Twenty observations....from the world's youngest forty year old..
1. God exists....for sure. What or who else could explain all the joys and wonders of life. Believe in God. You never go wrong.
2. Unconditional Love can only come from your own parents. God Bless you Papa and Mummy with the longest life.
3. An elder sister that tells everybody around her about a wonderful brother...I am sure we are all blessed with Great elder sisters. Mine is special.
4. A wonderful wife and a houseful of chirpy cheeky babies. I certainly got all of them. Hold on to them and support them. Be the Rooster. You get back to a WARM HOME everyday.
5. Grandparents are God's helpers and the world's greatest teachers (and they do not give you homework !). I miss mine. Spend the most time with them while they are with us.
6. Your Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, nephews, nieces....They make sure you want to come home for Christmas every year. Pray for them. They have all the nicest stories you want to hear.
7. In-laws. Thank them and pray for all in-laws. They certainly help with Point 4 above !! (Sure did work for me).
8. Best friend....never had one. Had MANY as life progressed. But the one I remember the most is my best friend from Class 6 (I was 11 then) who cried (still remember that day) when my teacher decided to change the seating arrangement and I had to move two benches ahead. Thank you Best Friends...you all know who you are.
9. Good Friends....Blessed with more than I could imagine. And even more blessed that technology has kept us together. And truly honored that in the last five years, I have been able to meet 90% of you on my trips and reunion parties. Stay Safe and Keep in touch.
10. My teachers...Thank you. You have the most difficult jobs. Someday the Governments will recognize this and reward you for your commitment. Continue teaching...Our kids need you.
11. Bosses...average of 1 per year in my 15 year marketing career. 2 truly great ones. 3 terrible ones. But hey...I am in someone's list of terrible bosses...can't complain. Thank you
12. Starting a business...been there ..done that. Succeeded in some, failed miserably in some. But the tough learnings out of all of them....cash flow is all that matters !! (and of course...don't start a business that you want to sell or shut down in a year's time).
13. Investing (Lucky 13th observation). It takes you ages to figure out what really works. Once you get there, stick with the winning formula and don't go back to your nasty habits. Buy a big piggy bank for your kids and a bigger one for yourself. If it ain't returning more than what you are paying for it - SELL IT.
14. Travelling...I have been blessed on this front. So finally those people who ask me why I rate Singapore - World's 7th best city....thats because cochin, bombay, sydney, barcelona, london and amsterdam all come ahead. sorry folks, remember these are my observations !! :)
15. Food. I am a foodie - period. If a billion Chinese can eat it...it is probably safe. If 30 million malayalis can digest it, then you need to try it. The Best Karimeen fry is made at my home in Cochin. Mondys for beer with friends - I would sell my car for it (I certainly will have to to fly all my friends and myself from far flung places). Indo Chinese from last night's takeaway....mmm. Biryani - the one with real mutton. Oh My Gawd... Beer - Belgian Dark for sure. Pav Bhaji - the one outside St. Xaviers college - Bombay. Cutting chai - certainly at Dadar chowpatty with IHM friends...Mutton Chaps outside the Clarkes Lucknow and Aloo Parathas with Amul butter and achar on the Varanasi Lucknow highway, the maharaj who cooked dal bhati in Maulasar - God Bless him, Medu Vada at Woodlands - 7 please...:) .....when is my next trip to India.....
16. Movies. Have not been watching enough lately. Forrest Gump, Casino, Once upon a time in NY....the list could go on. Still wondering how SRK is a superstar.
17. Music...Have gone back to LPs and hoping all my friends listening to music on I-whatever follow my advice. Thank you Spotify....please beat the s..t out of I-tunes. Sorry Steve. Boys of Summer (Don Henley - Live version) certainly has to be greatest song. ...oops sorry..just to remind you....see point 14.
18. Respect. Elders who have worked hard and need rest in their old age. And people that are wise (and willing to pass on that wisdom). Talented folks. I have a lot to learn from you all.
19. Success...is truly what you define for yourself. You know when you have reached there. Trying to get there !!
20. Coming soon.....The Brand Managers. My resolution for 2012.
If you have reached this point.....thank you and God bless.
1. God exists....for sure. What or who else could explain all the joys and wonders of life. Believe in God. You never go wrong.
2. Unconditional Love can only come from your own parents. God Bless you Papa and Mummy with the longest life.
3. An elder sister that tells everybody around her about a wonderful brother...I am sure we are all blessed with Great elder sisters. Mine is special.
4. A wonderful wife and a houseful of chirpy cheeky babies. I certainly got all of them. Hold on to them and support them. Be the Rooster. You get back to a WARM HOME everyday.
5. Grandparents are God's helpers and the world's greatest teachers (and they do not give you homework !). I miss mine. Spend the most time with them while they are with us.
6. Your Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, nephews, nieces....They make sure you want to come home for Christmas every year. Pray for them. They have all the nicest stories you want to hear.
7. In-laws. Thank them and pray for all in-laws. They certainly help with Point 4 above !! (Sure did work for me).
8. Best friend....never had one. Had MANY as life progressed. But the one I remember the most is my best friend from Class 6 (I was 11 then) who cried (still remember that day) when my teacher decided to change the seating arrangement and I had to move two benches ahead. Thank you Best Friends...you all know who you are.
9. Good Friends....Blessed with more than I could imagine. And even more blessed that technology has kept us together. And truly honored that in the last five years, I have been able to meet 90% of you on my trips and reunion parties. Stay Safe and Keep in touch.
10. My teachers...Thank you. You have the most difficult jobs. Someday the Governments will recognize this and reward you for your commitment. Continue teaching...Our kids need you.
11. Bosses...average of 1 per year in my 15 year marketing career. 2 truly great ones. 3 terrible ones. But hey...I am in someone's list of terrible bosses...can't complain. Thank you
12. Starting a business...been there ..done that. Succeeded in some, failed miserably in some. But the tough learnings out of all of them....cash flow is all that matters !! (and of course...don't start a business that you want to sell or shut down in a year's time).
13. Investing (Lucky 13th observation). It takes you ages to figure out what really works. Once you get there, stick with the winning formula and don't go back to your nasty habits. Buy a big piggy bank for your kids and a bigger one for yourself. If it ain't returning more than what you are paying for it - SELL IT.
14. Travelling...I have been blessed on this front. So finally those people who ask me why I rate Singapore - World's 7th best city....thats because cochin, bombay, sydney, barcelona, london and amsterdam all come ahead. sorry folks, remember these are my observations !! :)
15. Food. I am a foodie - period. If a billion Chinese can eat it...it is probably safe. If 30 million malayalis can digest it, then you need to try it. The Best Karimeen fry is made at my home in Cochin. Mondys for beer with friends - I would sell my car for it (I certainly will have to to fly all my friends and myself from far flung places). Indo Chinese from last night's takeaway....mmm. Biryani - the one with real mutton. Oh My Gawd... Beer - Belgian Dark for sure. Pav Bhaji - the one outside St. Xaviers college - Bombay. Cutting chai - certainly at Dadar chowpatty with IHM friends...Mutton Chaps outside the Clarkes Lucknow and Aloo Parathas with Amul butter and achar on the Varanasi Lucknow highway, the maharaj who cooked dal bhati in Maulasar - God Bless him, Medu Vada at Woodlands - 7 please...:) .....when is my next trip to India.....
16. Movies. Have not been watching enough lately. Forrest Gump, Casino, Once upon a time in NY....the list could go on. Still wondering how SRK is a superstar.
17. Music...Have gone back to LPs and hoping all my friends listening to music on I-whatever follow my advice. Thank you Spotify....please beat the s..t out of I-tunes. Sorry Steve. Boys of Summer (Don Henley - Live version) certainly has to be greatest song. ...oops sorry..just to remind you....see point 14.
18. Respect. Elders who have worked hard and need rest in their old age. And people that are wise (and willing to pass on that wisdom). Talented folks. I have a lot to learn from you all.
19. Success...is truly what you define for yourself. You know when you have reached there. Trying to get there !!
20. Coming soon.....The Brand Managers. My resolution for 2012.
If you have reached this point.....thank you and God bless.
1 comment:
Well said, Neil. I truly believe in positive reaffirmations of all the wonderful things that life brings us.
Many of your personal observations sum up to one word: Love. :) Love your family, your friends, your life, and your work fully and whole-heartedly, and give of yourself fully and without hesitation. :)
Post a Comment