The Currency of a Family

I have been thinking about currencies other than money that run the world. We make the mistake of thinking of money as the only currency of the world. In recent months, I have been studying the economy of love and its quite staggering. This led me to observe other human transactions and ask - what is being exchanged here? 

So, what is the currency of a family? What is exchanged between members?

I think that the currency of a family is mutual respect and unselfish love. What we make in money is only important up to a point. Which is why we find so little correlation between happy, close-knit families and their earning status.

Once we understand this, so many things begin to make sense. 

This is the reason why the breadwinner concept is limited. We have taught ourselves that the breadwinner is someone whose sole contribution to the family is earning money. This leads to people in their 40s being lonely within their own families, unable to have conversations or form connections. What you bring in terms of money, what you do in terms of household work, are all important contributions. But they are not the currency of the family. 

The currency of the family is not the good house. It is the memories built in that house. If you are never there to build those memories, no exchange is possible. 

The currency is not the work of dishwashing. It is the conversations that happen while doing dishwashing. Which is why a parent and child who share chores will have a deeper bond than those who do things for their children. The chore is not the currency. The feeling of loving and being loved back. That is what is being exchanged. 

When a parent brings home something bought from their hard earned money, the currency is not the thing or the money used to buy it. The currency is the feeling of being loved enough that someone remembers to bring something you like, and the ability to reciprocate that love, because that reciprocation will be welcomed. 

This is why rich people have children who do not value the parents for their wealth. And super efficient mothers are surprised when they hear from their adult children - "But you were never THERE!" 

Once we understand the currency of a system (in this case, family), we are able to make meaningful exchanges that enrich everyone in the ecosystem. Because, as everyone knows, the more currency changes hands, the richer every one gets. :) 

Why do working parents feel unappreciated? 

It is not enough to make the sacrifice. The members must know that this is a sacrifice for you. This is where many working moms falter. They are forever in a mommy guilt trip, but they never share it with the family. So, the family does not realise that the parent is going through an inner turmoil. Likewise for the father who does not want to be away, but is. 

Thoughts?

My first published story

 Pahaadi Gaanv ka Iskool – Rashmi Bansal – India's Best Business Books Author

Am so kicked! 

Resource to look for a great name for a business

 The Best Business Name Generator (AI-Powered) | Looka

This website is a perfect business name startup. 

Here is how it worked: 

A. Enter the industry and see the names: Didn't work too well. 

B. Domain names: Perfect. 

C. Search Volume: Good. 

D. Suggested Logos: Absolutely brilliant! 

If you are looking for a name for a business, i recommend this very highly. 

The Brilliant Craftspeople of India

 Dilli Haat is just my favourite place to be at.

It is a living museum. Every time you go, in addition to the staples, there are artisans from some part of India. Almost every single time, they are either making the product and you can see it happen, or they tell you in great detail how they go about it. Its an education in the rich crafts of India and leaves one bewildered - every single time.

Last time, as we exited, there were quite a few people outside the Haat. Usually, I buy from one of the two-three papier mache vendors because they sit there and paint. They are visibly proud as you make a choice. So, we did that and just as we got into the vehicle, a lady came by to sell lovely silk brocaded shopping bags. They were breath-taking. The price she quoted made it obvious that she had made them herself. We bought three. After we had made the purchase, the lady said, "Mata Rani will bless you. I am a single parent raising two children without any support."

It was too dark to take a picture, but I don't need to take a picture. This is what Mata Rani must look like - making brocaded silk bags to be financially independent, selling them at 9 pm on the road, raising two children, and doing it all with panache. Those many hands of the Goddess? They are real.

Perhaps, in addition to the business practices of India, we should also understand the craft practices of India, and how our craftspeople are short-changed by a well irrigated system. The seed of an idea, then?

What i have learnt from standalone store owners

This is the duration of some of my relationships: 

Grocery store - 18 years 

Stationery Store - 18 years 

Electricals - 18 years 

Fruit vendor - 7 years 

Dry Ration - 2 years 

Cleaning supplies - 8 years 

Medical store - 6 years 

Florists - 7-8 years 

And over these years, I have learnt a few things from these wonderful people. Here are some of them: 

A. A simple board outside the store asking what they can stock. No AI needed to do inventory management and get new product ideas. 

B. Personally greet every person walking into the store. At one store, every customer gets personal attention and its a pleasure to go in there, even for a small thing. 

C. Be realistic about setting expectations. Tell them when something will be available. 

D. To the customer, you are the subject matter expert. Play that role. 

E. When a better product or offer is available, give it to the customer proactively. 

F. Indifference is the fastest way to lose a customer. A positive interaction goes a long way in retaining a customer.

What are some lessons that you have learnt from your interactions? 

On World Environment Day, lets talk about Blockchain

Blockchain is, simply put, a distributed ledger in which, every time a transaction takes place, an entry is made in ALL the copies of the ledger. 

Let's say that this blockchain has 2 people. A transaction happens. It is logged on 2 machines. No. of post transactions: 2 

With 3 people: 3 

With 4 people: 4 

Now, lets see the quantum of 5 transactions on these sizes of blockchain: 

2 people: 10 transactions 

3 people: 15 transactions 

4 people: 20 transactions 

5 people: 25 transactions 

This means that as the size of a blockchain increases, the number of transactions multiples. 

All those transactions consume energy and electricity. 

Do they make the transaction 2x, 3x, 4x secure? As compared to ONE backup? 

The simple answer is: NO. Creating n copies of a transaction does not make it n times more secure. The environmental impact is not commensurate with the security provided. 

So this World Environment Day, lets talk about the pollutants of tomorrow - Bitcoin and Blockchain. 

Simple Rules for Life

 1. Limit your banking exposure to two, at most three banks. No more. 

2. Keep at most 2 credit cards - one primary, and one backup. Take the highest stratum available to you. 

3. Never store credit cards on any website. EVER. 

4. Don't keep yourself signed in on any website. Sign out every single time, then clear cookies. Its worth it. 

5. Every few months, go to your Google settings and check your privacy settings. Google changes it automatically. 

6. Keep life insurance. 

7. Go to a local doctor. Go to a local hospital. DO not go to a corporate hospital unless your illness needs the infrastructure of a corporate hospital. 

8. Buy from your local store. Go to the bank branch. These relationships are important. You will need them. 

9. Things are to be used and people are to be loved. Not the other way round. 

10. Do not be in real debt. This means that you may take a home loan, but your assets should be such that you should be able to pay off that loan if the need arises. That's real debt. You are a debtor on paper, but not in truth. Buy the car you can afford to buy off cash. 

11. Always keep an eye on your investments yourself. Find your niche and fit in it. Not in any advisor's advised niche.