Keep it simple!

I have been reading about a lot about Warren Buffet. At first when I started reading about him, was purely to learn about value investing but some articles about his life have taught me something far more enriching.

Thoughts, work, lifestyle and everything around really doesn't have to be complicated. There is a lot of charm in “keeping it simple”.

These words echo every day in my job (which is to simplify complex technology and explain the benefits to a common man in English) and am aiming towards them reflecting in my life and thoughts as well.

My husband told me about a man in his neighborhood in India who is extremely well to do, but still walks to the temple, wears the same white shirt, eats sitting cross legged and prefers Khichdi for meals. His lifestyle has been the same in the last 50 years. His dad always talks about how if you have Rs 100 or Rs 10,000, your lifestyle should be the same. 

When I used to hear these things, I always wondered how is it possible?

Following are some very interesting aspects of Warren Buffet’s life, which he talked about in an interview: (Taken verbatim from an article on his interview)

# He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!
o Things were very cheap that time.
o Encourage your child to invest.

# He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.
* One could have bought many things with little savings.
* Encourage your children to start some kind of business.

# He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a fence/wall.
* Don't buy more than what you "really need" and encourage your children to do and think the same.

# He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.
* You are what you are.

# He never travels by private jet although he owns the world's largest private jet company.
* Always think of how you can accomplish things economically.

# His company, Berkshire Hathaway owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of this companies giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis.
* Assign the right people to do the right jobs.

# He has given his CEOs only two rules:
1. Do not lose any of your shareholder's money.
2. Do not forget Rule #1.
* Set goals and make sure people focus on them.

# He does not socialize with the high society crowd, His past time after he gets home is to make himself some popcorn and watch TV.
* Don't try to show off. Just be yourself and do what you enjoy doing.

# Warren Buffet does not carry a cellphone nor does he have a computer on his desk.

# Bill Gates, the word's richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffet so he scheduled the meeting for only half an hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.
His advice to young people:
* Stay away from credit cards (bank loans) and invest in yourself. Remember:
o Money doesn't create man but it is the man who creates money.
o Live your life as simply as you are.
o Don't do what others say. Just listen to them but do what you feel is good.

# Don't go for brand names. Just wear those things in which you feel comfortable.

# Don't waste your money on unnecessary things. Spend it on who is really in need rather.

# After all, it's your life. Why give other's the chance to rule our life.
The HAPPIEST people DO NOT necessarily have the BEST of all.
They simply APPRECIATE what they find on their way.

I found these extremely fascinating.

I have placed hold in the library for his biography “The Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life”………..can’t wait to read it.

Chasing what matters

This weekend I saw 127 hrs and if you have seen the movie, when Aron realizes he might die soon, suddenly his whole life flashes over his eyes. All events, relationships, regrets and fond memories. He realizes that this might be it and his whole life was being drawn to this very moment.

Also a couple weeks back, I read the book “Tuesdays with Morrie”, about a professor who meets his student every Tuesday and takes lessons. A really nice read and equally eye opening.

After watching 127hrs and reading that book, I realized that its so easy to get caught up in day to day life, work, worrying for small things, all the “should haves” , “could haves”, "if only's" ....
but how much of all that we chase every single day, really matter?

I realize that I have read these things and talked about it like a zillion times, but still how much of this do I really remember and put in practice?

Was talking to a friend a couple weeks back, when he said, he got a call from his father and his father wanted to talk with him. He was busy completing his project and didn't feel like talking. The next day, he gets a call that his father is sick and very soon after that his father passed away.

So back to my question,  what is it that really matters?

Is it worth: Getting upset over a lost/misplaced belonging, getting tensed about something at work, stressing that the house is not clean, not getting enough vacation days, breaking relationships because someone hurt us at some point,  weather is horrible,  etc etc etc?


That day, I immediately called up my childhood friend and spoke with her at length about what’s happening in her life. Something I had been putting off for a really long time.

There are some things I guess which cannot be put off until “some other time”. Its all about making a choice every single min and chasing what matters.

And the good news is that WE CAN MAKE THAT CHOICE!

My friends in Seattle have taught me two words "Maaf Hai", meaning "don't worry, it doesn't matter", and these mean so much to me because they help me make my choice every time.

My parents are calling and I need to pick up my phone.

Bye till then…

A letter from father to his son

This article appeared in the "Speaking Tree" section of Times of India a couple years back. My father in law specially cut that article, laminated it and gave it to us.

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Dear Pranav,

It's been 20 months since you set foot in the world. When I held you for the first time in my arms at the hospital, your tiny hands were twitching and your eyes were shut tight. Your clenched fist reminded me of a science lesson that said to get an idea about the size of your heart, you should clench your fist. I could imagine the little heart throbbing inside you. The eternal miracle of birth. When it was my turn to witness it, I cried. 

Before I married your mother, I used to debate one question endlessly with my friends. Which is, "Is it really worth bringing another life in this world?" Especially when terror has become an ugly leitmotif in the canvas of our lives? 

When I swicthed on the TV that wednesday night, the question of whether I was right in bringing you into this world haunted me again.

This is my attempt at an answer: call it catharsis.

I feel there are two ways to raise you. One is to wean you on cynicism. Where you'll erect a sky-high wall in your mind and live your life pouring scorn on everything you see. Which is one way of insulating yourself from fear. A kind of indifferent machismo.

 The other way is to prepare you to live in this world. I can't imagine the world for you, son. But I can certainly show you the way to live in a uncertain world. Make a pact with yourself. Understand the following early on.

Life is precious. And equally fragile. So every day is a gift. Get up early once in a while just to watch the sun rise. Stare at it intently and burn it in your memory. Be aware of every passing second. Look around you. There's a thin stalk of plant finding its place under the sun in a crevice on the wall of our apartment.

Appreciate mother's cooking. Praise it to heavens. Make it a habit to eat together as a family. No, make it a rule. Fall in love with books. Words will transport you to worlds far away. It will also keep you informed and prepared.

Follow your heart. The mind can waver but the heart seldom does. Respect your conscience. It's like a post-it note from God.

When you grow up, seek a job you love. As you enter the world of careers and cocktails, you'll get sucked into vortex called rat race. Don'e be overwhelmed. We're all humans. But have the courage to step out of it. Nothing will be lost. Some illusions will shatter. Good riddance.

Money. It's important. But it has its place. Dont make the mistake of putting it right on top.

  

Find your love. Hold it dearly. Be a good husband. A patient father. Give your children space to make their mistakes. But hold them when they fall.

  

Speak up when you have to. Like this occassion. Whether we like it or not, we're living in a democracy. Sure it has its pitfalls. But don't forget the positives too. The real fight in a democracy is between remembering and forgetting. Go and vote. It's your chance to give shape to the kind of society you want to live in.

  

Be alert. But try not to live in a state of fear.

If you were to get caught in a situation similar to what happened and should we lose you, then you will have left us with enough lovely mempries for the remaining years. That will only happen if you start living every day like it is the last day of your life. Though it can never compensate your loss, at least we'll find strength in your love for life.

  

Don't have regrets. They defeat the very purpose of life.

Immersed as I am in work most of the time, this letter is also a wake-up call for me.

  

Love, Dad