To My Son

1) Read all you can, get all your degrees before 30.Have a plan of how you want to live. If you cant reach it by end of 20s your chance of reaching it at 30 or 40 are relatively difficult.Your life will be more complicated as you grow old and have family.Your time and money will not be yours anymore.But when you try to study before 30 you will get all support you can. Parents will help you with money, friends will have time to mentor you. You will not feel guilty when you pursue your dreams with total devotion as there are no other commitments to your time or money.

2) Whatever field you choose- Work to be the top player. And go there fast. Before you start building your family. Because only from top you will get a clearer direction. You can steer the world in the direction you like instead of you running behind the set directions.

3) Everything comes with practice, never give up. There is nothing called talent.Talent is just hours and hours of practice.

4) Love yourself. Respect yourself.If you don't love yourself then nobody else will. Your self-respect is your everything.There is never any success in life when self-respect is compromised. Do not let people misuse use you.Don't compromise your self-respect for friendships or love. People who really care for you will not disrespect or make you feel inferior.Walk away from such negative people.

5) Beware of the teenage- everybody makes their worst mistakes during these years that have profound impact all through their lives.As body transitions from childhood to adulthood hormones wreck havoc.Our feelings will be at peak- anger,happiness,love,excitement..all at its peak.Control it.It's plain science.CONTROL YOUR FEELINGS.They are not real.

6) You will get used to any and all adversities, even enjoy it. That's how our brain works. So discipline your self to eat right,read right,invest right, choose the right friends even if you don't like it in the beginning. You will be  rewarded immensely in the long run.

7) Start saving early and invest, Compound interest is the best friend.ALWAYS spend from your passive income.

8) Travel the world, you will learn its abundance. There is so much to learn,explore and enjoy.

9) Choose your life partner very carefully. This one decision will determine 95% of your happiness. Mine as well :-)

10) Never take life seriously, everything will pass so sit tight and enjoy the ride..

why me?

Many a times in life i wonder why i alone seem to end up with such adversities. Why do i get stuck in such pathetic situations, why do i go through so much pain etc.I always think i am such a stupid- not smart enough to escape problems. Of late slowly i have started realizing its not me alone. True. Its not me alone.Everybody have a different set of problems to face everyday.Even the smartest most intelligent ones whom we think live cool lives- they too seem to fight, struggle everyday. Their smartness lies only in hiding their troubles- They just fight their demons privately while we do it publicly. There is never going to be a single soul who is in peace- far away from trials and tribulations. There is no point crying over our trobles. Nor should we be worried when we sense trouble. It just makes the problem look bigger.

I have realized very clearly that some how i need to face my problems, stand my ground, fight them away.if not today then tomorrow.Only then there is peace. There will never be a gaurdian angel going to battle on our behalf- even if we find one and win our battles its just a temproary win. Lets face it. We need to fight our own battles.Only then the success tastes great. Only then we know how to win again if the enemy strikes again.Only then our lives moves forward.Only then there is a meaning to our lives.

Our problems build our strength, show us our own greatness.Bring out to the world our infinite potential. They are our blessings in disguise.Just that we need to face them- See them in the eye and tell them to obey you. Once done they boost our confidence so high that we really feel great from inside out. So nowadays when i get into shit- i know i need to find my own way out. I need to stand on my own two feet and fight it out. I know its really tough. I need to make many sacrifices- but thats life. Nobody is this world has everything. There will always be give and take.

It will always be priorities based.Its just that we need courage. We need it to tell ourselves "its not over yet".We need it to look for a way out. We need it to face our demons. There are many talented people in this world who do not know about themselves. I have met many. God has blessed everybody with some greatness- I have seen it very well.Every human being can in his or her own unique way can solve all their problems themselves- the gap that lies there is CONFIDENCE. Just believe you have the capacity to solve it. Actually it is very true that you have the capacity to solve it.We just need to bring ourselves to believe it.Thats all.

May we grow in strength by fighting our battles everyday.There will always be problems, everybody has it everyday. Its never just me. I am not alone- battlefields exist everywhere everyday. Lets face it.Lets win them all.

Determination builds Dreams to Reality

Maybe the Americans know this story already- but for the rest of us, a post on the determination that built the Brooklyn Bridge. I just could not ignore the strong inspirational shot this story gave me.Here it is-

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.
But Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.

Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
"We told them so.""Crazy men and their crazy dreams.""It`s foolish to chase wild visions."
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. He just did not want to give up. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.
He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.
Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.
Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.
Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence.

Real Life Slumdog Millionaire-a true inspiration

His story is an inspiration for millions. A self-made entrepreneur, his mission
is to help the poor through job creation. E Sarathbabu hit the headlines after
he rejected several high profile job offers from various MNCs after he passed
out of IIM, Ahmadabad[Rank1 in Indian Management institutes] two years ago.


He instead started a catering business of his own, inspired by his mother who
once sold idlis on the pavements of Chennai, worked as an ayah(domestic helper) in an Anganvadi(free food center by indian govt for poor kids)to educate him and his siblings. As a child, he also sold idlis in the slum where he lived. "We talk about India shining and India growing, but we should ensure that people do not die of hunger. We can be a developed country but we should not leave the poor people behind. I am worried for them because I know what hunger is and I still remember the days I was hungry," says Sarathbabu.


In August 2006, Sarathbabu's entrepreneurial dream came true with Foodking. The "foodking" still lives in the same hut in Madipakkam in Chennai. Today, Foodking has six units and 200 employees, and the turnover of the company is Rs.32 lakh a month. But it has not been a bed of roses for Sarathbabu. After struggling and making losses in the first year, he managed a turnaround in 2007.

How has his experience as a 'Foodking' been in the last two years? In his own words-
A tough beginning as I am a first generation entrepreneur, the first year was very challenging. I had a loan of Rs 20 lakh by the end of first year. I had no experience in handling people in business, and it was difficult to identify the right people.Though I made losses in the first year, not even once did I regret my decision of not accepting the offers from MNCs and starting an enterprise of my own. I looked at my losses as a learning experience. I was confident that I would be
successful one day.
Sleeping on the railway platform
My first unit was at IIM, Ahmadabad. When we started our second unit in October 2006, I thought now I would start making money. But I made losses of around Rs 2000 a day. A first generation entrepreneur cannot afford such a loss. But I worked really hard, working till 3 a.m. in the morning. What reduced my losses were the birthday party offers.

I started the third unit again in Ahmadabad but it also made losses. All my units were cafeteria and I understood then that the small cafeterias do not work; I needed huge volumes to work. My friends who were extremely supportive in the first year when things were difficult for me. I had taken loans from my IIM-A friends. They were earning very well.
In December 2006, an IIM Ahmadabad alumni event took place in Mumbai and I decided to go there mainly to get a contract. I was hopeful of getting it. I also knew that if I got the huge contract, I would come out of all the losses I had been incurring.
I booked my train ticket from Ahmadabad to Mumbai for Rs 300 and I had Rs 200 in my hand. As the meet went on till late at night, I could reach the station only at midnight. I missed the train. I decided to sit on the platform till the morning and travel by the next train in the morning. I didn't have the money to check into a hotel. I didn't want to disturb any of my friends so late at night.


It was an unforgettable night as I was even shoved off by policemen from the platform. It was quite insulting and embarrassing. After two hours, people started moving in, I also went in.
A man who sat next to me on the platform gave me a newspaper so that I could sleep. I spread the newspaper and slept on the platform! I sleep well. I got my ticket refund in the morning and went back to Ahmadabad. And, luck did not favour me, I didn't get the contract.

In March 2007, I got an offer to start a unit at BITS, Pilani (Sarathbabu was an alumnus of BITS,Pilani). That was the first medium break for me. For the first time, I started making profits there though the other units continued to make losses. The reason for our success at BITS, Pilani was the volume; there were more students and there was a need for a unit like ours while in Ahmadabad, they have at least a hundred options.

If I made Rs 5000 a day at Ahmadabad in two shifts, here I made Rs 15,000 a day. BITS, Pilani unit gave me the confidence to move on. Unless you make money, you can't be confident in business.

What changed my fortune
When all my friends who worked for various MNCs made good money every month and I made losses with my venture. But I kept telling myself, I am moving in the right direction to reach my ambition and vision. My dream was to provide employment and I was doing just that. I continued to work till 3a.m. but I never felt tired.

Through BITS, Pilani, I got the BITS, Goa contract and that was the biggest break for me. It was not a cafeteria like the earlier ones but the dining hall that we got. We had to feed 1300 students. We started our operations in July 2007. At Rs 50, for 1300 students, our sale was Rs65,000 per day. We soon started making a profit of Rs 10 to 15,000 a day. Around 60 to 70 people work there. I gave the charge of the Ahmadabad operations to one of my managers and moved to Goa.
I was still in debt by Rs 15-20 lakhs but I knew BITS, Goa would keep my dream alive. Within six months of starting our operations in Goa, I repaid all my debt.
I was called to give a speech at the SRM Deemed University. After the speech, I asked the Chancellor, can you give me an opportunity to serve in your campus?? He said, "If not you, to whom will I give such an opportunity?" It's a food court but a big one, similar to the one at BITS,Pilani. There are around 17,000 students there.

Other than the six units, I have approached a few more universities and corporate houses too. In the first year, I had made a loss of Rs 25 lakh. Right now, we have a turnover of Rs 32 lakh every month, which works out to 3.5 crore (Rs 35 million) a year.

I have hired about 200 people. Indirectly, we touch the lives of around 1000 people. By this year end, we will have 500 people working for us. Only 10% of my workers are educated, the rest are uneducated. I want to make a change in their lives. If they have any problem, I will take care of it. We support the marriages and education of poor families. We are paying more to the employees as the company is doing well. Now that the foundation is strong, I plan to have ten units and a turnover of Rs 20 crore (Rs 200 million) turnover by next year.

His advice: Never give up!

In the last two years, I have given more than 120 lectures in various institutions in India.When I got the first opportunity to speak, I thought God had given me an opportunity to encourage or inspire entrepreneurs. When youngsters tell me they are inspired, I feel good.
When you just dish out the theory, nobody believes you. But when you do it, they believe you.What I tell them is based on my own experiences.
When I thought of starting a company, I felt India needed 100 people like Narayana Murthy and Ambani. If 100 such people support 2 lakh people each, imagine how many Indians get supported.
Entrepreneurship is needed to uplift the poor. It is not easy to be an entrepreneur,
especially a first generation entrepreneur.
There will be lots of challenges in the beginning but you should learn to look for the light at the end of the tunnel.
Never give up even if there are hurdles. There are many who give up within a week.

You need determination and a tough mind to cross the initial hurdles.

If you are starting without much money, you should not have any overhead expenses.
He still lives in the same hut
As I am in the food business, I know how much the price of every food item has gone up. Many people will languish in poverty because of inflation. Had my mother been working as an Anganvadi ayah today and earning Rs 1500, she would not have been able to feed us and educate us. On the one side, we talk about India shining and India growing, but we should ensure that people do not die of hunger. We can be a developed country but we should not leave the poor people behind. I am worried for them because I know what hunger is and I still remember the days I was hungry. That is why I feel it is our responsibility to take care of them.

I wanted to buy a car and a house for my mother. I bought a car first, not a house. I still live in the same house, the same hut. I can build a house right now but I want my business to grow a little more. I feel good in the hut; that?s where I get my energy, that's where I lived 25 years of my life. I want to remind myself that the money and fame should not take me away from what I want to achieve.


But within six months, I will build a good house for my mother. Her only advice to me is,don't waste money.
Till I was in the 10th, there was no electricity in my house. I had to sit near the kerosene lamp and concentrate hard. That's how I learnt to concentrate.
The two year journey has been very enriching. It seems like a 20-year journey for me. I was living every moment of the two years, from sleeping on the Mumbai railway station platform to this level.
Food king as on today May 26 2009 has an annual turnover of 20+ crores and still going Strong.
Thats the power of dreams.Nothing is impossible if we could believe and work consistently towards it.

Hope- Short poem

Days of fun and
Days of woe,
all that makes our everyday.
times of test and
times of strength
all that makes our life as such.

when times are such
and going gets tough
hard u push and still r stuck
and the path is oh so rough
nothing helps but ur hope.

Days of gloom just do not last
pain will soon be lost in past.
keep that glowing hope upright
all thats bent will soon be straight.

Living up through stromy days
needs a heart with stronger pace
when pain and sorrow doom ur way
rays of hope will shine ur face
Sit there tight and let it pass
See even desert grows the grass
There's a time for everything
snowy nights and bright sunshine!

when health and wealth and
everything is lost
still u can make ur life to blast
Stick to ur hope and fight it back
until u lose hope,nothing is lost!
Hope and pray for goodtimes soon
and u search for ways to hone.
Hope is the dream of a waking man
Stick to your hope,am sure you can!

Basics of success

1) "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."

Strong mind: Everyone of us wants to be successful.But merely wishing brings misery and disappointments rather than success.To be successful we should crave for success with all our heart.Will power is the best asset of any human being.With its strength many have achieved miraculous success.Many have won over devastating sickness.Many battles were won with little or not enough man power.Will-power gives us the strength to walk even when the last ounce of energy had left over body.If we decide we will do it, we will do it.That is the power of our will.It is called inner strength.To be successful we need to draw all our inner strength and fight till we are successful.

2) "The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare."

Action: This world recognizes actions rather than words.Actions prove our words.Actions show our commitment to our dreams.They are the steps to success. As the saying goes A journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step- everything ultimately boils down to our action.What we do and how we do it.Action involves analysis,planning and execution.When we take up any task we should have a plan.If we are not planning our action, then we are planning to fail.Sometimes our plans may falter.It is then to us to find the defect in our plan,correct it and re-try.The successful commander is somebody who is braver 5 more minutes than his fellow soldiers.Let our actions inspire others to support our journey towards success.

3) "Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand."

Create chances:Everybody waits for their lucky break.And many expect that lucky break called chance will present to them in the form they dream of.In reality chances/opportunities/lucky breaks come and go quietly disguised in many forms.That is why even the ones waiting in alert for their chance also miss it.The best way is to be prepared always and when ready create our own opportunities.Search far and wide for it instead of waiting. Take it in any form it is available and forge it to our desires.That is the greatest secret of successful people.Create chances, do not wait for them.

4) "The difference between failure and success is doing a thing nearly right and doing a thing exactly right."

Attention to detail:This is were many of us fail.Classic example is our grade exams- scoring average can be done by the majority, while getting the highest score is real real tough.If you ask the highest scorer his secret will be his attention to detail.It applies to every field in our life.The difference between being average and being successful is the dedication that gives attention to every detail on how to achieve whatever task taken successfully.

5) "Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It's quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure."

Re-try:Many of us give up on the slightest signs of failure.It is human nature.We just cannot tolerate failures.We see failures with a mere negative eye.We miss the entire point that failures are god given opportunities to re-try.To do it all over again in a new fashion.If we could only overcome the fear of failure, we are on a right track to success.Watch babies and learn how to overcome failures.They just do not give up until they do it successfully.

6) "Success is not a destination, it's a journey."

Finally, we cannot be successful in life if we are just a "one time success".We need to work harder still to live up to our success.To be on top we need to constantly do better than all our competition.It is like riding a bicycle.If we stop peddling we will fall. To strive constantly comes only if we are passionate about our success.We need to respect our effort and the resulting success,only then we will want more.The good news is, with success comes tremendous confidence.Confidence gives success.Success usually breeds more success.It is a cycle as long as you could put in the required effort and energy.