According to research we remember 10% of what we Read 20% of what we Hear 30% of what we See & Hear 50% of what we Discuss with others 75% of what we Experience ourselves and a staggering 90% of what we TEACH to someone else.
So the best way to get a grip on a topic is to TEACH the same to someone else. This forces your brain to connect the dots and helps you imbibe the knowledge in a manner where you understand the topic and are able to explain it to others in your own words.
So go forth share your knowledge with others, it will actually benefit you more than the those being taught. It will help you understand and retain that topic much better.
Year 2020 will be remembered for a long time for the string of unexpected and unpredictable events that have happened and continue to happen, impacting lives of people across the globe. This has caused us to adapt to a lot of changes very very rapidly in a very short span of time. Staying indoors, maintaining personal hygiene, social distancing, work from home, wearing mask, valuing human lives etc. It has surprised everyone how a tiny virus can bring the entire world on its knees. And people are now bracing themselves for biological warfare as experts say that this is definitely not the last pandemic…
In the Pre-covid era, there was a lot of discussion around ‘CHANGE’ and being a change agent – how the world is changing very fast and that we all need to embrace change with examples of giants like Kodak and Nokia who failed to change with time and so on.
However, in the last few months everyone has embraced change either voluntarily, forcibly or reluctantly. People have accepted that this is the ‘new normal’. The discussion is now shifting to surviving and thriving in the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) world. And the top skill that people need now is the ability to deal with ambiguity
Gone are the days when people used to ask about 3 year and 5 year plans. In the current situation people do not have visibility about the next three months. This is truly a live example of paradigm shift. It is like shifting from a waterfall model to an agile approach to life.
With the events in 2020 unfolding at a rapid pace – starting with Covid19 and then closely followed by multiple earthquakes, locusts attacks, war threats, Floods and asteroids passing close to earth, forest fires… it seems as if the world is playing the game of Jumanji where every roll of dice is triggering some new set of events, threats or challenges.
Initially these events took everyone by surprise and many doomsday theories started getting popular on social media. However, soon people regained their mental balance and now people are exploring how to excel in the changed atmosphere – and here is the mantra –
Learn to deal with ambiguity – it is ok to feel a little uncomfortable
Be ready to take the next step even if the whole path is not visible
Have faith. Believe that in the end everything will turn out to be good. This too shall pass
Approach the situation with an open mind & positive attitude
Calibrate your risk appetite – plan for all contingencies.
Last but not the least – Take action. Small steps taken consistently over a period of time yield great results
If you have to go to a Bank or Government office to update your personal details or provide some KYC documents, what do you do – just pick up the required set of documents (original and their copies) + passport size photos + pen etc and drive to the Bank or do you have to rummage every cupboard searching for the passport sized photos or one of the key document.
Do you have copies of your important documents readily available or do you stop on the way to get a copy. Do you have to return with the work unfinished as you did not carry all the required documents or make multiple trips to complete the requirements.
Do these scenarios look familiar? The point I am trying to make is that a large chunk of people either do not consider this important or they do not know where to start and how to organise their personal information.
Having key information handy at all times can save you a lot of time and hassle where you are pressed for time. Also it can go a long way in ensuring that you are prepared for any emergency.
In this post we will look at easy ways to organise your personal and financial information. It is not as difficult as it is often made to sound. All it requires is your will and intent to do it once you understand the importance of the same.
Have Scanned Copies of All Key Documents
With the digital revolution and a smart phone in every hand it is very easy to quickly scan and store digital copies of all your important documents. Many apps are available in the App Store which do a neat job of creating a PDF of the document in seconds. And if you use Google Drive, it has an inbuilt feature to scan documents.
Once you have scanned all your important documents (including the ones for your spouse, kids and parents), rename them so that searching for the right document is easier later. Now arrange them neatly in separate folders for PAN Cards, Aadhar Cards, Voter ID, Passport, Driving Licence, Property/Rental agreements or Sale Deeds, Medical Reports, Salary Slips, Form 16, Car and Bike Registration documents and so on.
You can save these to a eLocker or Digital Locker of your choice. You can also store them on to a cloud storage solution like Google Drive, One Drive or Dropbox.
Handling Physical Documents
Similar to the soft copies, create separate files and folders for various types of documents. Create one file for all the Bills, another one for all Insurance related documents, notices and premium receipts. Have another file for you property related documents like Sale/Rent agreement, property tax receipts etc. Similarly create separate folders to file documents for Bank accounts, investments, car and bike, AMC agreements etc.
Luckily in the last few years all bank statements and statements from mutual funds etc have all converted to digital so it has reduced much of the paper that you need to handle these days. Nevertheless there still will be a few things that each one of us will surely have which is still in paper format and storing them in identifiable folders will allow us to find them quickly without having to go thru the entire stack of paper in the cupboard.
Also the advantage of having separate folders is that when you are about to flick a document into the cupboard, it takes very less effort to place it into the right folder rather than throwing it loosely into the cupboard or drawer. This habit saves you a lot of time when you might have to invest and entire afternoon sorting and organising the documents.
Emergency Bag
Create a Emergency Bag and let every family member be aware of it. Anyone from the family should be able to open it and it should have all your important information in one place. You can have the contact numbers of important people like CA, Doctor, Tax Consultant, Later, Toll free number of Health Insurance company, Car insurance, Banks where you have accounts and a few close friends and relatives whom you could call anytime in case of an emergency.
Also place a copy of all the key documents like Health Insurance Cards, Insurance policies, PAN and Aadhar card copies etc into the bag for easy access during an emergency. Review the contents of the bag every six months and refresh as required.
Tag Along Bag
Create a tag along bag which you should carry when heading out to any bank or government office. Place a few copies of passport size photos, copies of PAN Card, Aadhar Card, Pen, Glue stick, Stapler etc so that you do not have to hunt for these things and can get your work done efficiently.
Please start getting organised if you are not doing it already. This small steps go a long way and will ensure that you and your family are prepared for any emergencies.
The words “Do not go gentle into the night…” caught my attention in the movie Interstellar which is a science fiction movie directed, co-written and produced by Christopher Nolan in 2014.
The movie is set in a dystopian future where humanity is struggling to survive. The film follows the adventures of a group of astronauts who travel through a wormhole near Saturn in search of a new home for mankind.
It is a quite popular movie and very intriguing. So during the lockdown I was drawn to watch it once again as if some unanswered questions were pulling me towards it. I completed the movie and this poem is what I found. If you are interested in movies about space exploration you will like it too.
Let us first go through the famous poem by Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) titled “Do not go gentle into that good night” before we try and understand what it means.
Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Explanation The beauty of many poems is that different people interpret the same text differently. This is because we all are unique beings by virtue of our upbringing, our perceptions of the world – honed by our experiences. Two people going through the same events of life experience them differently. Also culture, heritage and personal values play an important role as to how we interpret the words we come across.
The reason why I like this poem is because it talks about making a mark on the canvas of this world. It speaks about perseverance and never-say-die attitude even though death is inevitable. It gives the message that when we accept our mortality, we understand what really matters in our life.
The author acknowledges that death is inevitable—We are all mortal beings and everyone has to die one day.
“wise men at their end know dark is right“
But that doesn’t mean that we should simply give up and give in to death. Instead, people should fight, fiercely and bravely, against death because life is precious and worth fighting for.
He goes on to say that when these people are confronted with death, they realise that they haven’t accomplished everything they wanted to. It connects them with their mortality and they fight against death so that they can have more time and leave a bigger impact on the world.
Similarly, the “wild men” that the author describes in lines 10-12, have spent their lives in a joyous and reckless fashion: they “caught and sang the sun in flight.” But, when they face death, they realize that that they “grieved it on its way.” In other words, they realize that they have regrets about the frivolous way they spent their time on Earth. Thus they fight for more time so that they can do something more worthwhile.
In both cases, then, death helps these very different people realize that their lives are precious—and that they need to use their time on earth as best as they can. The inevitability of death offers them a kind of corrective mechanism, helping them reconnect with what really matters in life. So even though death is inevitable, it’s worth fighting bravely against, because doing so helps reveal what really matters in life.
Maturity is when you stop trying to change people, and instead focus on changing yourself. Maturity is when you accept people for who they are. Maturity is when you understand that everyone is right in their own perspective.
Maturity is when you learn to “let go”. Maturity is when you are able to drop “expectations” from a relationship and give for the sake of giving. Maturity is when you understand that whatever you do, you do for your own peace.
Maturity is when you stop proving to the world how intelligent you are. Maturity is when you focus on positives in people. Maturity is when you do not seek approval from others. Maturity is when you stop comparing yourself with others.
Maturity is when you are at peace with yourself. Maturity is when you can differentiate between “need” and “want, and you can you can let go of your wants. Maturity is when you stop attaching “happiness” to material things.
By the time you read through this you will understand the meaning of “TANJOOBERRYMUTTS”. And only then will you be ready to take on China! Believe me…you WILL understand!!!
Here it goes…The following is a telephonic exchange between a Hotel guest & a room-service agent in China…
Room Service: “Morrin. Roon sirbees.” Guest: “Sorry, I thought I dialled room-service.” Room Service: “Rye, Roon sirbees… morrin! Joowish to oddor sunteen?” Guest: “Uh… Yes, I’d like to order bacon & eggs.” Room Service: “Ow ulai den?” Guest: ” …….What?” Room Service: “Ow ulai den?… Pryed, boyud, pochd?” Guest: “Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry.. Scrambled, please.” Room Service: “Ow ulai dee bayken? Creepse?” Guest: “Crisp will be fine.” Room Service: “Hokay. An sahn toes?” Guest: “What?” Room Service: “An toes. ulai sahn toes?” Guest: “I…. Don’t think so..” RoomService: “No? Udo wan sahn toes?” Guest: “I feel really bad about this, but I don’t know what ‘udo wan sahn toes’ means.” RoomService: “Toes! Toes!… Why Uoo don wan toes?… Ow bow anglish moppin we botter?” Guest: “Oh, English muffin!! I’ve got it! You were saying ‘toast’… Fine…Yes, an English muffin will be fine.” RoomService: “We botter?” Guest: “No, just put the botter on the side.” RoomService: “Wad?” Guest: “I mean butter… Just put the butter on the side.” RoomService: “Copy?” Guest: “Excuse me?” Room Service: “Copy.. tea… meel?” Guest: “Yes. Coffee, please… And that’s everything.” Room Service: “One Minnie. Scramah egg, creepse bayken, Anglish moppin, we botter on sigh & copy… Rye?” Guest: “Whatever you say.” Room Service: “Tanjooberrymutts.” Guest: “You’re welcome”
Remember I did say “By the time you read through this… YOU WILL UNDERSTAND ‘TANJOOBERRYMUTTS’
Yes, that is a weird sounding title but let me explain in a jiffy… Try answering the below questions… 1. Name the 5 Wealthiest People in the world 2. Name the Last 5 winners of Ms. Universe 3. Name the Last 10 People Who the Nobel prize
How Did You Do?
The point is, none of us remembers the headlines of yesterday. Even though these people must be the best in their fields. Applause dies, awards are tarnished and achievements are forgotten!!
Here’s another quiz…Let’s see how this one goes:
1. Name 5 Teachers Who Added to Your Journey Through School 2. Name 5 Friends Who Helped You Thru Difficult Times 3. Name 5 People Who Taught You Something Worthwhile 4. Name 5 People Who Make You Feel Special 5. Name 5 People who You Enjoy Spending Time with
Easier…right?
The people who make a difference in your life are NOT the ones with most awards…Life is full of ordinary people who have made the world a better place for you!
Cherish them! Hold them tight! And Thank them for making a difference in your life. Perhaps sometimes its “special” to be ordinary!
This is the English translation of the famous comic poem in Marathi “Mi Kadhi Risk Ghet Nahi”. It literally translates to “I never take risk”. It was penned by the poet Taliram.
I had come across this poem long ago and found it really hilarious. And it brings a smile on my face every time I remember it. Read it aloud and enjoy! Hope it brings a smile on your face as well.
I never take risk while drinking When I come from office in the evening, wife is cooking I can hear the noise of utensils in the kitchen I stealthily enter the house Take out the bottle from my black cupboard Shivaji Maharaj is looking at me from the photo frame But still no one is aware of it Because I never take risk… I take out the glass from the rack above the old sink Quickly enjoy one peg, wash the glass and again keep it on the rack Of course, I also keep the bottle inside the cupboard Shivaji Maharaj is smiling I peep into the kitchen – Wife is chopping potatoes No one is aware of what I did Because I never take risk… I: Any news on Chopra’s daughter’s marriage Wife: Nope, she doesn’t seem to be that lucky. They are still looking out for her I come out again; there is a small noise of the black cupboard But I don’t make any sound while taking out the bottle I take out the glass from the old rack above sink Quickly enjoy one peg Wash the bottle and keep it in the sink Also I keep the Black Glass in the cupboard But still no one is aware of what I did Because I never take risk…
I: But still I think Chopra’s daughter’s age is not that much Wife: What are you saying? She is 28 years old…like an aged horse I: (I forgot her age is 28) Oh Oh… I again take out potatoes from my black cupboard But the cupboard’s place has changed automatically I take out the bottle from the rack and quickly enjoy one peg in the sink Shivaji Maharaj laughs loudly I keep the rack in the potatoes & wash Shivaji Maharaj’s photo And keep it in the black cupboard Wife is keeping the sink on the stove But still no one is aware of what I did Because I never take risk… I: (getting angry) you call Mr. Chopra a horse? If you say that again, I will cut your tongue…! Wife: Don’t just blabber something, go out and sit quietly… I take out the bottle from the potatoes Go in the black cupboard and enjoy a peg Wash the sink and keep it over the rack Wife is smiling Shivaji Maharaj is still cooking But still no one is aware of what I did Because I never take risk… I: (laughing) So Chopra is marrying a horse!! Wife: Hey ! go and sprinkle some water on your face… I go to the kitchen again, and quietly sit on the rack Stove is also on the rack There is a small noise of bottles from the room outside I peep and see that wife is enjoying a peg in the sink But none of the horses are aware of what I did Because Shivaji Maharaj never takes a risk. Chopra is still cooking And I am looking at my wife from the photo and laughing Because I never take……..what???
Don’t compare yourself with others. Do not let it become the source of your misery. Someone else will always have a better pay, swankier car, bigger house and so on an so forth.
Don’t let your material possessions become your identity. Sometimes we attach too much importance to the car we drive, the house we own, where we go for holidays etc. We start equating material possessions with success. Often we start identifying our own value based on the quality and quantity of our material possessions and take great pleasure in flaunting them. And pretty soon this becomes a spiral – it feeds our ego and pushes us to acquire more and more material possessions. Owning and flaunting your wealth or pricey possessions may give you a temporary high but it isn’t sustainable and eventually results in the downfall of the person.
Be self aware when your decisions are driven by greed. Chances are that your common sense has left you and greed has overcome your thinking. You may overlook most of the risks in pursuit of that shiny object feeding your greed. You may get lucky once or twice but remember there are no shortcuts to success. Yes luck may play a role in your success but most of it is your hard work and perseverance.
Understand that money is important but is it not everything. There are things that money can’t buy such as your health, the strength of your character, the bonding and love of your family, true friends. That is why is has always been said –
When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.
Nurture hope and positivity. Be grateful for what you have in life. The more you are grateful for what you have, the more you will have to be grateful for.
I bought this book a few months ago when we had the opportunity to listen to the man himself, Mr. Chandra, Chairman of the Board of Tata Sons at an event hosted by Cathy Bessant, the Chief Operation & Technology Officer at Bank of America. When two such stalwarts come together for a fireside chat then the range of topics and the depth of discussion is mesmerising.
During the session Mr. Chandra mentioned about this book and its contents. I promptly ordered the same from Amazon. This book has a wealth of insights specific to the problems faced by India and he points out with examples how India can leapfrog from where it is today by the prudent use of technology and automation.
In the current scenario the book becomes even more relevant as India tries to evolve as a business and manufacturing hub. He points out that if there is support from government in the form of policy then by the right use of technology we can overcome the many challenges currently facing India and that may take a longer time to solve if we go the traditional route.
He has given examples that we all can relate to and used a language which is easy to understand, without the use of too much jargon. It is a must read for anyone who wants to understand India’s current challenges and aspires to be part of the solution in some way or the other.
