Thursday, December 20, 2012

ASK, ASK & ASK

  Ask and It shall be given to you; Seek and You shall find; Knock & it shall be opened to you. -- Saint Matthew

 Even an infant does not get milk, unless and until it asks its mother by gestures.

Ask yourself what do you want from your life? Only you can give yourself the "Best and choicest things."  Others will present you just peanuts. Therefore, you must ask yourself in detail, what do you want from your life and don't forget to prepare the list of things, you are ready to sacrifice since everything nice has its price and there is no gain without pain.
 If you want to top in your university exams, you must sacrifice many comforts of life. 
If you want an increase in pay, ask your employer courteously and expectantly and also explain why you deserve a raise and how much useful are your contributions to the company?
If you are spearheading a social cause, ask like minded persons for support with all courtesy and expectations.

If you want a bargain price, ask the seller for it.
 If you want the attention of the society, ask for it by making some remarkable contribution to the community.
 Even the Prime Ministers and Presidents have to ask for votes.
Never feel shy about asking. Asking is the key to getting things in life, whether small or big. 
Ask firmly; make others feel you are serious about your demand. 
Ask politely and courteously so that the ego of the other person is not hurt.
 Ask tactfully, expectantly and persuasively so that you smoothly get what you ask.

 Asking is a fine art. The more you practice, the more proficient you become.  HAPPY ASKING. ALL THE BEST.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

DRIVE PROCRASTINATION AND INDECISION AWAY FOR EVER


 Sticking to your decision during execution hours is a 5 in 1 formula to eliminate procrastination, obviate indecision and save lots of time, trouble & money.
 The human mind has a peculiar trait of hoodwinking itself for remaining in a comfort zone. Procrastination does this trick and keeps us in our comfort zones. The only antidote to this treacherous demon is starting work at the pre-scheduled time without hesitating at all.
 If someone resolves to get up at 5 A.M. and go for a walk; his mind starts searching for many justifiable alibis for not executing the earlier decision when the alarm rings.
 My one prompt friend leaves his bed immediately as soon as the bell rings & proceeds for the brisk walk leaving no room for procrastination. Start executing your rational decisions steadfastly; procrastination will evaporate like petrol.

Indecision also meets the same fate accomplish. It is true that no decision is perfect and none is one hundred percent self-confident. Therefore, many falter in executing previously taken well-thought decisions. The antidote to this problem is to implement your wise decisions in time. The result is good in most of the cases.
Many persons visit a shopping mall with their diligently prepared buying list but purchase something appealing impulsively, later on, to find that the impulsive purchase upset their many months budget.
 Many persons purchase shares on broker's recommendation without giving a second thought. I also did this foolishness once.
 On one beautiful morning, a broker called me and informed that one particular company has got the large real estate, and value of its share will double in a few days. The stock was trading dirt cheap since company's cars had lost interest from customers. I ordered 500 shares and sold them in a few weeks at half of my purchase price.
Share brokers are not alone; lots of persons are ready to sell you many things at throw away prices provided you pay immediately without giving any thought, but, later on, you feel duped in most of the cases.
Therefore remember the Golden Rule," Stick to your well-thought decisions during execution hours; don't act impulsively. 
This golden rule will make you happier, wealthier and more successful than others.






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AVOID THE DEBT TRAP

“Rather go to bed without dinner than to rise in debt.” - Benjamin Franklin.


The debt trap is one of the root causes of the lethal depression. Thousands of innocent persons commit suicide after being badly tortured by their heartless and cruel creditors. Debt Trap is a situation where one has to borrow fresh money to repay his current debt but his debt obligations go on increasing day by day. This is the most painful situation. The victim spends sleepless nights & restless days. Many of them embrace the cold and cruel death to evade their ruthless creditors.



The billion dollar question is how one can pre-empt debt trap or get rid of it to lead a tension free life? First, let's diagnose the severity of the problem by drawing a simple balance sheet. 
Please take one piece of   paper and draw a vertical line in the middle. Please write liabilities on the left side and assets with their market value on the right side. This is a simplified balance sheet and we will not go in pure accounting standard.
               LIABILITIES                                                             ASSETS
Consumption Loans                                                                Demanding Assets:
a) Such loans that are used to finance consumables and         a) Such assets which always ask cash e.g.
e.g. luxuries                                                                                 Your car, air conditioner, refrigerator, etc
credit card loan, car loan, house decoration loan etc.,



Development Loans.                                                             Contributing Assets.
a) House Loan, Education Loan for studies in good              b) Such assets which give you passive         
    Institutions where getting knowledge will help in earning       income in the shape of rent, interest etc e.g.     
    More.                                                                                   Fixed deposits, shares, bonds.            Now add the value of your assets and liabilities. Your total assets - Your total liabilities is your net worth. Now please concentrate on
 1. Increasing your total assets every month with special attention to increasing your contributing assets.
 2. Decreasing your total liabilities every month with special attention to decrease your consumption loans.
 Ideally, one should not have any credit card loan or other consumer durable or personal loan. There remains no collateral security to secure these loans. Banks try to recover these loans within a short span of time, therefore, their loan repayment instalments and interest rates are kept high.  Moreover, consumer durables such as air conditioners, refrigerators, cars etc, consume your hard earned money continuously on their maintenance. Thus, they become big reasons to put persons in a debt trap.
If you are already in a debt trap, please analyse your income and expenditure details and curtail avoidable expenditure. Please involve all the family members in this exercise. They must know how bad the situation is? Their suggestions will not only generate synergy but they will also refrain themselves from demanding unavoidable things. Before demanding costly  things, my son always asks, "Can Papa's budget accommodate it?"
 Thus, you will be able to save some money. Use this money to repay your credit card loans and other high-interest loans .Please keep your family members abreast of the improving situation. They will become involved in the process and will discover more ways to cut avoidable expenditure. You may also contact your bank to convert your credit card loans into personal loans. 
You can't extinguish the fire if you don't restrict it. Simultaneously to cut the debt trap you must immediately stop availing fresh loans. However, you may explore a possibility of converting high- interest loans into low-interest loans. Also, use a little self-control and willpower to start liquidating highest interest paying loans by curtailing avoidable expenditure.
 After liquidating all loans one by one, start using your savings for obtaining contributing assets. Your contributing assets are like your good sons. They will continue to contribute to your income even after your retirement and make you stand upright with dignity and self-respect.

 Please also read my another article "SAVE,SAVE & INVEST MONEY." which is both useful and interesting. Please don’t wait for any auspicious day, start today itself, "Well Begun is Half Done". 





Tuesday, December 4, 2012

YES, WE CAN ENJOY 100 YEARS HEALTHY,HEARTY & WEALTHY


The number of centenarians is growing rapidly in the world. We can also enjoy 100 years with good health, big heart, and ample wealth. Regular physical exercises, playing mental games, taking controlled, balanced, healthy diet and positive thinking is the simple requirements to achieve this feat.

Noted Actress Mrs. Zora Sehgal turns 100 on 27-04-2012

Today I met Shri Jagdish Sharma, father of my friend Shri Devanand Sharma. He is 82 years old without any major problem. Uncle told that his one relative Shri Chuman Thakur was 106 years old and his aunt was 96 years old. Shri Jagdish Sharma also expects to hit 100 years healthy, hearty and wealthy.