a home that is yours for keeps. If it has garden space, all the better. Plant your own trees and flowers, see them grow and blossom, and cultivate a sense of kinship with them.

(I agree to the extent that property is part of overall asset allocation. Emotionally also I agree to him that own house is more comfortable and provides perceived status in the society rather living on rent. Having a garden or terrace depends on personal liking, affordability and budget.)

Fourth, an understanding companion, be it your spouse or a friend. If you have too many misunderstandings, it robs you of your peace of mind. It is better to be divorced than to be quarrelling all the time.

(What can I say on this? Yes an understanding partner is foremost requirement of a good personal and financial life. Your spouses should take part in every day financial decisions. Divorces are costly and draining to financial status so be confident while getting into a relationship and manage wisely.)

Fifth, stop envying those who have done better than you in life—risen higher, made more money, or earned more fame. Envy can be corroding; avoid comparing yourself with others.

(Stick to your own goals while you are in accumulation phase. Someone else has a different life and priorities. So don’t get influenced when someone is aggressively putting money in stocks or purchasing land or buying a bigger car. It is not your area of thinking what friends, relatives, peers or neighbors do when you are availing financial planning.)

Sixth, do not allow people to descend on you for gup-shup. By the time you get rid of them, you will feel exhausted and poisoned by their gossip-mongering.

(In financial field gup-shup amounts to herd mentality and influenced financial decision. Advice if often free to get and give but substance in advice comes only by paying a price.)

Seventh, cultivate a hobby or two that will fulfill you—gardening, reading, writing, painting, playing or listening to music. Going to clubs or parties to get free drinks, or to meet celebrities, is a criminal waste of time. It’s important to concentrate on something that keeps you occupied meaningfully.

(Wasting time and money on partying, shopping or boozing is always an outflow in financial life. All these habits involve money and somehow damage your budget. Buying decisions should be planted in advance for all major expenses.)

Eighth, every morning and evening devote 15 minutes to introspection. In the mornings, 10 minutes should be spent in keeping the mind absolute!

(All major gurus insist on this. As Elizabeth Gilbert says in , Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything across Italy, India and Indonesia- “We search for happiness everywhere, but we are like Tolstoy’s fabled beggar who spent his life sitting on a pot of gold, under him the whole time. Your treasure–your perfection–is within you already. But to claim it, you must leave the buy commotion of the mind and abandon the desires of the ego and enter into the silence of the heart.”)

Well I am now a fan of Khushwant Singh and eager to read his other books. What do you feel of the points he mentioned. Are they too simple to read and practice or they are simple to put down but challenge to execute? Share your thoughts on this.