So this Saturday some random thoughts (and as Busybee would say..all my own work). So many people from the past have enriched our lives and continue to do so – RK Laxman and Beheram Contractor (aka Busybee). So long after they have gone, one still thinks of them fondly. Amazing ability to bring a smile on your face. Did not matter what topic it was, they had magic with their pen.

There is just too much complexity in our lives now. 40 years ago ‘cycling’ meant you hired a cycle for 1 hour and rode all around your house. Today cycling means you buy a cycle for 50K (or thereabouts), a helmet, gloves, gear, water bottle, Garmin, and ride 40 km on weekends. The cost per km is more than the cost of flying. You then join groups, attend ‘events’ , hire a coach – and suddenly you do not know whether it was a hobby or a profession. In terms of effort it is a hobby in terms of money spent it is a profession. Same for running.

I hate the marketers who manipulate us. You have been manipulated too. In 1900 all men had long beards. In 1907 ‘Seven O’Clock’ shaving blades were born. Gillette took it over of course. Now do you know any man (or woman) who has not used a Gillette razor? Well, the caveat – I own shares of Gillette and Proctor and Gamble, and of course Colgate and Hdfc. Hdfc? Manipulator? well did they not convince us that we can sleep peacefully ONLY if we own the house? Now Uber and Ola are proving that you need ‘transportation’ – not necessarily the car in which you travel. Well, I have always felt that you do not need a car, now many people seem to agree with me. Will somebody do a ‘Uber’ and Ola in the housing market? We need a big disruption there too.

There is really nothing new in good advise. It is necessary. Good and honest advice and advisers will always be in demand. The problem is that it is in short supply. Even worse, it is boring. Making a career in advising or blogging is tough. Real tough. Try charging a fee for saying the same things again and again. I am convinced that if I start charging Rs. 365 per year for reading this blog, my readership will fall. NO. Not cribbing, just stating the facts. It took 7/8 years for Pattu to be able to make his content to be on paid basis. I am sure he has less than 2% of his readers willing to pay and see his videos and read his blogs. Of course it is a numbers game. No, I will not go that path. I am happy that you are giving me your time to read this stuff.

To keep in touch – especially in a physical mode – is not easy. In Mumbai going for an event – paid, unpaid, or invited to is not easy. Imagine getting dressed, taking a vehicle and travelling 50 km – you need 16 horses to drag me from home. I have decided to force myself to go physically – and not just see things online. The sheer power of meeting 700 people in one place is awesome. Doing Sales, Training, and communicating is an awesome gift from God. I will do it till I drop dead.

Like I told a recent gathering “Creating, Thinking, Talking, and Writing about Money and Money related behavior is surely my IKIGAI”. I just love it – whether while addressing 700 people in Network FP event in Mumbai, or 600 people in IFA Galaxy or addressing a few thousand on television channels or blog articles – I will keep doing it. Till I drop dead.