How to buy a car & house in 5 years - Li Ka-Shing

Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing shares some of his money wisdom, outlining an inspirational five-year plan to improve one’s lot in life

 

Suppose your monthly income is only RMB 2,000, you can live well. I can help you put money into five sets of funds. The first $600, second $400, third $300, fourth $200, fifth $500.

The first set of funds is used for living expenses. It’s a simple way of living and you can only be assigned to less than twenty dollars a day. A daily breakfast of vermicelli, an egg and a cup of milk. For lunch just have a simple set lunch, a snack and a fruit. For dinner go to your kitchen and cook your own meals that consist of two vegetables dishes and a glass of milk before bedtime. For one month the food cost is probably $500-$600. When you are young, the body will not have too many problems for a few years with this way of living.

Second set of funds: To make friends, expand your interpersonal circle. This will make you well off. Your phone bills can be budgeted at RMB 100. You can buy your friends 2 lunches a month, each at $150. Who should you buy lunch for? Always remember to buy lunch for people who are more knowledgeable than you, richer than you or people who have helped you in your career. Make sure you do that every month. After one year, your circle of friends should have generated tremendous value for you. Your reputation, influence, added value will be clearly recognized. You’ll also enhance your image of being good and generous.

Third set of funds: To learn. Monthly spend about RMB 50 to RMB 100 to buy books. Because you don’t have a lot of money, you should pay attention to learning. When you buy the books, read them carefully and learn the lessons and strategies that is being taught in the book. Each book, after reading them, put them into your own language to tell the stories. Sharing with others can improve your credibility and enhance the affinity. Also save up $200 per month to attend a training course. When you have higher income or additional savings, try to participate in more advanced training. When you participate in good training, not only do you learn good knowledge, you also get to meet like-minded friends who are not easy to come by.

Fourth set of funds: Use it for holidays overseas. Reward yourself by traveling at least once a year. Continue to grow from the experience of life. Stay in youth hostels to save cost. In a few years you would have travelled to many countries and have different experiences. Use that experience to recharge yourself so that you’ll continually have passion in your work.

Fifth set of funds: Invest. Save the $500 in your bank and grow it as your initial startup capital. The capital can then be used to do a small business. Small business is safe. Go to wholesalers and look for products to sell. Even if you lose money, you will not lose too much money. However, when you start earning money, it will boost your confidence and courage and have a whole new learning experience of running a small business. Earn more and you can then begin to buy long-term investment plans and get long-term security on your financial wealth being of yourself and your families. So that no matter what happens, there will be adequate funds and the quality of life will not decline.

Well, after struggling for a year and if your second year salary is still RMB 2,000, then that means you have not grown as a person. You should be really ashamed of yourself. Do yourself a favour and go to the supermarket and buy the hardest tofu. Take it and smash it on your head because you deserve that.

If your monthly income is at RMB 3,000, you must still work very hard. You must try to find a part time job. It will be great to find part time sales jobs. Doing sales is challenging, but it is the fastest way for you to acquire the art of selling and this is a very deep skill that you will be able to carry it for the rest of your career. All successful entrepreneurs are good sales people. They have the ability to sell their dream and visions. You’ll also meet many people that will be of value to you in the later part of your career. Once you’re in sales, you will also learn what sells and what not. Use the sensitivity of detecting market sentiments as a platform for running your business and in the identification of product winners in the future.

Try to buy minimal clothes and shoes. You can buy them all you want when you’re rich. Save your money and buy some gift for your loved ones and tell them your plans and your financial goals. Tell them why you are so thrifty. Tell them your efforts, direction and your dreams.

Businessmen everywhere need help. Offer yourself to do part time for any kind of opportunities. This will help to hone your will and improve your  skills. You will start to develop eloquence and soon, you’ll be closer to your financial goals. By the second year, your income should be increased to at least RMB 5,000. Minimum it should be RMB 3,000, otherwise you would not be able to keep up with inflation.

No matter how much you earn, always remember to divide it into five parts proportionately. Always make yourself useful. Increase your investment in networking. When you increase your social investment, expand your network of contacts, your income also grows proportionately. Increase your investment in learning, strengthen your self confidence, increase investment in holidays, expand your horizons and increase investment in the future, and that will ultimately increase your income.

Maintain this balance and gradually you will begin to have a lot of surplus. This is a virtuous circle of life plans. Your body will start to get better and better as you get more nutrition and care. Friends will be aplenty and you will start to make more valuable connections at the same time. You will then have the conditions to participate in very high-end training and eventually you’ll be exposed to bigger projects, bigger opportunities. Soon, you will be able to gradually realize your various dreams, the need to buy your own house, car, and to prepare an adequate education fund for your child’s future.

Life can be designed. Career can be planned. Happiness can be prepared. You should start planning now. When you are poor, spend less time at home and more time outside. When you are rich, stay at home more and less outside. This is the art of living. When you are poor, spend money on others. When you’re rich, spend money on yourself. Many people are doing the opposite.

When you are poor, be good to others. Don’t be calculative. When you are rich, you must learn to let others be good to you. You have to learn to be good to yourself better. When you are poor, you have to throw yourself out in the open and let people make good use of you. When you are rich, you have to conserve yourself well and don’t let people easily make use of you. These are the intricate ways of life that many people don’t understand.

When you are poor, spend money so that people can see it. When you are rich, do not show off. Just silently spend the money on yourself. When you are poor, you must be generous. When you are rich, you must not be seen as a spendthrift. Your life would have come full circle and reach its basics. There will be tranquility at this stage.

There is nothing wrong with being young. You do not need to be afraid of being poor. You need to know how to invest in yourself and increase your wisdom and stature. You need to know what is important in life and what is worth investing in. You also need to know what you should avoid and not spend your money on. This is the essence of discipline. Try to avoid spending money on clothing, but buy a selective number of items that have class. Try to eat less outside. If you were to eat outside, do make sure you buy lunches or dinners and foot the bill. When buying people dinner, make sure you buy dinners for people who have bigger dreams than you, and work harder than you.

Once your livelihood is no longer an issue, use the remainder of your money to pursue your dreams. Spread your wings and dare to dream! Make sure you live an extraordinary life!

Famous theory from Harvard: The difference of a person’s fate is decided from what a person spends in his free time between 20:00 to 22:00 . Use these two hours to learn, think and participate in meaningful lectures or discussion. If you persist for several years, success will come knocking on your doors.

No matter how much you earn, remember to split your salary into five parts. Take care of your body so that it will still be in good shape. Invest in your social circle so that you will constantly meet new people where you can learn new knowledge from. Expanding your network will also have an important impact in how much you earn eventually. Travel every year and expand your horizons. Also keep abreast with the latest developments in the industry. If you follow this plan diligently, you will soon see big surplus in your funds.

Whatever happened in the past is over. Do not dwell on past mistakes. There’s no point crying over spilt milk. Everybody makes mistakes. It’s what you learn from the mistakes, and promising yourself not to repeat those mistakes that matters. When you miss opportunities, don’t dwell on it, as there are always new opportunities on the horizon.

Being able to smile when being slightly misunderstood is good upbringing. When you’re wronged and you smile with calmness, it is generosity. When you’re being taken advantage of and you can smile, you’re being open-minded. When you are helpless and you can do a philosophical smile, you’re in a calm state. When you’re in distress and you can laugh out loud, you’re being generous. When you’re looked down and you can calmly smile, you’re being confident. When you’re being jilted in relationships and you can smile it off, you’re being suave.

There are many people who are struggling to make ends meet. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor. There are lessons for all to learn from Li Ka Shing

 

कैसे जलाये रखें अपने अन्दर की चिंगारी को

इस  चिंगारी  कि  शुरआत कहाँ  से  होती  है ? मुझे  लगता  है  हम  इसके  साथ  पैदा  होते  हैं .  मेरे   3 साल  के  जुड़वाँ  बच्चों  में  million sparks हैं . वो  Spiderman का  एक  छोटा  सा  खिलौना  देख  के  बिस्तर  से  कूद  पड़ते  हैं .  Park में  झूला  झूल  के  वो  thrilled हो  जाते  हैं . पापा  से  एक  कहानी  सुनके  उनमे  उत्तेजना  भर  जाती  है . अपना  Birthday आने  के  महीनो  पहले  से  वो  उलटी  गिनती  करना  शुरू   कर  देते  हैं  कि  उस  दिन  cake काटने  को  मिलेगा .

मैं  आप  जैसे  students को  देखता  हूँ  और  मुझे  आपके  अन्दर   भी  कुछ  spark नज़र  आता  है . पर  जब  मैं  और  बड़े  लोगों  को  देखता  हूँ  तो  वो  मुश्किल  से  ही  नज़र  आता  है . इसका  मतलब  , जैसे -जैसे  हमारी  उम्र  बढती  है  , spark कम  होते  जाते   हैं . ऐसे  लोग  जिनमे  ये  चिंगारी  बिलकुल  ही  ख़तम   हो  जाती  है  वो  मायूस , लक्ष्यरहित और  कडवे  हो  जाते  हैं . Jab We met के  पहले  half की  करीना  और  दुसरे  half की   Kareena याद  है  ना ? चिंगारी  बुझ  जाने  पे  यही  होता  है . तो  भला  इस  Spark को  बचाएँ  कैसे ?

Spark को  दिए  की  लौ  की  तरह  imagine कीजिये . सबसे  पहले  उसे  nurture करने  ki ज़रुरत  है —उसे  लगातार  इंधन  देने   की  ज़रुरत  है . दूसरा , उसे  आन्धी -तूफ़ान  से  बचाने  की  ज़रुरत  है .

Nurture करने  के   लिए , हमेशा  लक्ष्य  बनाएं .यह  इंसान  कि  प्रवित्ति  होती  है  कि  वह  कोशिश  करे , सुधार  लाये  और  जो  best achieve कर  सकता  है  उसे  achieve करे .  दरअसल  इसी  को  Success कहते  हैं . यह  वो  है  जो  आपके  लिए  संभव  है . ये  कोई  बाहरी   माप -दंड  नहीं  है – जैसे  company द्वारा  दिया  गया  Package, कोई  car या  कोई  घर .

हममे  से  ज्यदातर  लोग  middle-class family से   हैं . हमारे  लिए   , भौतिक  सुख -सुविधाएं  सफलता  की  सूचक  होती  हैं , और  सही भी  है . जब  आप  बड़े  हो  जाते  हैं  और  पसिया  रोज़ -मर्रा  कि  ज़रूरतों  को  पूरा  करने  के  लिए  ज़रूरी  हो जाता  है , तो  ऐसे  में  financial freedom होना  एक  बड़ी  achievement है .

लेकिन   यह  ज़िन्दगी  का  मकसद  नहीं  है .  अगर  ऐसा  होता  तो  Mr. Ambani काम  पर  नहीं  जाते . Shah Rukh Khan घर  रहते  और  और -ज्यादा  dance नहीं  करते . Steve Jobs और  भी  अच्छा  iPhone बनाने  के  लिए  मेहनत  नहीं  करते  , क्योंकि  Pixar बेच  कर   already उन्हें  कई  billion dollars मिल  चुके  हैं .  वो  ऐसा  क्यों  करते  हैं ? ऐसा  क्या  है  जो  हर  रोज़  उन्हें  काम  पर  ले  जाता  है ?

वो  ऐसा  इसलिए  करते  हैं  क्योंकि  ये  उन्हें  ख़ुशी  देता  है . वो  ऐसा  इसलिए  करते  हैं  क्योंकि  ये  उन्हें  जिंदादिली  का  एहसास  करता  है . अपने  मौजूदा  स्तर  में  सुधार  लाना  एक  अच्छा  अहसास  दिलाता  है . अगर  आप  मेहनत  से  पढ़ें  तो  आप  अपनी  rank सुधार  सकते  हैं . अगर  आप  लोगों  से  interact करने  का  प्रयत्न  करें  तो  आप  interview में  अच्छा  करेंगे . अगर  आप  practice करें  तो  आपके  cricket में  सुधार  आएगा . शायद  आप  ये  भी  जानते  हों कि  आप  अभी  Tendulkar नहीं  बन  सकते  , लेकिन  आप  अगले  स्तर  पर   जा  सकते  हैं . अगले  level पे  जाने  के  लिए  प्रयास  करना ज़रूरी  है .

प्रकृति   ने  हमें   अनेकों  genes के  संयोग  और  विभिन्न  परिस्थितियों  के  हिसाब  से  design किया  है . खुश  रहने  के  लिए  हमें  इसे  accept करना  होगा , और  प्रकृति  कि  इस  design का अधिक  से  अधिक  लाभ  उठाना  होगा . ऐसा  करने  में  Goals आपकी  मदद  करेंगे .

अपने  लिए  सिर्फ  career या  academic goals ही  ना  बनाएं . ऐसे  goals बनाएं  जो  आपको  एक balanced और  successful life दे . अपने  break-up के  दिन  promotion पाने  का  कोई  मतलब  नहीं  है . कार  चलाने  में  कोई  मज़ा   नहीं  है  अगर  आपके  पीठ में दर्द हो .दिमाग  tension से  भरा  हो  तो भला  shopping करने  में  क्या  ख़ुशी होगी ?

आपने  ज़रूर  कुछ  quotes पढ़े  होंगे  –  ज़िन्दगी  एक  कठिन  race है , ये  एक  marathon है  या  कुछ  और . नहीं , जो  मैंने  आज  तक  देखा  है  ज़िन्दगी  nursery schools में  होने  वाली  उस  race की  तरह  है  जिसमे  आप  चम्मच  में  रखे  मार्बल  को  अपने  मुंह  में  दबा  कर  दौड़ते  हैं . अगर  मार्बल  गिर  जाये  तो  दौड़  में  first आने  का  कोई  अर्थ  नहीं  है . ऐसा  ही  ज़िन्दगी  के  साथ  है  जहाँ  सेहत  और  रिश्ते  उस  मार्बल  का  प्रतीक  हैं . आपका  प्रयास  तभी  सार्थक  है  जब   तक  वो   आपके  जीवन  में  सामंजस्य  लाता  है .नहीं  तो , आप  भले  ही  सफल  हो  जायें , लेकिन  ये  चिंगारी , ये  excited और  जिंदा  होने  की  feeling धीरे – धीरे  मरने  लगेगी . …..

Spark को  nurture करने  के  बारे  में  एक  आखिरी  चीज —ज़िन्दगी  को  संजीदगी  से  ना  लें ….don’t take life seriously. मेरे  एक  योगा  teacher class के  दौरान  students को  हंसाते  थे . एक  student ने  पूछा  कि  क्या  इन  Jokes कि  वजह  से  योगा   practice का  समय  व्यर्थ  नहीं  होता ? तब  teacher ने  कहा  – Don’t be serious be sincere. तबसे  इस  Quote ने  मेरा  काम  define किया  है . चाहे  वो  मेरा  लेखन  हो , मेरी  नौकरी  हो , मेरे  रिश्ते  हों  या  कोई  और  लक्ष्य . मुझे  अपनी  writings पर  रोज़  हज़ारों  लोगों  के  opinions मिलते  हैं . कहीं  खूब  प्रशंशा  होती  है  कहीं  खूब  आलोचना . अगर  मैं  इन  सबको  seriously ले  लूं , तो  लिखूंगा  कैसे ? या  फिर  , जीऊंगा  कैसे ?ज़िन्दगी  गंभीरता  से  लेने  के  लिए  नहीं  है , हम  सब  यहाँ  temporary हैं .हम  सब  एक  pre-paid card की  तरह  हैं  जिसकी  limited validity hai. अगर  हम  भाग्यशाली  हैं  तो  शयद  हम   अगले  पचास  साल  और  जी  लें . और  50 साल  यानि सिर्फ  2500 weekends .क्या  हमें  सच -मुच  अपने  आप  को  काम  में  डुबो  देना  चाहिए ? कुछ  classes bunk करना , कुछ  papers में  कम  score करना  , कुछ  interviews ना  निकाल  पाना , काम  से  छुट्टी  लेना , प्यार   में  पड़ना , spouse से  छोटे -मोटे  झगडे  होना …सब  ठीक  है …हम  सभी  इंसान  हैं , programmed devices नहीं ….

मैंने  आपसे  तीन  चीजें  बतायीं – reasonable goals, balance aur ज़िन्दगी  को  बहुत  seriously नहीं  लेना – जो  spark को  nurture करेंगी .  लेकिन  ज़िन्दगी  में  चार  बड़े  तूफ़ान  आपके  दिए  को  बुझाने  की  कोशिश  करेंगे . इनसे  बचने  बहुत  ज़रूरी  है . ये  हैं  निराशा  (disappointment),कुंठा ( frustration),  अन्याय (unfairness) और जीवन में कोई उद्देश्य ना होना (loneliness of purpose.)

निराशा  तब  होगी  जब  आपके  प्रयत्न  आपको  मनचाहा  result ना  दे  पाएं  . जब  चीजें  आपके  प्लान  के  मुताबिक  ना  हों  या  जब  आप  असफल  हो जायें . Failure को  handle करना  बहुत  कठिन  है , लेकिन  जो  कर  ले  जाता  है  wo और  भी  मजबूत  हो  कर  निकलता  है . इस  failure से  मुझे  क्या  सीख  मिली ?  इस  प्रश्न  को  खुद  से  पूछना  चाहिए . आप  बहुत  असहाय  feel करेंगे   , आप  सबकुछ  छोड़  देना  चाहेंगे  जैसा  कि  मैंने  चाहा   था  , जब  मेरी  पहली  book को  9 publishers ने  reject कर  दिया  था . कुछ  IITians low-grades की  वजह  से  खुद  को  ख़तम कर  लेते  हैं , ये  कितनी  बड़ी   बेवकूफी  है ? पर  इस  बात  को  समझा  जा  सकता  है  कि  failure आपको  किस  हद्द  तक  hurt कर  सकता  है .

पर ये ज़िन्दगी है . अगर चुनौतियों  से हमेशा पार पाया जा सकता तो , तो चुनौतियाँ चुनौतियाँ नहीं रह जातीं. और याद रखिये — अगर आप किसी चीज में fail हो रहे हैं,तो इसका मतलब आप अपनी सीमा या क्षमता तक पहुँच रहे हैं. और यहीं आप होना चाहते हैं.

Disappointment का भाई है  frustration, दूसरा तूफ़ान . क्या आप कभी frustrate  हुए हैं? ये तब होता है जब चीजें अटक जाती हैं. यह भारत में विशेष रूप से प्रासंगिक है. ट्राफिक जाम से से लेकर अपने योग्य job पाने तक. कभी-कभी चीजें इतना वक़्त लेती हैं कि आपको पता नहीं चलता की आपने अपने लिए सही लक्ष्य निर्धारित किये हैं.Books लिखने के बाद, मैंने bollywood के लिखने का लक्ष्य बनाया, मुझे लगा उन्हें writers  की ज़रुरत है. मुझे लोग बहुत भाग्यशाली मानते हैं पर मुझे अपनी पहली movie release  के करीब पहुँचने में पांच साल लग गए.

Frustration excitement  को ख़त्म करता है, और आपकी उर्जा को नकारात्मकता में बदल देता है, और आपको कडवा बना देती है.मैं इससे कैसे deal  करता हूँ? लगने वाले समय का realistic अनुमान लगा के. . भले ही movie  देखने में कम समय लगता हो पर उसे बनाने में काफी समय लगता है, end-result  के बजाय उस result तक पहुँचने के  प्रोसेस को एन्जॉय करना , मैं कम से कम script-writing तो सीख रहा था , और बतौर एक  side-plan  मेरे पास अपनी तीसरी किताब लिखने को भी थी और इसके आलावा दोस्त, खाना-पीना, घूमना ये सब कुछ frustration से पार पाने में मदद करती हैं. याद रखिये, किसी भी चीज को  seriously  नहीं लेना है.Frustration  , कहीं ना कहीं एक इशारा है कि आप चीजों को बहुत seriously ले रहे हैं.Frustration excitement को  ख़तम  करता  है , और  आपकी  energy को  negativity में  बदल  देता  है , वो  आपको  कडवा  बना  देता  है . मैं  इससे  कैसे  deal करता  हूँ ?

Unfairness ( अन्याय ) – इससे  deal करना  सबसे  मुश्किल  है , लेकिन  दुर्भाग्य  से  अपने  देश  में  ऐसे  ही  काम  होता  है . जिनके  connections होते  हैं , बड़े  बाप  होते  हैं , खूबसूरत  चेहरे  होते  हैं ,वंशावली  ( pedigree) होती  है , उन्हें   सिर्फ  Bollywood में  ही  नहीं  बल्कि  हर  जगह  आसानी  होती  है . और  कभी -कभी  यह  महज  luck की  बात  होती  है . India में  बहुत  कम   opportunities हैं , इसलिए   कुछ  होने  के  लिए  सारे  गृह -नक्षत्रों  को  सही  इस्थिति  में  होना   होगा . Short-term में  मिलने  वाली  उपलब्धियां  भले  ही  आपकी   merit और  hard –work  के  हिसाब  से   ना  हों  पर  long-term में  ये   ज़रूर  उस  हिसाब  से  होंगी , अंततः   चीजें  work-out करती  हैं . पर  इस  बात  को  समझिये  कि  कुछ  लोग  आपसे  lucky होंगे .

दरअसल  अगर  Indian standards के  हिसाब  से  देखा  जाये  तो  आपको  College में  पढने  का  अवसर  मिलना  , और  आपके  अन्दर  इस  भाषण  को  English में  समझने  की   काबिलियत  होना  आपको  काफी  lucky बनता  है . हमारे  पास  जो  है  हमें  उसके  लिए  अहसानमंद  होना  चाहिए  , और  जो  नहीं  है  उसे  accept करने  कि  शक्ति  होनी  चाहिए .  मुझे  अपने  readers से  इतना  प्यार  मिलता  है  कि  दुसरे  writers उसके  बारे  में  सोच  भी  नहीं  सकते . पर  मुझे  साहित्यिक प्रशंशा  नहीं  मिलती  है . मैं  Aishwarya Rai की  तरह  नहीं  दीखता  हूँ  पर  मैं  समझता  हूँ   कि   मेरे  दोनों  बेटे   उनसे  ज्यादा  खूबसूरत  हैं . It is OK . Unfairness को  अपने  अन्दर  कि  चिंगारी  को  बुझाने  मत  दीजिये .

और  आखिरी  चीज  जो  आपके  spark को  ख़तम  कर  सकती  है  वो  है  Isolation( अलग होने की स्थिति ) आप  जैसे  जैसे  बड़े   होंगे  आपको  realize होगा  कि  आप  unique हैं . जब  आप  छोटे  होते  हैं  तो  सभी  को  ice-cream और  spiderman अच्छे  लगते  हैं . जब  आप  college में  जाते  हैं  तो  भी  आप  बहुत  हद  तक  अपने   बाकी  दोस्तों  की  तरह  ही  होते  हैं . लेकिन  दस  साल  बाद  आपको  पता  लगता  है  कि  आप   unique हैं . आप  जो  चाहते  हैं , आप  जिस  चीज  में  विश्वास  राखते  हैं , वो  आपके  सबसे  करीबी  लोगों  से  भी  अलग  हो  सकती  है . इस  वजह  से  conflict हो  सकती  है  क्योंकि  आपके  goals दूसरों  से  match नहीं  करते . और  आप  शायद   उनमे  से  कुछ  को  drop कर  दें . College में  Basketball के  कप्तान  रह  चुके , दूसरा  बछा  होते -होते  ये  खेल  खेलना  छोड़  देते  हैं . जो चीज  उन्हें  इतनी  पसंद  थी  वो  उसे  छोड़  देते  हैं . ऐसा  वो  अपनी  family के  लिए  करते  हैं . पर  ऐसा  करने   में  Spark ख़तम  हो  जाता  है . कभी  भी  ऐसा  compromise ना  करें . पहले  खुद   को  प्यार  करें  फिर  दूसरों  को .

मैंने  आपको  चारों  thunderstorms – disappointment, frustration, unfairness and isolation के  बारे  में  बताया . आप  इनको  avoid नहीं  कर  सकते , मानसून  की  तरह  ये  भी  आपके  जीवें  में  बार -बार  आते  रहेंगे . आपको  बस  अपना  raincoat तैयार  रखना  है  ताकि  आपके  अन्दर  कि  चिंगारी  बुझने  ना  पाए .

मैं  एक  बार  फिर  आपका  आपके  जीवन  के  सबसे  अच्छे समय  में  स्वागत  करता  हूँ . अगर  कोई  मुझे  समय  में  वापस  जाने  का  option दे  तो  निश्चित  रूप  से  मैं  college वापस  जाना  चाहूँगा . मैं  ये आशा  करता  हुनक  की  दस  साल  बाद  भी  , आपकी  आँखों  में  वही  चमक  होगी  जो  आज  है , कि  आप  अपने  अन्दर  की  चिंगारी  को  सिर्फ  college में  ही  नहीं  बल्कि  अगले  2500 weekends तक  ज़िन्दा  रखेंगे . और  मैं  आशा करता  हूँ  की  सिर्फ  आप  ही  नहीं  बल्कि  पूरा  देश  इस  चिंगारी  को  ज़िन्दा  रखेगा , क्योंकि  इतिहास  में  किसी  भी  और  पल  से  ज्यादा  अब  इसकी  ज़रुरत  है . और  ये  कहना  कितना   अच्छा लगेगा कि —मैं  Billion Sparks की भूमि से वास्ता रखता हूँ .

Have you taken that one step today?

Introduction
To many, success seems to come suddenly. When you observe others and what they have achieved you usually don’t appreciate what it has taken for them to get where they are. Ultimately, in failing to do this you also fail to learn what it would take for you to attain the same level of achievement and success.

But, if you take the time to truly think about it, you will find that success is usually only a small step away. Yet despite that it eludes most people. It is always so near and yet so far. Let me illustrate what I mean with a short story.

A lesson from military school
As part of our military training in the air force we were given a very demanding assignment. We were put in groups of about 10 and taken to some unknown location far in the bush. After a few days of camping there and doing some military manoeuvres, we were told to head back to the base. Only this time we wouldn’t be driven back – we would have to hike back.

We had only a few things to carry - a litre of water each for the whole trip and an AK47 riffle with one round of ammunition.

So we started off that day at sunset, walking through the thick bush. Because we were using a campus for direction we had to walk in a straight line back to the base. Any slight deviation from the path and we would inevitably have gotten lost. That meant that whatever obstacle we encountered on the way had to be overcome. That straight line had to be maintained at all costs. Worse still, we had no light - we were basically walking blind in the moonless night.

So you could not see where your next step was going to land. But we had to walk fast. Our deadline was 12 noon the next day to be at the base - or else we would have failed the assignment.

So we walked through the night. There was no time for fear, no time for doubt. We had to do what we had to do. Our futures depended on it.

"Just take it one step at a time"
As I walked through that unknown and scary world one thought kept going through my mind…It was… “Just take it one step at a time. Doesn’t worry about what will happen later, just think about each step… one small step to success”… That was the idea I hang on to.

So with that I found some courage to get going. We moved on through grass as tall as giraffes and as tough as bamboo. Our hands were pierced, bruised and sliced as we searched around in the dark to make a path to go through.

We conquered what seemed to have been endless mountains on the way. The rocks were so hard on our tired feet it was as though we had no boots on. Our legs cried for mercy from the effort of climbing up the steep slopes. We had to keep moving… “small steps to success.”

Every now and then a dim light would appear in the distance offering some hope to find a village and get some water to replenish our fast depleting reserves. Only to disappear as we got closer. It was not on our route. Or perhaps we had had some mass delusion.

Take a break, if you must, but don't give up
Finally, we could go no further. The pain and fatigue was unbearable. We had to catch a nap – it was past midnight. One hour of sleep, all cuddled up like puppies for warmth, and then we moved on.

Soon the morning came. But there was no time to appreciate the sunrise. Our water was all gone and the day brought with it unbearable heat and nasty irritating little flies which were intent on getting into your nose or your ears. It was so hot you could feel the heat embracing your face.

We were getting dehydrated by now. It was so bad you could eat the salt off our faces. All the sweat had dried up. Had it been any other day I would have laughed out loud at seeing everyone walking wound with a white powder on their face. But right then my tongue was sticking to the roof of my mouth and laughing was very difficult.

By now, everyone was wishing they had not had to carry the heavy AK47. It seemed to have gained an extra 5 kilos since we had begun. The straps had slowly dug into the flesh across the shoulders and the back. Every step was accompanied by some pain in one part of the body or other. Every part of the body was crying out for attention. But we had to move on… “small steps to success.”

By mid morning we were utterly exhausted. Some dragged their riffles behind them like unwanted tails. Others had taken off all they could for the heat. We were as dry and shrivelled as prunes. We were a sorry sight for defence officers. But right then it was more about survival than about dignity.

Finally there
Finally, a few minutes to midday…we arrived at the base. Only then did I notice how horrible I smelt. I had no idea I could stink so bad. But first things first despite the smell… water… food….and a bath…in that order!

The journey of a thousand miles...
So, you see, we took small steps to success all along that hike. Together, they added up to hundreds of thousands of small steps. But we might have chosen not to take the first step. We might have stopped at any point along the way. That would have meant that we would not have gotten to our destination.

There were also obstacles along the way. But with each small step they were overcome.

There were frustrations, fears and uncertainties. But with each small step they were crushed.

There was hardship and danger, but with each small step and focus on the desired destination it was conquered.So you see, success is no mystery.

It takes only one small step to succeed.

Because, as the Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu said: “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

Have you taken that one step today?

LIFE IS A BOOMERANG

Whether it is our thoughts, actions or behavior, sooner or later they return and with great accuracy. Treat people with respect on your way up because you will be meeting them on your way down. The following story is taken from The Best of Bits & Pieces.

Many years ago two boys were working their way through Stanford University. Their funds got desperately low, and the idea came to them to engage Ignacy Paderewski for a piano recital. They would use the funds to help pay their board and tuition.
The great pianist's manager asked for a guarantee ofÄ$2,000. The guarantee was a lot of money in those days, but the boys agreed and proceeded to promote the concert. They worked hard, only to find that they had grossed only $1,600. After the concert the two boys told the great artist the bad news. They gave him the entire $1,600, along with a promissory note for $400, explaining that they would earn the amount at the earliest possible moment and send the money to him. It looked like the end of their college careers. "No, boys," replied Paderewski, "that won't do." Then, tearing the note in two, he returned the money to them as well. "Now," he told them, "take out of this $1,600 all of your expenses and keep for each of you 10 percent of the balance for your work. Let me have the rest."

The years rolled by. World War I came and went. Paderewski, now premier of Poland, was striving to feed thousands of starving people in his native land. The only person in the world who could help him was Herbert Hoover, who was in charge of the US Food and Relief Bureau. Hoover responded and soon thousands of tons of food were sent to Poland. After the starving people were fed, Paderewski journeyed to Paris to thank Hoover for the relief sent him. "That's all right, Mr. Paderewski ," was Hoover's reply. "Besides, you don't remember it, but you helped me once when I was a student at college, and I was in trouble." It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.

Goodness has a way of coming back; that is the nature of the beast. One doesn't have to do good with a desire to get back. It just happens automatically.

Consideration - Must read

           One day, a ten-year-old boy went to an ice cream shop, sat at a table and asked the waitress, "How much is an ice-cream cone?" She said, "seventy-five cents." The boy started counting the coins he had in his hand. Then he asked how much a small cup of ice-cream was. The waitress impatiently replied, "sixty five cents." The boy said, "I will have the small ice-cream cup." He had his ice-cream, paid the bill and left. When the waitress came to pick up the empty plate, she was touched. Underneath were ten cent coins as tip.

The little boy had consideration for the waitress before he ordered his ice-crearn. He showed sensitivity and caring. He thought of others before himself. If we all thought like the little boy, we would have a great place to live. Show consideration, courtesy, and politeness. Thoughtfulness shows a caring attitude.

Goals must be SMART & MEANINGFUL

If you ask most people what is their one major objective in life, they would probably give you a vague answer, such as, "I want to be successful, be happy, make a good living," and that is it. They are all wishes and none of them are clear goals.

Goals must be SMART:

1. S--specific. For example, "I want to lose weight." This is wishful thinking. It becomes a goal when I pin myself down to "I will lose 10 pounds in 90 days."

2. M--must be measurable. If we cannot measure it, we cannot accomplish it. Measurement is a way of monitoring our progress.

3. A--must be achievable. Achievable means that it should be out of reach enough to be challenging but it should not be out of sight, otherwise it becomes disheartening.

4. R--realistic. A person who wants to lose 50 pounds in~30 days is being unrealistic.

5. T--time-bound. There should be a starting date and a finishing date.

Enthusiasm without direction is like wildfire and leads to frustration

On the best sunny day, the most powerful magnifying glass will not light paper if you keep moving the glass. But if you focus and hold it, the paper will light up. That is the power of concentration.

A man was traveling and stopped at an intersection. He asked an elderly man, "Where does this road take me?" The elderly person asked, "Where do you want to go?" The man replied, "I don't know." The elderly person said, "Then take any road. What difference does it make?"

How true. When we don't know where we are going, any road will take us there.

Suppose you have all the football eleven players, enthusiastically ready to play the game, all charged up, and then someone took the goal post away. What would happen to the game? There is nothing left. How do you keep score? How do you know you have arrived?

Enthusiasm without direction is like wildfire and leads to frustration. Goals give a sense of direction. Would you sit in a train or a plane without knowing where it was going? The obvious answer is no. Then why do people go through life without having any goals?