Monday, August 31, 2009

Protect your goal

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Protect Your Goal.

"i want to start a business", the moment i came home in the evening after office i heard this from my (house) wife. The modulation of the voice and tone was good and firm. I said, "Wowww that's good. Which business you are going to do ?". I have also noticed the glow in my wife's face after my reaction. "See..my goal is to start a business and become very successful in that i have lots of business idea.." ( hmmm.. yesterday i was talking about Kiran mazumdhar that should have inspired her, i told to myself), she continued, "one of them is starting a small south Indian hotel". She also told, " you know i am now in a confusion, in fact i was waiting for you to come home and discuss about it". ( defintely i need a coffee.. i should ask in a right way and in a right moment.) I said, "That's Greaaattt idea, what is your confusion about ? where to start ??? ". she said, " No no no, i have decided the place.. but the confusion is about Veg hotel or Non Veg hotel.. ". ( Ooopps, God save me and my savings ). " Heey you are good in both right.. why not to have both huhh.. ? the discussion is very interesting i like it.. i am feeling energized you know..so let us have a coffee now.. if not snacks bring some biscuits..?? ( i am terribly hungry..). She brought me a nice coffee and good snacks mean while i was thinking about how to take this discussion forward and also do justice to my wife's wish.

I could notice that my wife was watching me curiously, while a deep thought process is going in my mind. She said, "Ok Ok first we will start with Veg only, don't think too much" (she was telling this and gave a proud look, as if she read my mind). I started slowly, “Ok that's fine, tell me honey why you want to start a business ?". (Now i am witnessing a radical change in facial reaction).

she: " why means.. i want to become successful business women..".
me: " hmm why you want to become successful business women ?? "
she: (with slight irritation) " come on it is obvious every one wants to become successful, now tell me, why cant i become successful business women ?"
me: " heey hey i am not telling that you can't become like that, but i trying to find out why do want to become so and you also should know why ?"
she: "It is always easy to ask question and criticize, why should i know why i want to become so ?
me: " Have you seen coconut, it has got many layers. The outer smoother layer exocarp, the next layer mesocarp is the fibrous husk which surrounds the next inner layer endocarp and endocarp surrounds the seed. Inside which you have sweet, white edible part of coconut."
she: " You think i don't know all these things "
me: " wait wait.. These outer layers are protecting the inner and most useful edible part. If you answer the "why" questions on your goal then you will get to the core which is real core meaning for the goal".
she: " Ok come on..i am ready. but i could guess you are practising something you have read from some book"
me: ( Ouch.. sometimes intelligent) " Ok , now take some time and try to answer why questions on your goal "
she: "Why take time, you can ask me ..now itself"
me: "TELL ME WHY YOU WANT DO THIS"
she: " i want to do this because i want to be successful business women "
me: " why you want to be successful business women ?"
she: " Assume my hotel business is successful, i will have lot of money and fame"
me: " why you want lot of money and fame ?
she: (Silent)
me: "Why you want to do hotel business ?"
she: "hmmmm i can cook tasty food.. , i know lots of variety foods. You know one of my idea is to conduct cookery show in TVs after i become famous"
me: " "then"
she: "i will have lot of money, i have independence to spent on whatever i like and especially i can talk unlimitedly over the phone with my family and friends. i need not have to check everyday the balance and restrict my talking time with them."
me: "So if i am correct the core of the idea of starting a business is to have unlimited talking hours with your family and friends."
she: *remained silent, that means accepting it.)

The main reason i want you to answer the why part of your goal is.

1. As the layers protecting the core coconut, the reasons will protect your goal against external & internal de motivations.

2. If you know why want to go and achieve the goal, you will not be confused to make choices in the turbulent times.

3. For example, take your goal if i tried to find out the reason by asking repeated why questions. we could see that you want to have unlimited talking hours with your family and friends and basically not restricted by my budget (though it is high). To start and become successful in any business you need to dedicate your time and energy towards it. I don't know how we are going to take care our kid if you start something like this. That is different issue. Assume that you are dedicated, giving all your energy and time for it, it takes at least few years to stabilize in a business and to become successful and earn lot of money ( which is your ultimate goal) it will take some more time.

She: so ?
me: you will not be able to spend time with your friends and family over the phone as your spending now, at least for minimum few years. Because you will be busy making the business success, right?? Is it ok?? Since you don’t know why you want to achieve this goal, the path to goal itself is not letting you achieve this goal.
she: hmm it will take years is it ??
me" " yes, it is definitely, you can cook tasty but have you cooked in scale ?? i can tolerate even if it is not so tasty but will your customers do ? Who are paying money ?
she: Yeah they will not.. but
me: how much money you need as a investment ?
she: may be 10 lakh initially...
me: "how much more time will you spend on phone if you achieve the goal ?"
she: "may be half an hour to one hour a day"
me: " that means 15 or 30 rs per day extra"
she: but monthly it will add thousand to your budget of 2000
me: how many thousands in 10 lakh.. 1000s OK

so finally the goal should be worth talking it.
She: good, if you wouldn't have asked "why questions", then i haven't yet prepared to take any such goals. (her face is not glowing now.. )
me: good .. Let’s have dinner outside come.


Many of us had or having many goals. Some of the goals we have dropped at some point in time to compromise something, some of them we left after realizing it is not worth taking it, and so on. But if we had clarity of vision and why we want to achieve the goals.. We definitely would have protected goals worth protecting it.

2 comments:

  1. Good composure Manivel... sorry Moneywell

    ReplyDelete
  2. This Bolg reminding me Ramgopal verma narrating story(Ofcource urs is real not reel):-). Thanks for sharing. I Notice couple of interesting things like "Right time asking Tea", "changing tone modulation", and peaceful conclusion.

    ReplyDelete

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