For common man

Electronic Voting Machine (EVM): Does it translate voter intent into final tally?

2009-07-18T13:59:00.005+05:30

Through the centuries,different technologies have done their best. Stones and potshards dropped in Greek vases gave way to paper ballots dropped in sealed boxes. Mechanical voting booths, punch cards, and then optical scan machines replaced hand-counted ballots. New computerized voting machines promise even more efficiency, and Internet voting even more convenience.

I was NOT HAPPY with the way Voting happened this year. At polling booth, my identity was checked and was made to stand in front of Electronic Voting Machine. EVM had number of buttons against each candidate’s name. When I selected the candidate by pressing the button, a beep sound came and red colour light flashed. That’s the way I cast the vote.

But, where did my vote go? I was told that the machine captures it.

I disagree. EVM MUST GIVE ME ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. THE WAY IT HAPPENS IN ATM or Point-Of-Sale (POS) or Internet or mobile banking transaction.

If you withdraw cash from ATM, the machine gives the transaction slip that confirms successful completion of debit transaction. Similarly, POS terminal while shopping provides me charge slip. Even the Internet banking transaction generates a receipt that can be printed.

Hence its must that these Electronic Voting machine (EVM) provide paper slip which give the details about the constituency, serial number of circuit board used in the Electronic voting machine, Date & Time stamp and a reference number.

Why can’t this be done?

But in the rush to improve speed and scalability, accuracy has been sacrificed. And to reiterate: accuracy is not how well the ballots are counted by, for example, a punch-card reader. It’s not how the tabulating machine deals with hanging chads, pregnant chads, or anything like that. Accuracy is how well the process translates voter intent into properly counted votes.

Technologies get in the way of accuracy by adding steps. Each additional step means more potential errors, simply because no technology is perfect.

Bugs in software are commonplace, as any computer user knows. Computer programs regularly malfunction, sometimes in surprising and subtle ways. This is true for all software, including the software in computerized voting machines.

Another issue is that software can be hacked. That is, someone can deliberately introduce an error that modifies

Unfortunately, electronic voting machines -- although presented as the solution -- have largely made the problem worse. This doesn’t mean that these machines should be abandoned, but they need to be designed to increase both their accuracy and people trust in their accuracy. This is difficult, but not impossible.

The Election Commission has spent money on new voting technology (EVM), it makes sense to spend it on technology that makes the problem easier instead of harder.

Also, If the credibility of the electoral process is to be ensured, pre- and post-election checks of the software now fused onto the chips of the EVM’s is a must.

Thanks to Mr. Omesh Saigal (a 1964 batch IAS officer) whose presentation has forced the Election Commission to now officially taken up the investigation of charges of rigging and fraud through the Electronic Voting Machines.

Election Commission must take all necessary measures to clear doubts about use of EVMs before coming election in Maharashtra or lets revert to paper ballot. Many countries in the world, which were using EVMs, have reverted back to ballot papers and these included developed countries, with Germany being the latest example.

These are serious issues and if we want to strengthen our democracy then we should consider the matter very seriously. Forward this information to atleast 10 people. Let the truth be out and common man benefit.

Slumdogs can take Sensex to 40,000

2009-01-31T13:11:00.007+05:30

I am surprised to see hoardings in Mumbai and debate on television channel to attack Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire for peddling Indian poverty to west.

These great movies actually send out a strong message to the world that “India is all set to become Superpower”.

At one end, you have country "India" with approx 230 Millions people living below poverty line(as per year 2005). As per the World Bank definition of Poverty line, 85.7% of Indian population lives on less than $2.50 (PPP) a day. Also we have inequality in wealth distribution which is explained well by Gini Coefficent.

And on the other hand, you have same country which has a ability to produce engineering marvel as well as the most cost-efficient cars “Tata Nano” all by itself. It is the same country that provides engineering support to multinationals, writes software and hardware in the IT space that helps global giants and can even launch a Moon Mission by itself.

Just imagine, what wonders, this country can do if we have right leadership.India awaits a Leader which can provide proper employment opportunities to millions. It will help slumdogs to earn a reasonable life style with essentials like Roti , Kapada aur Makan ( food ,clothing and house ).

I am astonished by the fact that foreigner has depicted India‘s Slum story so correct. Slum life in the movie “slumdog millionaire” is absolutely correct

Its a key economic indicator for super rich communities/business people across the world. India is the Only country to invest as its moving up the value chain. Days are not far when you will see Sensex crossing the 40,000 marks .

"Slumdog Millionare" confirms growth story of Incredible India!

Negative Juice Theory

2009-01-10T11:49:00.007+05:30

If you have come across the professional race of equals in the corporate world and couldn’t get the reason why one lost to another then the “Negative Juice Theory” will help you give a deep insight on it. Often I have found people, subscribing to this theory, are those in a weak position rather than those who are in the position of strength. People at strength are major contributors to negative juices in others and my effort is make people believe in the Negative Juice Theory.

Every transaction leads to juices in others. Motivation leads to positive juices and anything unreasonable generates negative juices in others.

Negative juice credits in corporate world are mainly due to Corruption, Misrepresentation of facts to seniors/peers/juniors, issuing unreasonable Transfer orders to remote locations, Sexual discrimination, suppression the truth, Incorrect appraisals, delays in leave approvals, delays in claim settlements, providing unjust rationales while handing over the pink slip so on …

All those who are victim of sadistic pleasures taken by the seniors have a reason to cheer. Remember negative juices that they generate in you by being unreasonable are all getting credited to their account.

Believe me, the impact of the Negative Juice is HUGE. Some of common symptoms in those who score high on negative juices credits are: Losing from their position of strength or divorce or Disturbed married life or No children’s or Loss of loved once or Getting diseased or meeting with accident or theft or property disputes so on.

Remember every rise has a fall and every fall has a rise. Strength to remain at the peak purely depend on you scoring low on negative juice credits which are unlike carbon credits.

I am scared of this negative juice and make sure that my team finds me reasonable in decision-making. Hoping that my negative juice account always remains in debit balance.

I should have written this blog few years back. May be this excerpts/passge would have helped B Ramalinga Raju of Satyam avoid the situation he is in today.
Hope this will save many others CEO’s going forward.

So,don’t wait any more, get your seniors read this blog as this will help them and also will do good to you.

Happy new year 2009.

FINANCIAL TERRORISM - " Lehman Brothers crisis"

2008-09-20T18:51:00.005+05:30

Any one who leads to such panic in the market should be termed as “ Financial terrorist”. Reason for using the term “ Financial terrorism “ is that even the good assets are being badly hit because of negative sentiments and many small investor like me lose .

Ask the best brain about the problem with Lehman and they will confuse you by using terms like “ Institution being over leveraged “.

That's truly CONSULTING - “Simple things being made Complex “

I am not saying its wrong but the common man will never understand the real problem.
Always Credit Crisis occurs when loan and investment books are much bigger than its capital.

I will attempt to simplify it further …

An Investment bank uses its own money to lend other and invest. Banks like Lehman, buy mortgage loans (like housing loan etc ) from other banks and then package them to sell bonds against the loan pool. If mortgage earns 5%, than investment banks sells bonds at 3.5 % . The difference between 5% and 3.5% (i.e. 1.5%) called as spread is the earning of investment bank. They also add cash to make loan pool look attractive so that the bonds are sold at higher prices. These banks sell these structured bonds to raise money and frees the capital . BUT WHEN THE HOME BUYERS START DEFAULTING THESE BONDS LOSE ITS VALUE.

Banks like Lehman face redemption when these bond start losing its value. Also Lehman has to repay another bank it has borrowed from. Under such situation it sells mortgage –backed bonds whose prices have fallen . Since this selling will not raise funds as expected ,so investment banks sell some of the good assets or bonds which has nothing to do with mortgages. As a result situation in the markets dips prices of these good assets /bonds . This crisis spreads which termed as DOMINO EFFECT .

This impacts balance sheet as all the banks are required to mark –to- market their investments. So , if the price of an instrument falls , the difference between the price at which the instrument was brought and the current prices is to be provided by deduction from the earning . But the bigger problem which has deepened crises is “ How to provide when there is NO MARKET “ ie when bank actually goes to sell the derivative , it discovers that there are no takers . This is due to derivatives being marked –to –model than being marked –to- market.

Huge Loses are suffered with difference between the prices thrown by these artificially constructed financial models by best brains and prices that buyers are willing to pay in the market . Problem compounds further due to strange accounting practice and also disclosure issues.

Such Crisis shows banks /financial services industry should employ not just the best brains from IIT/IIM but also those who are best on ethics & can relate to comman man.

TEACH INDIA how to LEAD INDIA with millions doing filthy jobs like “Night Soil workers” ,”Rat catchers","Mortician"&"conservancy worker"

2008-09-06T20:01:00.012+05:30

I guarantee you that reading this article will educate you for sure on unique JOB Openings .It will also make you feel ugly and sorry on the state of affair of thousands of workers who take-up filthy assignment.

Jobs are really hard come by in Mumbai . Reason to believe this was when I heard political interference in the recruitment of “ Rat Catchers “. Yes you read it right …..

1)RAT CATCHERS : Job description of this profile is to kill a minimum of 30 rats a night, anything above that gets them a bonus of Rs. 5 per rat. If they kill less than the required number, they get just three days to fill the backlog. Salary offered is Rs 8,000 a month plus incentives. Also one needs to perform consistently for three years for the corporation to confirms them . Recently , the municipal corporation (Mumbai ) in the first round of recruitment hired 13 rat catchers out of close to 400 who had applied for the job. Only 39 of the 400 cleared the written test and only 13 of the 39 aced the practicals.

It seems that the corporation needs 30 more to keep the city’s rat population in the check and recruitment advertisements for the same would be out soon.

Few more openings that I read recently are:

2)NIGHT SOIL WORKERS – Job describes the daily work of manually cleaning and removing human excreta from dry (non-flush) toilets across India. If dignity is denied to people without toilets, what is left for people who clean up human excrement?

3)MORTICIAN – Morgue is where dead people are stored until they go to the funeral home for burial or cremation. A mortician is someone who works at a funeral home and prepares the body for burial, cremation and prepares for the funeral. In Hospitals, Although medical officers are supposed to carry out post mortem examinations, in actual fact it is the doms, a sub-caste of the Dalits (untouchables), who are usually completely uneducated and often drunk on the job, simply cut the bodies and open them using crude tools while the doctors are simply observers and sign the necessary documents.

4)CONSERVANCY WORKERS: Job requires to keep the roads and lanes clean .The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) planning to appoint 6,000 workers to keep the roads and lanes in the suburbs clean. BMC already has almost 34,000 conservancy workers to clean the city.

I hope “Guaranteed Rojgar Ujna “ initiative is not opening us such Jobs.

Reading these JD , my maid and car cleaner will feel lucky and good at the Jobs they are doing .

Last Diwali I gave the Rs 5000 /- to initiate micro finance . This time I plan to give gloves to the BMC workers who come with the van to collect the waste.

Join me in this initiative by providing safety kits to people who are doing thankless CRITICAL jobs in our society

Unknown Wealth Management Skills of Mr. Kesar Singh ji ( AC cab owner)

2008-06-20T00:14:00.009+05:30

We reached an hour before the scheduled meeting with Financial Institution, hence went to CCD to pass the time . All along the discussion my colleague went on cribbing about how poor she is inspite of taking home fat salary. Thanks to the lovely café frappe which made me feel better . Post our meeting we struggled but managed to get a AC Cab driven by Sardar ji .

That 90 minutes in the AC Cab from Lower parel to Vile Parle was an experience worth quoting .

The moment the traffic was getting jammed, I found this cab driver pulling the window down and would start whistling. The result was the jammed traffic would move. He went on doing this and the traffic was getting cleared every time . I was surprised at this and was very curious to know the connection between the whistling and traffic clearance. On asking, sardar ji informed that most of car owners keep talking over the mobile while driving and this tends to slow the traffic. The moment they listen to the whistle they disconnect the call and concentrate on driving. Thinking that traffic police was near by .

Wow!! Papaji what a thinking!!!

His creative mind prompted me to start a conversation with him. Soon I came to know his name was Mr Kesar Singh . He has been driving the cab since 1971 and owns a 500 sqft house at Powai . He had four daughters and one son, all were well educated and settled in life . Eldest daughter being MBA , 2nd daughter was B. Ed and 3d Daughter was MA (Economics ) . The youngest son had done marine engineering and serves for Foreign shipping.

Hearing to all that my colleague suddenly woke-up and started actively participating in the conversation . She discovered a Rich Dad in this Poor man . I could gauge what she must be thinking and hence I asked Kesar Singh about his earning . He was open and revealed that average earning is Rs. 20,000 per month ( Tax free ) .

My colleague was not able to digest the fact that Kesar ji was happy and successful inspite earning 1/10th less than him .

People like Kesar ji are real Wealth Managers. They manage all the risk in life so well without exposure to ANY Insurance or Equity or Mutual Funds. They not only teach us how to live a content life, they also teach that happiness has no connections with your earnings.

Many people like Kesar sing Ji have mastered the art of whistling whenever the live Jammed. They are the unknown FUND MANAGERS.

Please congratulate Kesar Sing Ji today on +91 9869156377. May be you can hire his AC Cab and also learn from him the art of whistling out the trouble in life.

CORPORATE JUNGLE : "ARE YOU A WINNER?"

2008-04-04T12:01:00.001+05:30

The battle for your success is fought and won nowhere else but in your mind.

Your success or failure is does not necessarily depend upon where you are born or brought up, your bank balance or also your level of formal education. Although, they are important at the initial stage of career . But I'll always weigh a sharp mind, determination, ethics and perseverance over a good education every time. Your success or failure does not depend upon what your family, your friends, your peers or your co-workers feel are your chances.

I know for sure there is scope for debate on every point that’s mentioned. The point is - Your success depends on what you have inside. Let’s think and find some answers of tough question - Are you a winner?

a) CAN YOU WITHSTAND FAILURE ?
Because most winners fail. In fact, a great many winners fail over and over and over again. Are you able to be knocked down or knocked out in your attempts to succeed, but have enough courage and tenacity to get up time and time again, brush yourself off, figure out what went wrong, what you did wrong, and then start again?

b) ARE YOU ABLE TO WITHSTAND HUMILIATION ?
In the midst of failing, can you endure your closest family, friends or loved ones saying "I told you so", "I knew you couldn't do it", "I don't even know why you wasted your time/money/effort", when you know in your heart that you are capable and you can achieve the success you so desire?

c) CAN YOU HUMBLE YOURSELF?
Can you face customers, partners, or investors when all your resources has run out and you still haven't made a go of it, yet you have to go ahead with more resources, because you know it will work?

d) CAN YOU STAND ISOLATION AS NO ONE SHARES YOUR VISION ?
Can you cope with the loneliness and isolation that is often an inherent part of leadership, because no one else shares your vision or can see the future the way in which you see it?

e)ARE YOU STRONG TO BREAK THROUGH LIMITATIONS?
Are you strong enough to break through or break free of limitations you put upon yourself or that others have placed on you? Are you able to lift yourself beyond your current circumstances? Can you drive yourself forward, even when it means challenging and overcoming immense fear?

Hope you have know why everyone is NOT winner. If only academics were the reason for success in Career than every IIT/IIM pass out would have been a CEO of the company . If you don’t believe check out how many companies you know have a CEO who have great academics .

Winning is much much more than that . Winning is a hard, difficult business. If it was so easy, everybody would be winners. People get tired, people get lazy, people change their minds about what they want and what they're willing to settle for.

Hope this blog makes you believe you what it takes to succeed in corporate jungle. I believe that there is a reason , a time and a place for everything.

Its not yet late … Still you can DISCOVER THE WINNER INSIDE YOU. My best wishes to you .

SALARY EXPECTATION CALCULATOR - ”What should be my salary?”

2008-03-18T19:27:00.007+05:30

Often I have seen employees are not satisfied even if they are paid well. They are unable to establish - right expectations. They keep comparing or get swayed by the salaries quoted in business magazines.

I have collated the views expressed by number of my colleagues / friends on various occasions and attempting to put forward a calculator for salary expectation . Here it goes ...

You need fit yourself in one the categories to know whats salary to expect :

Category 1(Post Graduate): If you have excellent domain knowledge with minimum 7 years experience and are able to project your work in the organization. Then

Minimum salary to expect ( Gross )= Age * Rs.100,000

E.g. : if your age is 33 than you must get Rs 33 lacs (Gross Salary )

Category 2(Post Graduate): If you have excellent domain knowledge with minimum 7 years experience but find it difficult to project yourself in the organization. Then

Minimum salary (Net take home) = Number of years of experience * Rs 2,00,000

E.g.: If you are at 33 with 8 years experience than should expect 16lacs ( Take home )

Category 3(Graduate or PG part-time): If you have acceptable domain knowledge and able to create a right perception. Then expect

Minimum salary (Gross) = Number of years of experience * Rs 1,50,000

E.g.: If you are at 32 with 8 years experience than should expect (gross) 12 lacs

Category 4 : If you are weak on perception management/ domain knowledge than consider yourself lucky that you are still employed .

The above categorisation is applicable for growing sectors like financial services ,banking ,telecom ,information technology etc in which quality of human capital is key success factor .

For the employee working other industry can apply a 25 % discounting factor to arrive at salary to expect.

One can put his /her career growth on 5th gear by right perception management backed by efforts to succeed. Few basic suggestions for perception management :

a) Work towards solution don’t discuss problems
b) Debate /discuss alternative solutions with your senior . Don’t argue.
c) Don’t escalate issues better to quit the job.Escalation rarely helps inlong terms
d) When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
e) Learn from others mistake .
f) Relationships go a long way to shape-up your career .

Start calculating ...

Want to buy a Flat near a Slum or a Chawl ! !

2008-02-02T14:10:00.001+05:30

My friend was planning to buy a flat in Mumbai. As always I was quick in helping him. I gave them details on one flat that was perfectly matching their specifications

My friend’s wife (Nita) wanted to know “ Is the flat near slum area?”

I informed Nita that it had no slum around 10 km radius and was expecting her to be happy to hear this. But I was shocked to hear when Nita mentioned that they looking at place that has chawl or a slum located atleast 2 to 3 km radius.

When enquired, Nita had a strong reason for such demand. She mentioned since they are both working, dependence on maid is heavy for cooking & upkeep of house. Also they need a dedicated resource to take care of their daughter Anjali. Even One day off request of the maid lead to a Chaos at home and Office. They are willing to spend Rs. 6000 to Rs 7000 for such services. Hence having a chawl or a slum close by ensures uninterrupted supply.

What Nita described looks like confirming research by well-known economist Roopa Purushothaman. Roopa’s latest report mentions urbanization will lead to generation of millions of Non farm jobs for rural sector. Urbanization is good for the country .We should not fear that it would result in Urban and rural divide. Increase in the urban consumption will result into increase in income level in rural sector.

We will see number of such needs that can be fulfilled by the semi skilled labour available at rural sector . Its an opportunity for an entrepreneur who can build a domestic BPO industry employing huge semi skilled labour in India.

Days are not far when India will also witness a dramatic change. A well dress maid will get down from her TATA NANO and flash a visiting card and say “ I am here to ensure the up-keep of our house!!.

Reliance Power IPO

2008-01-09T16:48:00.000+05:30

In the first three months of 2008 , the total mobilization could touch a record Rs30,000crores as 170 to 180 IPO are lined up this year . ( this four times compared to last year)

Number of investors especially salaried class having limited funds to invest and are confused on which IPO to select ?

If you are looking for answer to the question " Should I invest in Reliance Power IPO? " than continue reading ...

Reliance is known for delivering high returns to its shareholders . When a group establishes such a trend than the trust becomes a single most important factor for investing.

This is main reason for the hype on Reliance Power IPO .

Relaince Power IPO will be oversubscribed and will be list at premium price giving good return for SHORT TERM .

However the prices will slide down or stagnate after listing in couple of months considering the nature of the industry. Power sector has high gestation period of 4 to 5 years .

Reliance is know for its power of execution and probability of setting up the power plants in record time is High . They had set-up Jamnagar refinery in record time .

Also The demand -supply situation is favourable for Power Sector . Accute shortage of power in the country will driving force for this stock in long run . Hence you will see an upward movement of share prices after couple of years

If you are not prepared to stay invested for a period of min 3 years than I suggest to Invest in this stock for short term ( 15 days )and make a quick buck .

SLOW TRACK option - a HR initiative

2008-01-05T14:37:00.000+05:30

Life is stressful for a working women. At one end she has a demanding professional life and at the other end the personal life consumes lot of her time.

Under such situations its always the working women who has to dump the successful career and focuses on personal life . I am not saying its incorrect but the decision would have been different if the corporate in true sense create an environment that support the working women.The solution is simple.

HR to offer “ slow track “ option to the employees. All companies have a mechanism to identify “fast track”. The need of the hour is also to identify staff who is willing to be on slow track. This program to give an option of working for less number of hours for couple of years and proportionately the salary can be reduced. Also they should have an option to return back to normal working hours once are at comfort. The major difference being that the SLOW TRACK to be chosen by the employee and the FAST TRACK candidates are identified by the employer. Also HR to take care that slow track employees don’t get branded as Non- Performers.

This will be of a great help to working women, as the extra hours that she gets would help balance the personal and professional life. Especially for families with new born babies.

This HR initiative is in true sense will ensure the gender equality. If you agree to the thoughts than be quick in forwarding this to your HR Head and CEO. May be my blog can help you get “Tare Zameen Par ”.

Social Stock Excange (SSE) to promote Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

2007-12-03T16:14:00.000+05:30

“Increase shareholders value” is one line that I have seen in all the presentations by the top management. Wealth creation for those who have invested in the company is definitely an important task to be achieved. And stock exchanges like BSE, NSE are doing a great job in linking the companies performance to the market forces.

However I feel objective of any commercial activity should result into development society and mankind.

Urgent need to have Social Stock Exchange (SSE) on which various companies to be listed on the basis of social responsibility performance. Since all the companies are using the resources from the society they must work towards giving back a part of the wealth as this will result in the welfare of the society.

Listing of various companies on the SSE to be made mandatory and points to be given on the basis of various parameters. Identifying and allocating points to these parameters should be left to an expert committee. Example :

1) Employment is getting generated due to commercial activity and this should qualify an organization earn points on the Social Stock Exchange (SSE). Say, companies will earn One point on SSE for every 500 employees on company’s payroll.
2) Likewise nature of the business should make them eligible to earn few points like Dr Reddy Lab to be allocated a 50 points for its efforts in developing the drugs for the treatment of Diabetics. At the same time organization engaged in Tobacco or liquor business get minus 50 points on SSE. …. so on

This Social Stock exchange to be aggressively promoted. And Two prong strategy will work:

Strategy 1:Government should encourage the companies to score High of the SSE by formation of Corporate Sabha (other two being Lok sabha & Rajya sabha) . Member ship to these should be on the basis rating on this social Index . Undoubtedly Ratan Tata will chair this corporate sabha they have done massive social work keeping low decimal level .

Strategy 2: A brilliant campaign to be run by all the media companies together. This campaign should create a perception ( which is a reality ) among the common man that companies high on SSE are of different class.

Such initiatives will shift the attention of corporate from wealth creation to wealth distribution

OLD under JOLT

2007-11-07T15:58:00.000+05:30

The saying "OLD IS GOLD" doesn't seem to be holding true for senior citizens .

At one end the buying capacity is reducing due price rise and at the other end senior citizens have no source of extra income. Govt may claim the inflation is under control by publishing statics but reality seems different . I remember couple of year back groundnut oil which was available for less than Rs 45/ litre. Today its costing Rs 90plus . Imagine what must be happening to the retired people who have fixed income .

My study reveal that on an average the saving of the retired people is approximately between 15-20 lacs (max.) plus a BIG house in prime location . They are living on interest income generated from this saving which are mostly in Postal MIS , PPF , PF and Bank deposit /fixed maturity plans . This income has dropped significantly due to drop in interest in bank deposit from 14% to less than 9 % today ( longer tenure ). Same is with other saving instruments like PF , PPF , Postal scheme MIS etc

Few additions to the problems of senior citizens are :
- Families are becoming nuclear or settled abroad. FMC(Fast Moving Couples ) have no time for parents .No emotional support available to seniors .
- Representatives from Broking/ Investment firms misguiding the seniors .
-Insurance Companies are insuring those who are healthy ... and so on

Objective is not to scare you but to reinforce the concept of "Retirement Planning " while you are young . Must start the retirement planning today and make your retired life safe . Few actioanbles are :
1) Invest in term plan for maximum tenure
2) Go for critical illness plan upto 20lakhs with maximum tenure as this will protect you against any major expenses
3) Take a mediclaim policy for yourself and wife
4) Ensure that you have auto renewal instruction for all insurance cover .
5) Invest in direct equity and Mutual funds . Hire the services of a good experienced wealth manager. Pls ! Pls !! Pls !!! donot judge them on external appearance /gadgets they carry . Beware of advisors ( not all ) of the private banks . Remember its your hard earned MONEY . JUST GO FOR CONTENT . Even a ordinary looking old fastioned LIC agent can can give EXTRA ORDINARY inputs .
6) Invest in real estate ( 2nd home ) at the locations you are able to visit at least once in month comfortably or you have someone to take care of the property. No point investing in chennai when plan to settle down in Mumbai.
7) Avoid shifting jobs after 35 age . If you plan to settle down at Pune than take-up an assignment in the same city . You may lose on monetary front as immediate impact but in long term you will definetly benefit . As will you have lots of local contacts by the time you retire which money cannot buy.
8) Be member of local clubs or association .You can even actively participate in local event like GaneshMahothsav. This again will help you develop contact .
9) Identify local NGO’s and keep participating/helping them . Once you retire you will realise that you have a place spend your free time which is also valued
10) Regularly reading paper /books etc is a good habit to develop . This is very cost effective solution to spend quality retired life independently.

MICROFINANCE : "A STEP TOWARDS MASSES....."

2007-10-29T12:05:00.000+05:30

Switch on your TV and watch any business channel Or even turn the pages of any business magazine /newspaper. It makes you feel Wow !! Economy is doing great !!
- Stock markets booming to 19k level
- Inflation under control.
- Huge FDI inflow
- Foreign reserves at comfort levels
- Indian Companies doing overseas acquisitions
- Number of CEO taking more than crore of salary have doubled
- Number of billionaire from India are growing at rapid pace... So on.

Take a drive 30 km away from city you live in and you will see REAL INDIA. People still struggling to for basic need : ROTI, KAPDA aur MAKAN. 98% of India's population does not participate in the equity markets

The India shining appears to be poverty elimination program for higher middle class and rich class. Nothing concrete seems to be coming in for masses.

India doesn’t need mass production. We need production by MASS. Our population a strenght and not a weakness. All we need is generation of employment. Entrepreneurs will play a key role. Smart brains from IIT/IIM should look possible career option in driving various government initiatives. We need people like Nachiket Mor (ICICI) who dare to take up the jobs which have less glamour . Education Minister should spend less time on “ quota system”. We should make it mandatory for all the management / engineering graduate to do a one year assignment in rural India as a part of curriculum ( Similar to the medical ) .

We need to act quickly to spread the benefits of India shining to mass. The disparity in income levels will generate problems of plenty

Am I sounding like a politician??? No Blame Game . These are thoughts .

I want to be a part of of solutions and hence I have made a small beginning to support those who are fighting a losing battle.

I have set aside small kitty of Rs. 5000 ( pls don’t laugh ) this Diwali for initiating much talked about “ MICRO FINANCE “. This is to support my car cleaner, maid servant , Milk Man. I don’t expect them to payback but my KYC say they will. I plan to give this good news to them along with Oct end salary . This thought itself is giving me a great feeling .

Do join me or atleast share any such thought that I can implement to better the life of masses

WHO REPRESENTS YOUR TOP MANAGEMENT ?

2007-10-18T11:57:00.000+05:30

Every organization has three categories of employees. These mixes can be a key indicator of the future growth of the organization. It’s this mix that should help you predict the future of the company.

Category 1: (Smart once): They are the sachin tendulkar’s of the world. Focused towards making good records. However, they playing good innings when the country needs them is RARE .Past experience indicate candidate create their own brand by leveraging the strengths of these companies. Seldom they do end to end delivery but they have jack of all master of none. Truly general managers.

Category 2 (Latch on type): Just two words keep them high on the career path ie “ YES SIR attitude “ . They are quick to identify the leaders and just latch on to them. They lend unconditional support to their master. This makes them the power centers and also gives the master a comfort in pushing his plans. So it’s a win-win situation That’s the way for them to make it to TOP and are always in the CORE group. But the only threat is when the organization is in the wrong hands !!!

Category 3 (Hardworking type): They are the backbone of the organization. Revenues, power of execution etc is primarily belong this category. Keep a watch on how are these employees are treated. Companies having good representation of this category are always the industry leaders. Only visionary CEO’s backed with excellent HR practice can nurture this category.

Worried about the future your company than keep a watch on top management representation!!!!

Saved from Cheated( Every Car Owner must Read)

2007-05-22T15:13:00.001+05:30

Written by my Wife .........

We were coming from Pune to Mumbai on sunday evening. When our car was at the signal at Chembur Naka, one man came running from footpath side and told my husband that there is a spark coming from bonnet side, looks like wire is short, check it. He said this much and crossed the signal quickly. We got worried and stopped the car in sideways after crossing the signal. There was young boy, dark, thin standing there, as if he was waiting for us. He guided my husband who was driving to the car on sideways. Then he asked him to open the bonnet for checking the spark problem. The boy asked for cotton cloth to clean his hand, Vikas came to driver seat to take the cloth, while doing this the boy loosen the wire toward white cylinder. Boy asked to start the car, then the big sparks came. He recommended that wire needs to be changed & vehile needs to be taken to garage nearby .
Another boy came running to help us near the car garage, he also did something, he ask to check, and sat on back seat of our car. This time the car started vobelling. Then he said the problem seems critical and ask to take left turn to his friends garrage. After reaching Bhaki Bhavan, he said , let me show you exactly where the problem is, so my husband stopped the car. Both got down from the car, and opened bonet to see the exact problem.Then this boy said you need a spare part replacement which will cost Rs 4500 and his labour charges of 300. Vikas initially agreed that went with him to buy the spare part from nearby shop. I felt suspious hence I told Vikas over mobile that this seems to be racket, as I had read news similar this incident where the man was cheated. Hence dont trust this man, please verify.
Immediately Vikas came back towards the car and called his NISHAD (Service Advisor)of Maruti authorised(Sai Service Andheri). NISHAD was quick in extending help inspite of it being Sunday and cautioned us on this racket. He helped my husband to rectify the problem by giving instructions over the phone. Post this car started running smoothly without sparks, vobelling also stopped.While conversation was on with Nishad over phone, the boy ran away as he understood that the they cannot cheat us .

Thanks to that person who wrote article in Marathi paper, which made us aware that such a thing can happen. and NISHAD who help us over phone on sunday evening else we couldnt have understood and resolved the problem.We saved our money and time along with mental peace.

In case you are getting your car service done from the same dealer than make sure that you have good rapport with ace service advisors like Nishad, Jitendra Pawar ,Manohar and D'mello.

Wealth Creation

2007-03-23T18:45:00.000+05:30

Step by step investment is process of wealth creation !!!

If you are serious towards creation of wealth than the 1st step is to locate right advisor .

All the private sector banks are focussed on increasing fee based income & have placed Relationship managers in all the branches . Most of these branches have Relationsship managers who are not well informed & they make you invest purely based on some historical data . They ONLY recommend mutual fund & insurance to meet the targets . KEEP AWAY FROM SUCH ADVISORS !! & Donot get trapped !!!

Remember first step is locate RIGHT advisor !!!

wealth will just follow