deep thoughts

We were discussing some of our childhood friends today morning over breakfast; appreciating how some of them earned their education in spite of extreme financial hardships. Back in my junior high school (grades 7 ~ 9) days, we had a large spread between the rich and the poor guys in my class. Some kids came from very affluent backgrounds and enjoyed huge houses and expensive vehicles, while some could barely afford to buy backpacks, text books, and other school supplies. Over the years, most of the kids studied hard and almost everyone has managed some kind of a degree/diploma in their field of choice. From the point of view of my current perception of *rich* and *poor*, almost all of them are doing very well. The average financial well-being at present is at a much higher level than the average financial well-being back in our junior high class. Generally, I have observed the largest visible difference occurred with the financial situation of the poorer kids (of course, there are exceptions to this). The graph below might convey my thoughts in a better way. It’s a very crude graph (like, not all kids ended up with the same level of education), but it does reflect reality to some extent.

I also think that education was largely responsible for the reduction in the spread of the *financial well-being* that you see in the graph above. Though we came from different financial backgrounds, education provided us with almost equal opportunities when we later started thinking in terms of becoming financially independent. It sort of raised us all to a common level without discriminating between the rich and the poor. In other words, it sort of acted as a leveler. Have you observed something similar? Do you know of any other economic levelers that might be in play…but something that we may have never *observed*? Just some food for thought on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

Learn about Finance & Economics degrees from Walden University, Capella University, and Baker College

There is this obscure movie released in 2006 with the title “Friends With Money“. We wouldn’t have watched it if it were not for the icy cold weather and two extra days of holiday with nothing better to do. Based on the reviews, I wouldn’t have watched it anyways; but from the cover, it seemed like a chick flick and my wife wanted to watch it, plus it has something to do with money. So long story short, we watched the movie.

I won’t talk about the cast and the so-so acting stuff, you can read it up in the reviews. What I would like to talk about are a couple of subtle issues that the movie raises. Below are some of the questions that the movie raises (in fact you can get a glimpse of these questions in this movie trailer). Man.. I would love to have you guys answer these:

1. You have a lot of money planned for charitable donations. At some point of time you are suddenly informed that one of your good friends is in trouble with his/her finances. What would you do? Go ahead with the charity? Or help your friend first?
2. Now, consider yourself as the friend-in-financial-trouble, you know that one of your rich friends is planning to donate $2 million to charity, would you ask him/her to help through your financial troubles?
3. In the movie there are a few instances in which Olivia’s (Aniston) boyfriend keeps following her into the houses she cleans, does diddly squad, and then with a straight face, asks her for his “share” for “helping” her out. Apparently he is rich (makes like $75 an hour) but still asks none the less. What would be your reaction if your boyfriend/girlfriend did this to you?
4. If you were an incredibly rich guy/girl, and at some point of time you hired a maid to clean your house, would you haggle with her to reduce her charges from $50 to $40?
5. In your opinion, would you have a better sex life if you had more money? In other words, would you be more “connected” with your spouse/partner if you had more money? (is this profound or what? )

Think over these for a while.

I will be glad to know your answers, but I understand that it’s personal stuff so it’s alright if you don’t leave a comment. The purpose of this post is just to raise these issues in your head….may be you will face them yourself someday..who knows.

Watch this flick if you get a chance. I won’t recommend it as a “great” movie, but I would certainly recommend it as a “thoughtful” movie. Just don’t expect too much of thrill in this one (it’s pretty dry).

Here is some food for thought on a lazy weekend.

This applies to any “project” we undertake. We work hard on those finishing touches, we make sure that there are no mistakes anywhere, we work and rework certain aspects of it till we are “satisfied”, we spend disproportionately large amount of efforts during the final moments of a project, we want to make sure everything is “perfect”.

What is driving us? Perfection or insecurity?

Here is an excerpt from the play “The Merchant of Venice” by William Shakespeare. Shylock, the merchant, puts forth this proposal to Antonio who is desperately seeking a loan from Shylock.

This kindness will I show.
Go with me to a notary, seal me there
Your single bond; and, in a merry sport,
If you repay me not on such a day,
In such a place, such sum or sums as are
Express’d in the condition, let the forfeit
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me.

For those who haven’t seen the play, or the movie, or read a book about it, Antonio readily agrees to this bond (!).

What makes him do this? In our language, he has read the “fine print” and understands what that means, and yet he agress to the debt, signs the bond, and almost looses his heart (literally) over it.

We all get into such deals at times, with a subsequent reaction “What was I thinking?”. We know the dangers involved in the deal, but the impulse is just too great to resist. We give ourselves false hopes that everything will work in our favor, and don’t think about what will happen if things go wrong. In short, impulse blinds our foresight and reason.

Fortunately, Antonio luckily had some clever friends who came to his rescue (in the nick of time). But unfortunately, our life is not a play and we may not be as lucky.
Think about this when you get some time. Who (or what) was responsible for the situation?

I will elaborate on some related issues in our life in a forthcoming post.
By the way, there is a 2004 movie that goes by the title of the play, starring Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Lynn Collins…very well made. The soundtrack by Jocelyn Pook is worth a ear.

I have been in a contemplative mood all day…and hence the post.

Some of you may have observed a scene similar to this. A person comes running from somewhere and appears to be in the utmost hurry. He will press on one of those the elevator buttons with up/down arrows on them. Within the next 5 seconds, he will press on the button again..and then again..and then again….as if the elevator is intelligent enough to understand his urgency.

Don’t we all act that way sometimes?..may be not with respect to elevators, but with other situations in life.

[Image source: www.goodexperience.com]