365 Exciting Ways to Live! Excitement #81 - Practice Austerity

Practice Austerity

Wealth consists not in having great possessions but in having few wants.

 Epicurus

Austerity is an important quality to be developed. Money is a valuable resource which should not be squandered away. These days everything is becoming dearer. It is wiser to save one rupee than to earn five rupees!  We live in a “world of temptations” where the media is so powerful that anyone can make out a case that their product is essential for us. Every day a new mobile phone with tempting features hits the market with jazzy media advertisement tempting you to buy.

One of my relative who has been living in the United States for the past six years in a fairly decent senior position tells me that he has been managing comfortably with one car, one cycle and one mobile phone! He says that he doesn’t have more than six pairs of dress. What is even more interesting about his claim is the fact that in the United States, the temptation to spend is very high!

Over this weekend, critically audit your basic need and check if you need all those gadgets, which are in your pending buying list!

Spend less, save more and live happily! 

(From my book '365 Exciting Ways to Live')
NC Sridharan
www.thetimefoundation.com
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'Mindscaping' for career building 57

'Mindscaping'  for career building 57

'All of the top achievers I know are life-long learners....Looking for new skills, insights, and ideas. If they are not learning, they're not growing....not moving toward excellence'

Dennis Waitley

Couple of days ago a  middle level executive came to me for personal counselling. He was looking very dull and upset. He said he is disappointed that he has not been promoted for the past three years and his salary is also stagnant. He was blaming his boss and his organisation.

I asked him what is his qualification, skill set, experience etc. He explained the same. Then I asked him as to how long he has been having the same skill set and knowledge. He said that it has not changed over the past nearly five years!

We were sitting in my office in the first floor and there is a second floor to my office. I gave him an exercise: he should go to the second floor, but he should use the same steps he used to come to the first floor! He was confused, laughed and asked me how is possible to go to the second floor by climbing the same steps he used to come to the first floor!

I explained to him that the analogy is relevant to his problem. He cannot go to the next level with the same education, skill set and experience which got him to the present position!

Do you agree?

NC Sridharan

 www.thetimefoundation.com

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