Just before my birthday a couple of years back, I rent out my city
apartment in Bangalore and moved to my new abode in the outskirts – away from
active city life and the maddening hustle bustle.
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| View from my Village Home |
A year after that, I abandoned my corporate status. The idea was
sabbatical, rejuvenation, soul searching; community initiative, traveling India,
multiple visits to my home town or whatever the thought that was lingering in
my mind then- is beside the point now. I wanted to explore more. Period!
A few months before settling to my laid back life style in the semi
urban zone, I wrapped up my clothes boutique that was operational for over five
years – much to the disappointment of my clients and retailers across the two
cities I frequented – Home and work place.
I did not look at my bank statements to assure myself how long I can
afford this luxury. I had a vague outline though, a rough draft in my mind
regarding what I need to do next – Not to step foot in that corridor again that
lead to a machine to punch your arrival and departure. I was done with daily time
frames, for life.
Today, when I am strolling through a fair in Kolkata and shopping
handicrafts on a weekday or boarding an early morning train for a spontaneous
trip to Mayapur, it raises a few brows. They wonder if I am still in that
travel mode, reckless and irresponsible about my finances and future.
Talking about finances and future reminds me to mention, recently when
a relative visited us with his family, his daughter working for a leading IT company casually commented about how her father’s buying habits had drastically
changed after retirement - the most natural thought that crossed my mind was – even after four decades of service there is no financial security to afford an occasional
spending urge. Financial literacy is really not everyone’s cup of tea.
While I assist others explore income options both through our NGO and
my paid programs, exploit their potential, and discover additional earning streams
just the way I developed mine, what I do check at the very outset is their
financial literacy.
Most of us are conditioned to live with one source of income almost
all our lives, without the slightest inclination to even consider alternatives
or dare to be unconventional about livelihood. Little do they realize that it is
this dependence on one option that limits them, leading to stress and burnout. Some
success areas, no matter how fast you reach are just points of no return.
So you see I am doing a little more than just traveling. All I did was
switch my security factor, a conscious shift from job centric to income stream
centric to make the most of both – time and life
Should you encounter me in Oxford bookstore in Park Street, on a beach
in Pondicherry or cycling through lanes in Barrackpore, it will
look like just that – I am still on vacation. Yes I am and No I am not.
Confusing eh?
Program Highlights
- Simple flow chart to begin your enterprise: Ideas > Information > Inspiration > Income within 10 months.
- How to manage your business from different locales?
- How to build that motivation first to sustain in the entrepreneurial/ freelancing space?
- What works and what to avoid
Based on BECKON Framework, the evaluation and road map is first to
support your outcomes (personal aspirations) and then assist you to transfer
that to others, if you want to scale and build an enterprise.
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