Tuesday, October 23, 2012

7 secret's of Warren's Buffet for living a happy and simple life

Are you sold on the fake notion that owning possessions is the touchstone of your self-worth? Have you felt jealous and self-pity when a neighbor bought a new Mercedes or a new Yacht that you always wanted to possess? We all have.
If your paycheck is not keeping up the pace with your cravings for the new iphone, why not learn the secrets of simplicity from the richest man on the earth who still lives without a cell phone? Before you sink your money for the latest gadget what if you were to know that the Oracle of Omaha still has no desk computer in his modest office?
In this world full of the rich and famous, Warren Buffett remains the greatest investor ever born not due to his acumen for the wise investments that he has made during his life but more for exemplifying the greatness with simplicity. He’s full of wit and happiness and this is at the core of everything that he does. 07 Secret's after the break...

Secret # 1 : Happiness comes from within.
In my adult business life I have never had to make a choice of trading between professional and personal. I tap-dance to work, and when I get there it’s tremendous fun.- Warren Buffett
This is the man who truly does what he loves. The battle between Productivity and anti-productivity blogs stems from their convoluted chains of frequently twisted rational to substantiate their claim that productivity is a force of an external demand – from an employer or a competitor. In reality, productivity comes from within. It comes from doing what we love and loving what we do. When we start trading time between our professional and personal life, we wage war in our own mind to justify our passion in terms of a personal benefit. In my business I have felt more stress and angst when I haven’t given all of my talent, hard work and passion to help others on a given day. The myth of working hard to make more money to buy more things throws us in the vicious circle of hallucination. Our happiness always remains imprisoned when we do work that we abhor yet justify doing it to pay bills for those things that we don’t need. I used to work even after buying my first hotel for many years to justify the fake notion that I needed additional income to pay bills. What I needed was to change my lifestyle to free myself from this never-ending rut chase.
Secret # 2 Find happiness in simple pleasures.
I have simple pleasures. I play bridge online for 12 hours a week. Bill and I play, he’s “chalengr” and I’m “tbone”. – Warren Buffett
If the man richer than God can find happiness in the simple pleasure of playing bridge online with another billionaire, I have to learn to be happy with the simple pleasures of playing cards with friends or playing with my children or taking a walk in the wilderness. All of these simple pleasures do not need extravagant spending. I used to go play golf with other businessmen when the local chamber of commerce sponsored an event. I never found happiness in those events as they were centered on generating more business and exchanging business cards than on truly enjoying the moment. I was allowing myself to be run ragged by trading business cards after hours in a vain hope of making more money whereas that time deserved a dinner with my family.
Secret # 3 Live a simple life.
I just naturally want to do things that make sense. In my personal life too, I don’t care what other rich people are doing. I don’t want a 405 foot boat just because someone else has a 400 foot boat. – Warren Buffett
The sad truth is that our ever-sophisticated advertising industry has conditioned our mind to find happiness from consumption by spending our hard earned money on the possessions that never bring us lasting happiness. We spend our life-energy on those possessions that we seldom use. We worry about making payments for a luxury car that sits in our garage collecting dust only for the right to brag about it in an occasional social gathering. Keeping up with the Joneses is the worst epidemic among those who should never contemplate that notion in the first place. If a man who can possibly buy a nation with his cash never espouses the mantra of “more the better”, I need to learn not to spread my legs beyond the reach of the blanket. We are conditioned to spend money before we earn it. We are sold on the fake happiness of “Buy now, pay later dearly” - It’s nothing more than buying possessions that we cannot afford. I have my share of insanity when it comes to mindless spending, but lately I try to pay for most of my purchases with cash. It creates awareness towards the impulse buy when I pay by cash. I have also started red lining items on the credit card statement that I consider useless spending. All of these efforts have built my awareness towards my impulse purchases. I have been using mantra of – “less is more” to simplify every aspect of my life. It’s a work in progress but the results are astounding.
Secret # 4 Think Simply.
“I want to be able to explain my mistakes. This means I do only the things I completely understand.” – Warren Buffett
There lies one of the greatest secrets of simplicity. Warren Buffett invests only in the businesses that he understands. If you ever read research reports from an accomplished Wall Street guru, you’ll find a plethora of details that make you dizzy. The success of Warren Buffett as the greatest investor ever lies in his ability to think simply.
I used to invest in the stock market in the mid 90’s when everyone wanted to make over night millions in an exuberant market. I used to read “Investor’s Business Daily” only to look at the movers and shakers. These were the stocks that made a significant upward move a day before. A few days before Christmas, I made $52,000 in one stock in a matter of a few days. I knew nothing about the company. I created a new reality for my thoughts that I had figured out how the Wall Street works. I was on my way to the riches. I applied the same thought model on the next several stocks. Needless to say, I lost all that I made and much more. I was lacking in a basic human quality that Warren Buffett has mastered well – common sense. It says a great deal about the character of a man who invested a measly amount in Microsoft despite the fact that Bill Gates is one of his closest friends. I learned a valuable lesson of life from this experience – “Not losing hard earned money is far more important than making more money”.
If I apply this rule in my life, I can develop clarity and sanity in my thoughts. Clarity is the mother of simplicity. Life is not a roulette; life is about simple yet profound choices.
Secret # 5 Invest Simply.
The best way to own common stocks is through an index fund. – Warren Buffett
It is astounding to know that the greatest investor in the world is not bragging about intricate financial maneuvering to impress the rest of the world with his financial genius. Instead, Warren Buffett shows us the most simplistic approach to our financial freedom – “Flow with the market rather than pretending to be smarter than God.”
In this world full of so-called financial experts, Warren stands tall by showing us the simplest way to the riches. The stock market has moved upward for the last hundred years despite numerous setbacks. He is using a long historical view to back his argument rather than making a futile effort to predict how we can make a quick fortune. After losing most of my capital in the late 90’s, I have precisely followed the simple advice of investing in the no-load index funds. I’m happier than ever and while my assets have not skyrocketed, they haven’t dwindled either.
Secret # 6 Have a mentor in life.
I was lucky to have the right heroes. Tell me who your heroes are and I’ll tell you how you’ll turn out to be. The qualities of the one you admire are the traits that you, with a little practice, can make your own, and that, if practiced, will become habit-forming. – Warren Buffett
We are worshipers of celebrity demi-gods. All of us have this acute desire to look and live like these celebrities. However, are they truly the ones with character and moral compass to lead us? Having a mentor is as important as having a purpose in our life but having a wrong mentor is as devastating as having a wrong purpose in our life. The mentor has to be someone whom we can trust and have an unwavering faith in his/her guidance. The mentor has to be the one who has made outstanding strides in advancing the greater and guiding purpose of happiness in his/her own life. You’ll find that person in your inner circle if you think hard enough. Write down why you admire them. Try to emulate their traits and as Warren has shown by his exemplary life, with a little practice, you can form a habit to clone the life that you admire the most.
Secret # 7 Making money isn’t the backbone of our guiding purpose; making money is the by-product of our guiding purpose.
If you’re doing something you love, you’re more likely to put your all into it, and that generally equates to making money. – Warren Buffett
How do you rationalize the richest man on the earth still living in a small 3-bedroom house that he purchased fifty years ago? Warren Buffett never travels in a private jet despite the fact that he owns the largest private jet company. His character and way of life speak volume about his greatness. This is the man who spent his personal time investigating a $4 line item on his tax return to hunt down the specifics of it while giving away billions of dollars to Bill Gates foundation. It is rare to find the richest man on the earth living without luxuries that we want to possess even by mortgaging our future. He has demonstrated that while valuing the worth of money is vital for our ingenuity and success, money shall never become the object and end all of our motivation.
I’m an avid admirer of simplicity, but I’m an even bigger fan of the man who has mastered the greatness by living and breathing simplicity amid an ocean of wealth

Source : http://ritemail.blogspot.in/2012/10/7-secrets-warrens-buffet-for-living.html

Friday, October 19, 2012

Story of Appreciation

**Story of Appreciation**

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company.

He passed the first interview, the director did the last interview, made the last decision.


The director discovered from the CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research,
Never had a year when he did not score.

The director asked,
"Did you obtain any scholarships in school?"
The youth answered "none".

The director asked,
" Was it your father who paid for your school fees?"
The youth answered,
"My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.

The director asked,
" Where did your mother work?"
The youth answered,
"My mother worked as clothes cleaner.
The director requested the youth to show his hands.
The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.

The director asked,
" Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?"
The youth answered,
"Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books.
Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.

The director said,
"I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.*

The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to the kid.

The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were cleaned with water.

This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fee. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future.

After finishing the cleaning of his mother's hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.

That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.

The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, asked:
" Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"

The youth answered,
" I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'

The Director asked,
" please tell me your feelings."

The youth said,
Number 1,
I know now what is appreciation. Without my mother, there would not the successful me today.
Number 2,
By working together and helping my mother, only I now realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done.
Number 3,
I have come to appreciate the importance and value of family relationship.

The director said,
" This is what I am looking for to be my manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired.

Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.

A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop "entitlement mentality"and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts.
When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others.
For this kind of people, who may be good academically, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel sense of achievement.
He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying the kid instead?*

You can let your kid live in a big house, give him a Driver & Car for going around, Eat a Good Meal, learn Piano, Watch a Big Screen TV. But when you are Cutting Grass, please let them experience it. After a Meal, let them Wash their Plates and Bowls together with their Brothers and Sisters. Tell them to Travel in Public Bus, It is not because you do not have Money for Car or to Hire a Maid, but it is because you want to Love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will Grow Grey, same as the Mother of that young person. The most important thing is your kid learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.

இளைய தலைமுறைக்காவது இனி கிடைக்குமா ?

இளைய தலைமுறைக்காவது இனி கிடைக்குமா ?

வயல்வெளி பார்த்து
வறட்டி தட்டி
ஓணாண் பிடித்து
ஓடையில் குளித்து
எதிர்வீட்டில் விளையாடி
எப்படியோ படித்த நான்
ஏறிவந்தேன் நகரத்துக்கு !

சிறு அறையில் குறுகிப் படுத்து
சில மாதம் போர்தொடுத்து
வாங்கிவிட்ட வேலையோடு
வாழுகிறேன் கணிப்பொறியோடு !

சிறிதாய்த் தூங்கி
கனவு தொலைத்து
காலை உணவு மறந்து
நெரிசலில் சிக்கி
கடமை அழைக்க
காற்றோடு செல்கிறேன்
காசு பார்க்க !

மனசு தொட்டு
வாழும் வாழ்க்கை
மாறிப் போகுமோ ?

மௌசு தொட்டு
வாழும் வாழ்க்கை
பழகிப் போகுமோ ?

வால்பேப்பர் மாற்றியே
வாழ்க்கை
தொலைந்து போகுமோ ?

சொந்த பந்த
உறவுகளெல்லாம்
ஷிப் பைலாய்
சுருங்கிப் போகுமோ?

வாழ்க்கை
தொலைந்து போகுமோ
மொத்தமும்!
புரியாது
புலம்புகிறேன்
நித்தமும்!

தாய் மடியில் தலைவைத்து
நிலவு முகம் நான் ரசித்து
கதைகள் பேசி
கவலைகள் மறந்த காலம்
இனிதான் வருமா ?

இதயம் நனைத்த
இந்த வாழ்வு
இளைய தலைமுறைக்காவது
இனி கிடைக்குமா ?

சொந்த மண்ணில்
சொந்தங்களோடு
சோறு திண்பவன்
யாரடா ?
இருந்தால் அவனே
சொர்க்கம் கண்டவன

Thursday, October 4, 2012

முட்டாள்கள்


நாட்டை ஆண்டுகொண்டிருந்த மன்னருக்குத் திடீரென ஒரு சந்தேகம் உதித்தது. உடனடியாக அமைச்சரை வரவழைத்தார்.
நான் இந்த நாட்டை இவ்வளவு நன்றாகவும், புத்திசாலித்தனத்துடனும் ஆண்டு வருகிறேன், ஆனால் இந்த நாட்டிலும் முட்டாள்கள் இருப்பார்கள் அல்லவா?”

ஆம் மன்னா!”

அப்படியானால் அவர்களில் முதல் ஐந்து முட்டாள்கள் யார்?? அவர்களைத் தேடிக் கண்டுபிடித்துக் கூட்டிக் கொண்டு வருவது உம் பொறுப்புஎன்றார்.

அமைச்சருக்கு ஒன்றுமே புரியவில்லை, புத்திசாலியைக் கொண்டு வரச் சொன்னால் ஏதாவது போட்டி வைத்து வெற்றியாளரைக் கொண்டு வரலாம். முட்டாளைக் கொண்டு வரச் சொன்னால்?? என்ன செய்வது சொன்னது மன்னராயிற்றே, “சரி மன்னாஎன்று ஒத்துக் கொண்டார்.

ஒரு மாதம் நாடு முழுவதும் பயணம் செய்து இரண்டுபேரை மட்டும் கூட்டிக்கொண்டு வந்தார். அதைப் பார்த்ததும் மன்னர், “அமைச்சரே உமக்குக் கணிதம் மறந்து விட்டதோ??”

இல்லை மன்னா! முதலில் நடந்ததை விளக்க அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும்!” என்றார் அமைச்சர்.

தொடரும்என்றார் மன்னர்.

மன்னா! நான் நாடு முழுவதும் சுற்றும்போது, இவன் மாட்டு வண்டியின்மேல் அமர்ந்துகொண்டு தன் துணி மூட்டையைத் தலைமேல் வைத்து, பயணம் செய்து கொண்டிருந்தான், ஏன் அவ்வாறு செய்கிறாய்? எனக் கேட்டதற்கு என்னைச் சுமந்து செல்லும் மாடுகளுக்கு வலிக்கக்கூடாதல்லவா? அதற்குத்தான் என்றான்இவன்தான் நம் நாட்டின் ஐந்தாவது மிகப் பெரிய முட்டாள்.”’ என்றார் அமைச்சர்.

சரி அடுத்து

இதோ இவன் தன் வீட்டுக் கூரைமேல் வளர்ந்த புல்லை மேய்க்க, எருமையைக் கூரைமேல் இழுத்துக் கொண்டிருந்தான், இவன்தான் நம் நாட்டின் நான்காவது மிகப் பெரிய முட்டாள்

களிப்படைதோம் அமைச்சரே! களிப்படைதோம்! சரி, எங்கே அடுத்த முட்டாள்?”

அரசவையில் தீர்க்கப்பட வேண்டிய பிரச்சினைகள் எவ்வளவோ இருக்கும்போது, அதையெல்லாம் விட்டுவிட்டு முட்டாள்களைத் தேடி, கடந்த ஒரு மாதமாய் அலைந்துகொண்டிருந்த நான்தான் மூன்றாவது முட்டாள்.”

மன்னருக்குச் சிரிப்பு தாங்கவில்லை, விழுந்து விழுந்து சிரித்தார். பின்னர்அடுத்ததுஎன்றார்.

””நாட்டில் எவ்வளவோ பிரச்சினைகள் இருக்கும்போது அதைக் கவனிக்காமல் முட்டாள்களைத் தேடிக் கொண்டிருக்கும் நீங்கள்தான் இரண்டாவதுஎன்றார் அமைச்சர்.

ஒரு நிமிடம் அரசவையே ஆடிவிட்டது. யாரும் எதுவும் பேசவில்லை.

உமது கருத்திலும் நியாயம் உள்ளது. நான் செய்ததும் தவறுதான்என ஒத்துக் கொண்டார் மன்னர்.

சரி எங்கே முதலாவது முட்டாள்?”

அமைச்சர் சொன்னார்.”மன்னா! அலுவலகத்திலும், வீட்டிலும் எவ்வளவோ வேலைகள் இருந்தாலும் அதையெல்லாம் விட்டுவிட்டு ஃபேஸ்புக்கே குடியேன் வாழ்ந்து இந்த மொக்கையான கதைக்கு வந்து நாட்டின் மிகப் பெரிய முட்டாள் யாரென்று தேடிக் படித்துகொண்டிருக்கிறாரே இவர்தான் அந்த முதல் முட்டாள்!”

#ஆத்தீ , கடைசியில் நம்மளையே முட்டாளாக்கிட்டாங்களே!!!