The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Some points I liked about this book and which I feel are something I should think about later are given below:

 

1.     Anybody out there who is a parent, if your kids want to paint their bedrooms, as a favor to me, let them do it. It'll be OK. Don't worry about resale value on the house

2.     You always have to bring something to the table. Only then are you welcome.

3.     You have got to get the fundamentals down as the fancy stuff is not going to work.

4.     Instilling self esteem in children – Give them something that they can't do, they work hard until they find they can do it, and you just keep repeating the process.

5.     Important things – Teamwork, perseverance, sportsmanship, the value of hard work, an ability to deal with adversity

6.     I don't believe in the no-win scenario

7.     Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something

8.     Start by sitting together

a.     Meet people properly

b.     Find things you have in common

c.     Try for optimal meeting conditions

d.     Let everyone talk

e.     Check egos at the door

f.     Praise each other

g.     Phrase alternatives not questions – "I think we should do A, not B" should be re-phrased as "What if we did A, instead of B"

9.     Almost everyone has a good side. Just keep waiting. It will come out.

10.   When it comes to men who are romantically interested in you, just ignore everything they say and only pay attention to what they do.

11.   Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity

12.   Experience is what you get when you did not get what you wanted.

13.   Get people's attention

14.   Use "Thank You" notes liberally

15.   The best short-cut is the long way – Work Hard

16.   Give people gifts.

17.   When giving an apology, any performance less than an "A" doesn't count

18.   You should have a contingency plan when all hell breaks loose.

19.   He said he'd prefer that I worked hard and became the best ditch-digger in the world rather than coasting along as a self-impressed elitist behind a desk

20.  If you want something bad enough, never give up (and take a boost when given)

Cash Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki

Cash Quadrant

 

E  | B

__|__

S |  I

   |

 

E – Employee

B – Own Business

S – Self Employed

I  - Investor

 

E – Job Security, Benefits

S – Money not most important thing. Then independence, the freedom to do things their way, to be respected as experts in their field, are much more important than mere money. Hire them, tell them what you want and leave them alone. No need to supervise.

 

Defn of wealth – The # of days you can survive, without physically working (or anyone else in your household physically working) and still maintain your standard of living

 

4 kinds of investors:

1. Risk Averse
2. Turn to Fund Managers
3. Gamblers
4. Investors

 

Focus on investments; Don't diversify.

 

"True investors welcomes volatility"

 

Business is about people and systems.

 

To be successful, learn to

1. Handle rejection
2. Lead people

Rich Dad Poor Dad - Robert Kiyosaki & Sharon Lechter

Several interesting ideas in this book.

 

I don't work for money. Money works for me.

 

Never say - "I can't afford it". Say - "How can I afford it?"

 

Money is one form of power. What is more powerful is financial education. Money  comes and goes, but if you have the education about how money works, you gain power over it and begin building wealth.

 

6 lessons:

 

    The rich don't work for money

    Why teach financial literacy

    Mind your own business

    The history of taxes and the power of corporations

    The rich invent money

    Work to learn - don't work for money

 

The rich don't work for money

 

The main cause for poverty or financial struggle is fear and ignorance, not the government, not the economy or the rich. Its self inflicted fear and ignorance that keeps people trapped.

 

We had learned to have money work for us. By not getting paid for work at the store, we were forced to use our imaginations to identify opportunities to make money. By starting our own business, the comic book library, we were in control of our own finances, not dependant on an employer. The best part was that our business generated money for us, even when we were not physically there. Our money worked for us.

 

Why teach financial literacy?

 

The rich buy assets. The poor only have expenses. The middle class buy liabilities they think are assets.

 

Mind your own business

 

We spend our lifetimes minding someone else's business and making them rich.

 

Maintain your day job and start collecting assets. Real assets fall in several categories.

Businesses that do not require my presence. I own them, but they are managed and run by other people. If I have to work there, it is not a business. It becomes a job

    Stocks

    Bonds

    Mutual Funds

    Income generating real estate

    Notes (IOUs)

    Royalties from intellectual properties

    Anything else that has a value, produces income or appreciates and has a ready market

 

Rich make money when the deal is made.

The Master Key to Riches - Napolean Hill - Part 3

How to acquire a Definite Major Purpose

1. Write out a complete, clear and definite statement of your MAJOR PURPOSE IN LIFE, sign it and commit it to memory; then repeat it orally at least once a day, more often if practicable. Repeat it over and over, thus pplacing back of your purpose all of your faith in Infinite Intelligence

2. Write out a clear, definite plan by which you intend to begin the attainment of the object of your DEFINITE MAJOR PURPOSE. In this plan state the maximum time allowed for the attainment of your purpose, and describe precisely what you intend to give in return for the realization of your purpose, remembering that there is no such reality as something for nothing, and that everything has a proce which must be paid in advance in one form or another.

3. Make your plan flexible enough to permit changes at any time you are inspired to do so. Remember that Infinite Intelligence, which operates in every atom of matter and in every living or inanimate thing, may present you with a plan far superior to any you can create. Therefore be ready at all times to recognize and adopt any superior plan that may be presented to your mind.

4. Keep your MAJOR PURPOSE and your plans for attaining it strictly to yourself except insofar as you will receive additional instructions for carrying out your plan.

The Master Key to Riches - Napolean Hill - Part 2

The princes of guidance:

The idea is to express gratitude to these elements

1. Material prosperty
2. Sound Physical Health
3. Peace of Mind
4. Hope
5. Faith
6. Love
7. Romance
8. Overall Wisdom

The Master Key to Riches - Napolean Hill - Part1

The 12 riches of life

1. A positive mental attitude
2. Sound physical health
3. Harmony in human relationships
4. Freedom from fear
5. Hope achievement
6. The capacity for faith
7. Willingness to share one's blessings
8. A labor of love
9. An open mind on all subjects
10. Self discipline
11. The capacity to understand people
12. Economic security

Seven basic fears:
1. Poverty
2. Criticism
3. Ill health
4. Loss of love
5. Loss of liberty
6. Old age
7. Death

9 basic motives of life
1. The emotion of love
2. The emotion of sex
3. The desire for Material Gain
4. The desire for Self Preservation
5. The desire for Freedom of body & mind
6. The desire for Self expression
7. The desire for perpetuation of life after death
8. The emotion of anger
9. The emotion of fear

Grace by Richard Paul Evans

I would - Grace Webb

If only i could shine in your life as you have in mine, I would,
If only i could love you as deeply as you have loved me, I would,
If only i could heal your heart as you have healed mine, I would,
If only i could lead you to God as you have led me, I would,
If only i could give you the hope that you have given me, I would,

If only i could stay with you forever, I would.

This is the poem written by Grace in the novel for Eric in her diary.

This was a very touching novel. I picked it up quite by accident thinking it would give me some "Godly" gyan on life (yes.. i always search for stuff like this when i am onsite.. queer isn't it?). It was very touching in the sense, it touched that corner of me that still believes in romance, unblemished love, the ideal kind of love rather.. the teenage kind of idealized love.. the kind of love that borders on worship. (My diverging mind tells me this brings us to two kinds of people - people who conquer love and people who give out completely to love.)

Brings to my mind the feelings i experienced when i watched "Kizhakku Vasal" (Karthik & Khusboo - 1990 - Tamil) and what amma said about the lovers in "Ek Duje ke liye".

This book is a quick read and covers a child abuse. I feel this will touch anybody ,who is a bit of a romantic, in a very moving way.