The Journey and the Importance of Action

Hello everyone! Its been a while and a LOT of changes have occurred which have taken a huge amount of time to implement. However, the changes have all been worth it and let me share you the experiences we have had:

- Cash flow problems (due to a business partner moving out of Karachi)

- Social media page hacked (158,000 followers and potential customers lost)

Moreover, on a personal level, one year ago I had a cushy job with all the "perks", yet I was miserable inside. Each day I felt like shooting myself in the head! Yet for years I had continued on with my misery and had become somewhat comfortable with it!

I had started teaching to the youth as a side gig with my job and in one of the courses I had to skim through a lot of high performers (ranging from entrepreneurs to politicians) and I found out that they only had one trait in common: THEY TOOK ACTION!!!!!

I started taking actions in baby steps first and was amazed by the results! As I got more comfortable, the steps increased and here is a summary:

- Quit my job

- Started a side gig as a teacher at KnS Institute of Business Studies

- Worked on photography and digital art more (brands started working with us)

- We opened up an international branch of Pi Studio spearheaded by the talented Mr. Hussain Zaidi

All of these things were possible due to:

- the teamwork at Pi Studio (who taught me that misery is a choice)

- Our collective desire in the studio to take action!
- Learning entrepreneurship and being proactive from the principal of KnS Institute of Business studies (Mr. Sajid)

So get out there and start DOING what you SPEAK and DREAM about, as the great Sir Richard Branson has said:

"Screw it, let's do it"

The demon of hope

There was once a demon by the name of hope. Hope fluttered its wings in the city of terror, spraying its mighty venom in full force to the residents of the city. The beauty of hope's venom was that it caused the residents of the city to slumber indefinitely for generations.

Whenever children were born in the families of people bitten by the venom of hope, there were big celebrations, yet none of the children were taught by their parents that action and hard work must also become a part of their lives. Instead parents dwelled on the situation of the country and spent all of their savings on getting the good education in the hope of them getting a good living by surrendering all of their children’s dreams.

Yet during this dark turbulent era, there was one person who knew that hope alone is deadlier than the venom of a cobra and if hope was injected along with the ability to dream and to take action then the venom will have a reverse effect so much so that the venom would become the elixir of life. The reverse effect was so powerful that cities change, lives of people change and great discoveries were made. How profound was this knowledge yet so simple! However, this person was astounded by the fact that how was the entire city ignorant of this simple fact!

Legends like Gandhi, Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Allama Iqbal, Faiz Sb knew this secret formula that hope alone does not suffice. It is the depth of action and how far that we are willing to go which ultimately decides our fate. This person has thus made his lifelong mission to teach people about taking actions and getting out of their comfort zone so that the demon of hope can be tamed.

 

 

Creativity, Endurance and Passion!

Recently the great Australian bowler Mitchell Johnson passed the three hundred wicket mark. What is to note is his consistency and ability to bounce back after personal injuries. However, this is not a cricket blog and my point to stress is the importance of endurance and consistent performance for a long period of time. It is only in long spells of performance that the true winners are seen and only those with the necessary grit are able to make it through.

The same is true for any creative endeavor which one undertakes. Thinking that creative projects and a creative lifestyle will yield results in   a small span of time is just wishful thinking. As recently one of the panelists at the "I Am Karachi Music Festival" said that one has to sloth for ten years before any tangible fruits of any creative pursuit for e.g. music can be seen. The great sage Osho has rightly said the following words about creativity:

“Creativity is the greatest rebellion in existence.”

Now the million dollar question is that why would anyone want to show endurance especially in creative endeavors, which, in a society like Pakistan are already opposed due to the rigid mindset of the masses in general? Well the answer is simple and can be summed up in one word: Passion!

If one has passion for any creative endeavor for e.g. music, photography, painting, design etc. and he / she chooses not to live without pursuing it and puts all of their heart and soul into it, it is only then will the person endure the test of time and keep going at it no matter what. For the key to any inspirational work is simple: following your heart and showing tenacity and determination to fight against all odds that make the achievement of the creative goal impossible. 

Safoora Carnage, Sabeen Mahmud and The Extremist Inside Us

The news that the Safoora Carnage (the heinous shooting of innocent Ismailis on the bus) and the murder of Sabeen Mahmud (The T2F Director who was brutally shot recently) was conducted by Saad Aziz (a business graduate from IBA) and Muhammad Ishrat Aziz (an engineer from SSUET) has sent shivers down the spine of all of us living in the affluent upper middle class "bubble" of Karachi. My friend who has migrated to Canada had posted on his social media account that we all have to look at the little Taliban hidden inside all of us. Sadly he is right.

These cold hearted killers a very violent example of the religious extremism that now lurks in the middle and upper classes. This thought process which justifies the claiming of innocent lives for the greater good is in fact the manifestation of evil.

We all have forgotten the basic tenets of humanity and that to respect human life is the first and foremost principle of any civilized society. So what is the solution then to this growing violence of extremism?

The only solution is to follow the path of the Sufi and to start loving everyone around you regardless of sect, creed or faith. For it is in only love that the true beauty of human existence lies. We all should listen to the beating of the heart and start listening to God's greatest gift of love. Love respect and tolerance shape us forever.

To resort to violence and to kill innocent people in retaliation to atrocities of the state is not a proper response. Instead love, respect and the value of human rights must be spread to everyone. Following the path of the heart is not an easy task and one must be willing to face the difficulties that flow through these decisions. However, in the long term it is only through humanity, peace and love that we can improve as a nation.

I conclude this with the quote of Shams Tabrizi:

"It’s easy to love a perfect God, unblemished and infallible that He is. What is far more difficult is to love fellow human beings with all their imperfections and defects. Remember, one can only know what one is capable of loving. There is no wisdom without love. Unless we learn to love God’s creation, we can neither truly love nor truly know God."

UNLEASHING CREATIVITY AND WHY SO FEW DARE TO UNLEASH IT

Breath has a certain tranquil quality. It exudes life and also makes us remember how finite this life is. I have spent years searching for the Truth and I can still say I am far away from reaching it. I have seen various aspects of life and found that they are all temporal. Analyzing life in terms of time, money, career goals etc. is just to complicate life's meaning.  When we find out that what we are looking for and believe in tantamount to nothing in the end it is only then that the true creative spirit is seen.

What is the creative spirit? Why does it exist and why do only so few individuals dare to unleash it? These are questions whose answers lie in the deepest corners of the soul! In short the creative spirit is the foundation of the beauty of life itself and it exists to let us know about our humanity and to remind us that we only exist for a small split second and then fade away into oblivion and what we leave behind is our  expression for humans to take guidance from.

When we ponder that why do few people dare to unleash it then the simple answer is an analogy that unleashing creativity is like getting the genie out of the bottle, only difference being that once out the genie refuses to go back in! Soon this world and the social setup seem meaningless and the desire to keep up socially is gradually replaced by the desire to pursue creative endeavors till there is no turning back. Thus, by pursuing creativity people are unable to "fit" in the acceptable "social" norms, due to which the number of individuals pursuing creativity remains only a handful.

 Sadequain at work (source: http://www.sbp.org.pk/museum/art_Glry.htm)

This following Ruba'I (Quatrain) by the great painter Sadequain sums up the desire for creativity very well:

Phir yeh kia Rangoon ka jhamela mein nay
Is tail say fun ka khael khela mein nay
Is apnay badan ki haddiyon ko din raat
Takhleeq kay kolho mein hai pela mein nay

And then I mix an array of oil and colors
Use that potion in the service of the arts
Then I apply my humble self through days and nights
To spin the agonizing wheal of creative surge

Fun ki chal to rahi hai rerhi yarab
Satrein likhta hoon terhi merhi yarab
Likhtay huey aayat-e-junoon bachpan say
Ab ungliyan ho chuki hein terhi ya rab

I strive to push the cart of ecstatic creativity O’ Lord
Along the way I inscribe straight and crocked lines O’ Lord
By abundance of writing transcendent verses since childhood
Even my fingers have now become crocked O’ Lord

Din raat ho jab shaam ya pow phot-ti hai
Kanni meray hathoon say nahi choot-ti hai
Phir kaam say dukh jata hai itna mera hath
Roti ko jo torron to nahi toot-ti hai

Day or night or at the early break of dawn
Painting instruments are cradled in my hand
Relentlessly I paint until my hand pains so much
That I can not even break the bread with my hand

   (Source: http://www.sadequainfoundation.com/librarys-and-essays/)

THE JOURNEY OF FRUGALITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP – PART II

This post is a continuation of the previous blog post where we had calculated the monthly survival rate which one needs to pursue his or her dreams. However, what we did not mention in the previous blog was that the monthly survival rate was based on the amount that is based on perceived needs, which can be reduced with effort.

In Part I of the blog, the cash flow requirement (known as the monthly survival rate) was explained as being the numerical total of the following expenses:

-          Rent

-          Groceries

-          Medical Expenses

-          Transportation

-          Clothing

-          Utilities (gas, electricity, internet, phone)

-          Social Expenses (dinners etc.).

Now we will analyze that how much of these expenses are actually needed and how much are the expenses that are based on the social strata to which he/she belongs. The results may surprise you and you will realize that following one's dream is easier than one might think!

Let us briefly analyze each and every expense in detail and see where they can be reduced. The following is the expense wise analysis:

Rent

What is the amount you spend on rental for your home whether it is in the form of mortgage for a home or a tenancy agreement? Do you really need the space according to your family's needs or are there areas where you can reduce the rent for e.g. fewer rooms, moving to a cheaper area etc. If you can make way with the lower rent, then make that move ASAP to reduce the fixed expense load of a rental.

Groceries

What is the amount you spend on groceries? Does your grocery contain various processed or branded foods or a higher meat intake? You can reduce the expense by buying raw fruits and vegetables more and substituting meat with vegetables, which will also improve health and ultimately save health costs later.

Medical Expenses

This is an unavoidable cost and which one should ensure that the best health treatment is obtained. However, to minimize your health costs one should adopt a healthy lifestyle of a good diet and exercise regimen.

Transportation

Analyze your monthly expense in transportation expenses. What is your current mode of transport? It can be any of the following:

-          Walking,

-          Buses,

-          Taxi,

-          Rickshaw,

-          Personal Motorcycle or

-          Personal car

Try replacing your current transport modes with cheaper alternatives for e.g. if your house is near your work place try walking to work or try to use public buses (the cheapest alternative) in favor of Taxi, Rickshaws or personal automobiles. Carpooling with colleagues is also a favorable option to bring down transport costs.

Clothing

This is an area where one can save a ton! Usually we spend a lot on clothing and fashion items which we rarely use in the long term. Thus, buying clothes from Zainab Market (a great place to shop in Karachi) instead of branded outlets can save a ton of money!

Utilities (gas, electricity and telephone)

This is another area where one can save money. Analyze your family's utility requirements for e.g. are you using air conditioners a lot or are you using land-line to dial your mobile phones which can cause higher phone bills? Small changes to the lifestyle can save up on utilities for e.g. reducing air conditioning usage.

Social Expenses (dinners etc.)

This is a huge area where Pakistani society wastes most of its money.  The primary reason for this expenditure usually is to fit in and be accepted in the social circle. Analyze your expenses and see how much of it is wasted and consciously stop these expenses.

THE SOLUTION

Using the revised numbers now calculate the amount that you actually need in order to pursue other meaningful passions and not to mindlessly keep on working for the sake of lifestyle maintenance. The following table will be a good aid to see how much you can save up by changing your spending habits:

Expense type	PKR per month Currently spent	PKR per month needed for suvival	Difference (which can be saved)
Rent	XXX	XXX	XXX
Groceries	XXX	XXX	XXX
Medical Expenses	XXX	XXX	XXX
Transportation	XXX	XXX	XXX
Clothing	XXX	XXX	XXX
Utilities (gas, electricity, internet, phone)	XXX	XXX	XXX
Social Expenses (dinners etc.)	XXX	XXX	XXX
Total (monthly survival rate)	XXXX	XXXX	XXXX

Now this saved amount must be invested to ensure that a stream of cash flows is available for one to pursue his / her dream with a free mind (for a two year period as mentioned in the previous part of the blog). The following are examples of investment options to name a few:

-          Gold,

-          Silver,

-          Mutual funds,

-          Saving certificates,

-          Stocks etc.

Investments will help lock in your savings so that your long term goals can be achieved.