How to restraint from being a member of CLUB 99

​Once upon a time, there lived a King who, despite his luxurious lifestyle, was neither happy nor content.

One day, the King came upon a servant who was singing happily while he worked. This fascinated the King; why was he, the Supreme Ruler of the Land, unhappy and gloomy, while a lowly servant had so much joy.

The King asked the servant, 'Why are you so happy?'

The man replied, 'Your Majesty, I am nothing but a servant, but my family and I don't need too much - just a roof over our heads and warm food to fill our tummies.'

The king was not satisfied with that reply. Later in the day, he sought the advice of his most trusted advisor. After hearing the King's woes and the servant's story, the advisor said, 'Your Majesty, I believe that the servant Has not been made part of The 99 Club.'

'The 99 Club? And what exactly is that?' the King inquired.

The advisor replied, 'Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is, place 99 Gold coins in a bag and leave it at this servant's doorstep.'

When the servant saw the bag, he took it into his house. When he opened the bag, he let out a great shout of joy... So many gold coins!

He began to count them. After several counts, he was at last convinced that there were 99 coins. He wondered, 'What could've happened to that last gold coin? Surely, no one would leave 99 coins!'

He looked everywhere he could, but that final coin was elusive. Finally, exhausted he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to earn that gold coin and complete his collection.

From that day, the servant's life was changed. He was overworked, horribly grumpy, and castigated his family for not helping him make that 100th gold coin. He stopped singing while he worked.

Witnessing this drastic transformation, the King was puzzled. When he sought his advisor's help, the advisor said, 'Your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Club.'

He continued, 'The 99 Club is a name given to those people who have enough to be happy but are never contented, because they're always yearning and Striving for that extra 1, saying to themselves: 'Let me get that one final thing and then I will be happy for life.' We can be happy, even with very little in our lives, but the minute we're given something bigger and better, we want even more! We lose our sleep, our happiness, we hurt the people around us; all these as a price for our growing needs and desires.

Same is the situation with most of the investors, they are also engaged in converting 99 to hundred, without knowing they might need much lesser then that.

Financial planning is a big eye opener and will help you to avoid being an member of CLUB 99 and help you to live your life happily.

Increase your Happiness index together with wealth

Had opportunity to watch a fantastic movie this weekend named "Lunch Box" there were lot of good things about the movie. But I would like to share just one of the term they referred to i.e Gross National Happiness.

Every country in the world is running towards improving their Gross National product. But what if we get together and concentrate on improving Gross National Happiness. Interesting to know there is a country seating in our neighbor having population half of my city i.e Vadodara has done that. I am talking of Bhutan. YES Bhutan.

Gross national happiness resides in the belief  that the key to happiness is to be found, once basic material needs have been met, in emotional and spiritual growth. The concept of Gross National Happiness accordingly rejects the nation that there is a direct and unambiguous relationship between wealth and happiness. If such a relationship existed, it would follow that those in the richest countries should be the happiest in the world. We know that this is not the case. This marginal increase has also been accompanied by the growth of many social problems as well as such phenomena as stress-related diseases as well as suicides, surely the very antithesis of happiness. 

Bhutan seeks to establish a happy society, where people are safe, where everyone is guaranteed a decent livelihood, and where people enjoy universal access to good education and health care. It is a society where there is no pollution or violation of the environment, where there is no aggression and war, where inequalities do not exist, and where cultural values get strengthened everyday. A happy society is not a fatalistic society, but is built on hope and aspirations. It is also a more equal and compassionate society, where sharing and contentment come out of a positive sense of community feeling. A happy society is one where people enjoy freedoms, where there is no oppression, where art, music, dance, drama, and culture flourish.

We all are running without knowing where we need to reach. Specially our leaders they have never set and looked at how much money they would require to lead a most luxurious life which includes inheriting big chunk for their next generation. If they would do that exercise corruption figure will get down to some hundred crores from lakhs of crores.

Financial planner can contribute a lot to increase your level of happiness by making you aware about your future needs and goals. They lay down a plan to achieve your goals according to your risk profile, they secure your family's future. A clear vision, backed by definite plan, gives you a tremendous feeling of confidence and personal power. When you are confident about future financially, you become more happier and less greedy, which helps in giving quality time to family. I am of the belief that if we are happy and satisfied we make people around us more happier and a reason for happier society. We avoid doing unethical work.

Just think of the day when you got good bonus or an excellent salary hike. What is the first thing you do its share that happiness with your family you wont mind giving a raise to your housemaid or your sweeper after that. A chain of happiness starts. Why we need to have reasons like bonus and raise to be happy. They are temporary, start looking for permanent reasons.

Just a advise to raise your happiness index and together with that of countries Gross happiness index consult your financial planner and plan you future.

Very relevant speech forwarded to me by one of my client of  Mr.Ratan Tata at Symbiosis.

Quote

"Don't just have career or academic goals.Set goals to give you a balanced,successful life.Balanced means ensuring your health, relationship,mental peace are all in good order. 

There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of breakup,

There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts,

Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

Don't take life seriously, Life is not meant to be taken seriously, as we are temporary here.

We are like prepaid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last for another 50 years and 50 years is just 2500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up?...it's OK, Bunk few classes, score low couple of papers, take leave from work, fall in love. fight a little with your spouse....it's ok... 

We are people not programmed devices...! "Don't be serious enjoy life as it comes" Unquote.     

To remain happy is in our hand and don't allow external factors to affect it. Be happy and try to make people happier around you. Donate generously to less privileged, help others, take good care of environment.