Living on Less

A value that I learned very early in life, one that I have almost practiced to the extreme, is that if you know early on how to live on less, you will handle it with flying colors when you have more.

The thought first crossed me when my mom (then a junior professor in college) used to go from our hometown to her college in another town daily in crowded intercity buses over a good part of 20 years. She could clearly afford more but believed otherwise.

Then I learnt in a variety of stories how great industrial houses brought up their next generation humbly, both professionally and personally, so that they understand the value of less. I also read about Gandhi’s values. Of living simply, travelling miserly and making that the value of his life. Clearly, they could have all chosen otherwise. And when all of them took centre stage, they became torch bearers.

Further, when my fascination grew up with sports, I saw the same value amply. One of my biggest fascinations then was the story of the Kalenji tribe of Kenya. A group of not more than 4-5 million people; they have dominated world distance running for the last 5 decades, to the extent that >70% of Kenya’s medalists are from the same group, and Kenya wins a majority anyways. They practice in high altitude, sparse oxygen, hilly inclines and tough terrains. With very little coaching, scientific methods and hardly any dietary control. But once hunted out from the pack by authorities and given all the amenities, global athletics is but a breeze for them.

At OfBusiness, I see many practicing this value, more apprenticed by one another. One can afford much more but chooses less, especially early on. The organization also chooses to give less early on. But when hunted out and given all amenities, they rise like no other.

Read more from CEO speaks Column:-
– Life begins when you want to
– 3’s Power