GURU WON D ER

The way people make a living, shapes the economic and social character of a society and determines their prosperity and success. Indians in general are clever and enterprising, which is often visible by the manner in which they respond to situations and exploit opportunities. When India gained re-independence in 1947, entrepreneurship witnessed a boom. A large number of people began some enterprise or the other. Many industrial and trading businesses mushroomed surrounded by

Generally speaking, until they are about 10 years of age, children are sure their parents are superheroes, clever, and the most loving people in the whole world. They are the best. When youngsters join college, at about age 16 they think, parents to be the biggest idiots in the world. Old fashioned, in thoughts and everything else. When they leave college at about 20, they do not think, they know their parents are outdated if not actually stupid. If they join the family busin

It is a fallacy, to believe that merely sending our children to school and college, will prepare them for life. There is no perfect way to prepare the young, but parents and family can play a powerful role, in successfully preparing the young for life. An approach that facilitates both success and happiness is to enrich the lives of the young. To not stifle them in our bosom, but expose them to life as early as is safe and possible. This enables the young to learn at the

We live in a world, where money is all pervasive. Money is not only a passport for good living, it is essential for survival. In spite for their craving for it, every class, group and community, society shows great disdain and disrespect for earning money barring one group, the business community. Society hails soldiers, politicians, educationists, social activists, artists, performers, farmers and craftsmen, but despises business people. Yet the success of every great societ

My family and I built up a rather large and highly reputed automotive components manufacturing business. In the early years our dependence on the domestic market and a few key customers made us vulnerable to cyclic demand which had bad consequences for our organisation. So we began to explore export markets. One day in 1984, thanks to the Chamber of Commerce, we hosted a small delegation of prospective American buyers. At dinner that evening, me a very young man, tried rather

Ages ago, I left India to settle down in Dubai, seeking to start life afresh. It was tough going for me. Dubai is like this alluring, gorgeous, woman. She is cunning, tough and has a stone for a heart. Even in crisis I retained my 'happy-go, genuine' type of nature. This makes it easy to make friends and develop relationships. I was soon busy, pursuing several projects. My bank manager Kannan and I soon became friends. I sought Kannan's advice on many things and he was more t

In 2002, due to unavoidable circumstances I left India, seeking to start life afresh in Dubai. It was tough going for me, Dubai is like an alluring gorgeous and clever woman with a stone for a heart. Even in crisis I retained my 'happy-go, genuine' type of nature. This makes it easy to make friends and develop relationships. I was soon busy, pursuing several projects. My bank manager Kannan and I soon became friends. I sought Kannan's advice on many things and he was more tha

We are often advised not to run after wealth, power, influence etc. Yet we humans crave these things all the more. What could help explain this behaviour? Nature has designed creation such that, every creature once born, fights to survive, to reproduce, rear their young and to die. We humans are no different even though we have concealed this fact under tomes of religious and intellectual literature. Mating is carried out by a process of natural selection, wherein males and f

This is a follow up on my article, Why Founders Flounder Transition within the family business The leadership usually in the hands of a patriarch is supported by a management team, which exercises great power within an organisation. Due to their proximity they exert great influence over the patriarch. Whenever change is necessary demanding greater accountability and transparency, these very people the former assets become the greatest liability. We have to remember that, No s

Facebook - Twitter - linkedin - SikhNet Investment in our young is the key to our future prosperity and happiness. At the request of my friend Jaiprakash Singh (JP), who runs the 'Sujata Schools' in Hyderabad and Moinabad, I held a discussion with the students from the 10th class. JP's idea was for me to inspire the children. Well I don't know about that, but I was certainly stumped by the students. At the end of our discussion, I posed the question to the girls and boys, 'W

Watch this page for detailed article soon to follow From the Seminar 'Managing for growth in the family owned & Managed Business' Family owned and managed businesses offer society the best combination of economic and social progress. 78% of businesses in the world are family owned and managed. Guru Wonder conducts a two day seminar on 'Managing for growth in the family owned & Managed Business. The seminar focusses on assisting participants to identify and leverage their str