Perception something to think about... really worth spending a minute

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately two thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children.. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made..... How many other things are we missing?

Life's Bid-Ask spread

For most people life is all about what they want versus what life has to offer, and narrower the difference, the happier they feel they will get.I make my first million and then bid for 10 and then 100.I loose 5 kilos and then want to be size zero. I become an AVP but will crave to be the CEO.We have made happiness a moving target.Unfortunately by the time we realise the futility of this, we are too tired and jaded to enjoy life's small but profound joys.

Stop chasing the Bid-Ask spread. Aiming for perfect liquidity in life may cause it to crash.

ChappalGate of Indian Politics

WACK!....Chappalgate has hit Indian politicians. Call it the angst of the Indian public, the frustration of the voting masses or the’saazish’ of the opposition, chappalgate is here to stay.

The sudden spurt in footwear of various sizes being hurled at politicians of various ideologies (if there is any such thing in Indian politics) is not something that should be taken lightly. In all the cases the perpetrators are nothing but manifestations of each one of us. Don’t we all in the deepest corners of our heart’s wish to do the same?

We talk of living in the nano age, but our politicians are still promising ‘bijli’,’sadak’ and ‘paani’.I only wish that instead of BATA and Lakhani some Jimmy Choos and Manolo Blahniks are flung as well.

Recession Hits One and All