Guru’s Blogs

Poor, Rich & Wealthy: The Difference No One Tells You
The Rich also trade time for money, but at a higher hourly rate. They’ve built a rainy day fund, maybe six to twelve months of expenses saved. But their financial security still depends on their continued effort.

Can you predict the future impact of AI? One cannot connect the dots looking forward; you connect them looking backward and then apply mental models to guesstimate future directions.
Let’s try a thought experiment. Travel back with me to 1999/2000. Everyone knew the internet would change everything, but nobody could predict how and who the winners would be.

In Gold We Trusted, but now In God We Trust. From Gold to Handbags: The story of fragile trust behind money.
Until 1970, every major currency in the world was backed by gold reserves. The post-war Bretton Woods system pegged the U.S. dollar to gold at $35 per ounce, while other currencies (pound, franc, yen, etc.) were pegged to the dollar within narrow bands.

The Unusual Story of Money Since 2020.
The world came to an abrupt halt in 2020 with the outbreak of COVID-19.
Overnight, streets emptied, factories shut, and economies froze. Echoes of the Great Depression resurfaced, marked by mass unemployment, food insecurity, bankruptcies, and even rising social unrest.

My first job didn’t exist when my mother started working. Her job didn’t exist when my grandfather started his career. Tomorrow’s jobs don’t exist today.
My grandfather spent his entire career with Indian Railways, retiring happily as a Station Master. Railways were the high-tech sector of his time.

What comes to mind when I say “Tyre Company”? Chances are, it’s not sophisticated fine dining from the best chefs in the world. Yet, that’s exactly the surprising story behind the Michelin Stars.
In 1900, France had only about 3,000 cars on the road. Business was looking bleak for brothers Édouard and André Michelin, owners of Michelin Tyres.

Eric Olson, a retired US Navy Admiral with a distinguished career in U.S. Special Operations, often shares hard-earned leadership lessons. One particular story stayed with me.
In Afghanistan, U.S. Civil Affairs teams were deployed not just to be present, but to add value—to dig a well, install a pump, or build a clinic. As Olson puts it, “Presence without value is perceived as occupation.”

A few dumb decisions smart people still make. Even the brightest minds can stumble.
1. Neglecting Health
Smart people often work tirelessly, pushing themselves to succeed—only to ignore their physical and mental health. Eventually, they find themselves unable to enjoy the very fruits of their labor.

What makes us human? Stories. "Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter."
Why do humans believe in stories?
Because we are the only species that imagines stories, tells stories, records stories, believes in stories, and often, gets wealthy by investing in stories.

16 Simple lessons about health, wealth, and happiness
Humans are meant to move.
Move when the sun is up and sleep when the sun goes down. Align your body with nature’s rhythm.

“The Story of 3:59.4”. It always seems impossible until it is done.
We often believe something can’t be done simply because it hasn’t been done before. But once the psychological barrier is broken, what was once unthinkable becomes inevitable.

Fred Smith got a “C” on a college paper that outlined the $54 billion idea. His professor called it unrealistic — the market would prove him wrong.
Fred Smith, founder of FedEx, famously wrote a college term paper at Yale outlining a radical idea: an overnight commercial air delivery service. His professor reportedly gave it a “C”, calling the concept unrealistic.

The safety pin: the only DIY tool every Indian mom uses to solve all household problems.
Safety pins hold a special place in every Indian home. Indian moms would choose a safety pin over a Swiss Army knife any day. It’s not just a tool, it’s the foundation of Indian jugaad.

The bond market may hold the power to dethrone kings, but its timing is impossible to predict. Finance runs on Newton’s logic until Darwin interrupts.
Global debt has soared to $325 trillion, with the U.S. government alone accounting for $36 trillion. Have you ever wondered why the debt-to-GDP ratio keeps rising?

Cash is King, but the Bond Market has the power to topple the King.
The United States' debt-to-GDP ratio has surpassed 100% and is set to increase by another 15% over the next 12 months.

From teaching finance to needing it: Harvard University’s wake-up call. There are lessons here for you, me, and every CXO.
Reading Harvard Business School (HBS) case studies taught me about business and finance in my MBA. The irony is unmistakable: HBS's current crisis would make for a compelling HBS case study.

Bragging, Reputation, Brand, and PR: What’s the difference and why it matters.
Bragging: Grateful and honoured to be recognized among this year’s “40 over 40 Best Dishwasher Loaders”.

“Never do what I do, but always do what I say”. Paradoxical lessons from Warren Buffett—taught over 65 years of market mastery.
Since 1965, Berkshire Hathaway has delivered an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20%, compared to 10% from the S&P 500. Yet, the advice Buffett offers the average investor often contradicts his actions.

The greatest scientific mind in history lost money in the Stock Market. What can you learn from that?
Now, consider what Newton achieved working alone:
1. Laws of Motion
2. Law of Gravity
3. Universal Law of Gravitation

A funny story, or a joke that doesn't age, is wisdom. One such true story was narrated by Steve Jobs back in 1983.
Jobs recounted a conversation he had with an elderly gentleman who was about 80 years old and had worked for AT&T.