Life : A form of street-smart business

Gone are the days when people trusted their friends more than themselves. Gone are the days when people genuinely wanted to help someone in pain. These days if someone offers help, be assured that 90% chances are that he’s there for fulfilling one of his ulterior motives. After spending 22 years in this world, I’ve finally reached a conclusion : The best way to live life is to take it as a form of business. In a business setup, one needs to be alert 24 X 7. Same is the case in your personal life. The moment you lose guard, you would be doomed by someone or the other.

During my childhood days, I was taught to help others and to ensure that there was no pain or suffering around me. In short, I was taught to be a ‘good human being’. When I stepped into the real world as a teenager, I tried to apply these learnings and principles with a hope that I was doing something good for everyone on a whole. But little did I know that there were animals in the form of human beings waiting out there to latch on to the slightest bit of opportunity. After repeated emotional slaps, I realized that this may not really be the wisest way to live. I decided to change the way I approached situations and people. I decided that before performing an action I would try and ensure that I don’t lose anything in the process. But at the heart of it all, there still existed an innocent kid who had no clue about the selfish world out there. As a result despite numerous tries, I always ended up losing much more than I gained. The intention used to be honest, but the result used to portray me as a dishonest individual.

As time passed by, gusts of harsh winds in the form of selfishness made repeated attempts at changing my thought process. Every now and then I could hear an inner voice telling me “You are a fool. These people would destroy you. Change for your own good else you would be doomed..” Finally after numerous attempts, the voice started making an impact on me. I gradually started to change and now when I finally look back, I feel proud that I made the right decision. Every single incident that happens these days, further vindicates the fact that the ones who think of themselves ahead of others, are the ones who would succeed. At times I still miss that innocent kid who could never think negative about others. But at the back of my mind there’s a sense of satisfaction of having achieved much more than what the innocent kid could have managed.

There are numerous forms of business. Some corrupt, some with very honest intentions and some really ’street-smart’. Corporations that have adopted the third category have been the most successful ones. Same is the case in our personal lives. One needs to be ’street-smart’ to be successful in life. At least thats what I feel at 22.

• A street-smart individual knows whats good for him.
• Knows how to get things done. Talks less and does more.
• Never reveals his intentions and plans.
• Is not an emotional fool but knows how to distinguish between genuine and ulterior emotions.
• Wont harm others but if need arises, would be willing to cover that extra mile to make sure his position is safe.
• Is fast and accurate at the same time. Doesn’t waste time cribbing about his past, rather he’s quick in safeguarding his future.
• Is always on the lookout for something more out of life. You won’t find him satisfied with life.
• Forgets disappointments in a flash and moves ahead instantly.
• Understands the necessity of being practical and is willing to create his own rules if need arises.

Thats quite a list, isn’t it? But then in today’s complicated world, you need to constantly work hard on yourself in order to be ahead of the rest. If you are willing to do so, you end up being one of those whom the world labels ‘cool’. If not, then better pack your bags and try finding the path to the mountains and woods.

Technology transition – An experience of a decade..

A couple of days back, I was sitting in a coffee shop waiting for a friend of mine, so that I could hand over a ‘4 GB’ thumb-drive to her. It contained a few heavy-duty softwares and docs that she had asked for. Just then I recollected a few glimpses of my past. Around 8 years back, as a 14 year old when I got my first PC (4 GB disk-space, 32 MB RAM), I was feeling on top of the world. Those days such specs were considered to be high-end in the personal computer market and when I used to think about the PC’s we had at school (2 GB disk-space and 16 MB RAM), I used to feel very proud of the one I had. On the contrary, here I was holding a 2 inch device boasting of storage space similar to what my huge PC had. Suddenly I realised that I belonged to a generation of people who had seen technology change in a big way but in a very short span of time.

I started thinking about how technology had changed the way we go about our day-to-day lives. Being a music buff, I couldn’t stay away from my walkman which used to play cassettes comprising of only 12 music tracks at max and now here I was holding a Nokia N70 ME in hands, one which has a 1 GB extended memory, can store thousands of mp3’s, provides crystal clear sound quality and what more..is basically used to communicate. Mind you..even a mobile phone was a rarity in the late 90’s.

Those days my PC vendor used to advise me to switch on the air conditioner while working on the computer else the PC could get over-heated….and now, I roam around with my laptop and don’t think twice before switching it on irrespective of the working conditions.

Those days, the internet had just started picking up pace and getting a connection was a hell of a task. You had those dial-up connections whose pre-requisites where never-ending…a telephone device, those never-ending wires and hooks, etc. Contrary to that, I now move around with a wireless internet datacard, handy 24X7. And guess what, in case it doesn’t work, I have a backup option as well….my GPRS enabled cellphone. Spoilt for choice?? May be yes, but yet we are not satisfied.

Talking of technology or the lack of it, how can one forget those never ending queues at the bank or flight booking counters..these days its all done online at the click of a button. Simple, isn’t it?

Well one could just go on talking endlessly about how technology has revolutionized our personal lives. A decade back, it would have been really difficult to imagine something even close to this and the same can be said about what the situation would be 10 years from now. No one really knows and thats how it should be. After all, if we had an answer to our future, why would we need a human brain to come up these unbelievable technological wonders. At least for my sake, I would love to be seated in a coffee shop 8 years from now, pondering over how technology has changed my life and I’m sure that would be an even more astonishing experience.

Ashutosh Didwania