A few tips to change your life

1. Learn to plan for everything in life from a very early age. It could be your career choices, financial objectives, marriage preference, food choice or for that matter anything that will have impact your life in a big way, plan and go with it and don’t fall for your instincts
2. Learn to spend wisely right from the day you start earning. Make saving a vital part of your future planning. This will help you to take risks when opportunities come your way through the mid-career phase. You don’t have to play it safe if you have decent bank balance to take care of the immediate expenses
3. Learn to say “No” for unwanted loans, friendships, habits and for things that would destroy your life and personality
4. Learn to treat your parents with dignity and respect as they get older. Your love and respect for them should not come down even when it comes to a point that they just exist and are of not much use to you!
5. Don’t have unnecessary curiosity on the lives of others. Let their “Personal” stuff be private to them
6. Don’t expect everyone to behave the way you expect. After all, each one have their own “Personality” which is unique and special to them
7. Don’t allow your body to pile up weight. Always be conscious of weight gain and address it by taking enough precautions. Once you become severely obese, it is very difficult to bring it down.
8. Develop network and friendship with intelligent and hard working people who are upto something in life. Don’t while away time in useless pursuits

Enjoy every moment, make memories and have a great life!

What is that you have learnt too late in your life?

1. You should have “mastery” in one thing that can help you to earn for your living even during trying circumstances. This could be your culinary skills, public speaking, writing, researching, reasoning, driving or for that matter, anything through which you can earn money “independently” throughout your life.
2. Dreams and wishes are fine, but what you do in reality is what matters at the end! You may be chasing thousands of dreams and fantasies, but they are just a vanity that would give you only a temporary high!
3. Do not spend lavishly in food, clothing, appliances and gadgets. They will wipe your earning!
4. You must definitely have a solid investment when you reach your mid-life career phase or else, you will regret for not being able to take advantage of the opportunities in front of you
5. Slowing down and focusing on a few high priority things is better than chasing many of your fantasies and vain pursuits
6. In the workplace, nothing matters than your “problem solving” skills. People respect you only for your ability to solve their problems
7. Nobody owes you anything, not even your parents and siblings and you “must” come out of that self pity mode or else the world is going to kick you hard!
8. Learning to be patient and persevering is the best ability that one can develop for a satisfactory and happy life
9. Don’t try to get too close with anyone. If you want to have your own boundaries, they are entitled for theirs too!
10. Style, fashion, flamboyant lifestyle, social media postings etc are just a way to express your “inner” loneliness and insecurities

Having said that, even now, one can start a new life by giving up on the negative traits and developing positive ones! Human beings are awesome creations who have the power to change the course of their lives anytime they “decide” to do!

All you need to know about Salon franchising Business Model

The rise and rise of salons and spas

Salons and Spas are found everywhere these days and all of us like to have a good haircut, a nice shave, a mesmerizing facial or a pampering massage, isn’t it? Though the services come at a very high cost, we don’t mind too much about it and happily avail them. Let us take a look at the salon franchising business model in detail today.

In India, there are several salons and spas across various tier 1 and tier 2 cities. Some of the big brands in this space are Naturals, Javed Habib, Green Trends, Toni & Guy etc. Working professionals especially from the IT industry frequent to these places to rejuvenate themselves from their tiring week long work.

My aim of this post is to take a look at this salon industry from a business perspective. I am planning to cover things like how much investment is needed to setup a salon cum spa, operating costs, risks and earning potential. I have gathered this information from various sources when I visited these places for availing their services.

First and foremost, these premium salons and spas operate on a franchising model which means that you will have to be bound under the franchising agreement. Now, let us do some math and see how much it takes to start the franchise of a successfully operating salon chain.

Fixed Costs

1. Franchise Fee – 3 lakhs
2. Infrastructure including interiors, chairs, AC’s etc – 15 to 20 lakhs
3. Advance for a 1200 sqft space in a posh area – 15 to 25 lakhs
4. Marketing cost – 2 to 4 lakhs

Total upfront investment cost : 40 to 50 lakhs approx

Now, let us take a look at the month on month operating cost

1. Salary for 6 to 7 professionals (20,000 Rs each)
2. Rent – 50 to 60 thousand rupees
3. Electricity charges – 5,000 Rs
4. Maintanence – 5,000 Rs
5. Misc – 10,000 Rs

Total : 2 to 3 lakhs per month

Note : In some cases, monthly revenue sharing may have to be done with the franchiser and that needs to be added.

Let us see how much money can be made through this salon. But before that, let us take a look at some of the major services offered by them

1. Hair cut – 200 to 300 rs
2. Shave – 100 to 150 rs
3. Hair dying – 300 rs
4. Hair treatments – 500 to 2000 rs
5. Facials – 600 to 4000 rs
6. Massage – 1000 to 4000
7. Bride and Bridegroom packages – 5000 to 15000 rs

According to the sources that I spoke, per day revenue during weekends is around 45,000 to 50,000 in normal areas and touches 1 lakh and above in posh areas. On a week day, it could be anywhere between 10,000 to 20,000 Rs.

So, doing a rough math, the per month revenue could be around 5 to 10 lakhs.

Now, assuming a net profit of 30%, it works out to 2 to 5 lakhs approx.

Risks

1. Lot of competition these days as number of salons and spas are on the rise
2. Labour management – Very difficult to manage and retain the professionals

Disclaimer : This estimation is not a guarantee that things would work out the same way it is explained.There could be other unforeseen risks and challenges too that may come your way. But, as an entrepreneur, it is your smartness and presence of mind that should help you to overcome the challenges.

Who enjoys life?

As I am walking to burn off my calories, I see him eating crumbs of left over to gain those calories

As I try to figure out a way to entertain myself, I see him fight desperately to keep his life going

As my eyes are in search of sensuous pleasure, I see his eyes begging for some sleep

As I try to figure out the best restaurant for dinner, I see him pleading with his wife to cook from whatever is left

 

As I am worried about my looks, I see his desperate attempt to survive

As I am worried about my future plans, I see his worry about living the next moment

As I am worried about my status in society, I see his worry about acceptance

As I am worried about my personality, I see him worry about livelihood

 

Oh, Is there a leveler between me and him?

Something that would compensate his paucity to my lavishness

As I look upon his dimming eyes, I see a glimmer of hope

A ray of delight that streams from his attitude to live for “Today”

Your life changes when you find real love

Life without someone to love you unconditionally is a pain. Take it from me, it is absolutely sucking to live a life without loving someone and being loved by someone. The emptiness that you feel inside is a manifestation of the void in your heart for those drops of love that your soul earnestly longs. In this post, let us take a look at how your life can change when you find real love.

Some turn to money and others to sex and other stimulants to fill this void but only find a temporary relief in them. The root cause, which is the scarcity of love still lingers on, unaddressed and looming large…

You imagine how comforting it would be if you have a loving shoulder to lean on when you are down, someone just caressing your hair, kissing your forehead and saying that everything would be alright and that they would be with you until the end.

The biggest problem in today’s world is looking for love around with a wrong intention, without considering mutual benefits and just looking at it as a narcissist. In this hi-tech era, there are enough social media and dating sites that offer you plethora of choices to bond, but not with the right intention as lust gains prominence over love.

Yes, as human beings, we have all the feelings, feelings of joy, despair, lust, love, anger, greed and what not….If someone says that they don’t have these feelings, then they should be from another world. But, how we control these feelings without harming others and derive mutual benefits out of it is what helps the most in life.

If you want love, offer love first and this is the most important secret. The world longs for love and you see people all around starved for love. Connect with people and just listen to their heart and you will find that behind the hardened countenance that they present outside, there is a very delicate being inside that longs for love.

Trust is another important factor in finding love. You need to be truthful in any relationship. What it means is that you need to really love others with an intention to help them rather than just expecting something for your personal gains.

We have an inclination to love good looking and charming people and most of the time, it is not love but lust and hence it will not last long. Go and connect with people without bothering about outside appearance or beauty and you will for sure find true love.

Not everyone is privileged with loving parents or spouses though there are a few who have this great asset. But for others, who miss out on this aspect, find someone who could love you, guide and motivate you all the time. It is a very tough world and you need love to keep going!

 

This important decision could change your life forever

The importance decision making plays in our lives

As human beings, we have to take decisions each moment of our life in one way or the other. Some decisions needs to be done instantly and for some you could take your time. However, there is one decision very important that you need to take immediately to change the course of your life. I am going to explain that in this article.

As I sit down to write this, two contrasting thoughts sail across my mind and kind of makes me to choose one. Here are the two thoughts for you to discern

1. Be one among the crowd, have a good all round life and just fade away along with the millions who take this course
2. Be among that 0.01% who long to live that extraordinary life to do something to change the world and leave a mark for themselves when they move away.

As you know, both the choices have their fair share of pros and cons, but when asked to take a stand, where would you go and what will you choose?

If you can decide on this, I assure that you can live the rest of your life in a much more meaningful way without shooting aimlessly in the dark.

If you want to understand this better, Go to the countryside and look out for a few old and happy faces. These are folks who have sculpted their life meticulously in the most traditional way as possible. They had personal and financial discipline that enabled them to save money for the future and that provides them enough to enjoy their final leg of life without much pressure.

On the contrary, look at the swashbuckling CEO’s and startup founders who have exceedingly surplus bank balances at a very early age. Of course, they have squeezed out every ounce of their energy and time to achieve this kind of success that guarantees them and their future generations a very bright future.

Now, the most important thing to understand here is the concept of saving vs making money. Category 1 are big time savers who worked hard all by themselves and saved each and every penny, and category 2 are money makers who have made others work for them to generate more and more money.

And now, it is decision time….

If you want to really enjoy life without confusions, it is very important to choose your approach to your life today and align toward your choice. Pick either one of these approaches, relax and enjoy your life. Don’t get caught up between dreams and reality and be lost forever! Life is fleeting and too short to miss!

Learn this one skill that can change your life today!

Though there are many skills that needs to be mastered at work and life, the one which stands out according to me and which can really change your life is the skill of “managing your ego”

Why it is very important?

1. At your workplace, your ego over your boss or co-worker can ruin your career as you will never be in a position to either overlook their mistakes or listen to their criticism/feedback that would help you to improve and become better everyday. After all, who cares about “your ego” as all that matters is how flexible and adaptable you are to get the job done
2. At your home, your ego over your spouse can lead to lot of unnecessary arguments and in the end will make your day miserable
3. At the road, your ego over another motorist will make you lose your driving focus and end up doing stupid mistakes while the other person remains unaffected
4. At the shopping mall, your ego over the sales person will ruin his mood and you will lose out on getting the best deal
5. In the social media, your ego over another person will lead to heated exchanges and in the end will spoil your brand image
6. Your ego over an interviewer will make you to lose out on a good job offer
7. Your ego over your maid or servant will provoke them to turn up against you and spill all your secret beans to others, you want that?

The list is endless and situations can be drawn from every area of your life where uncontrolled ego can lead you into serious trouble, and thus learn to manage your ego to change your life.

Some golden rules that I learnt late in my life

1. You may have worked for years and could have got a big fat salary every month, but if you have not done proper investments or handled your money properly , you will end up having nothing in your bank account. This will put you in such a miserable position that you will like to kill yourself for committing such a blunder. At the end of the day, people care a damn about you or your glorious career if you don’t have a hefty bank balance; so earning well doesn’t make you rich but learning how to spend and invest money wisely will.
2. Every individual have their own preferences and liking. This includes your parents, spouse, partner, kids or friends and you “must” let them live their own life and not impose yourself on them.
3. Lust drains your energy and makes you feel miserable aftermath
4. Life is very short and unpredictable filled with many unexpected twists and turns. Take everything as it comes without brooding too much about the outcomes.
5. Don’t let your “secrets” or “personal stuff” out to anyone when you are stricken by self pity. You will lose respect.
6. Good looking individuals are always preferred, so dress well and look smart
7. Spending time with your loved ones give you the utmost satisfaction than anything else
8. “Hard work” is the best intoxicant to stimulate your senses
9. If you are on a 9 to 5 job, you will never be able to afford certain things in life and they will only remain in your dreams
10. 9 out of 10 times, you reflect and feel sorry for those terrible outbursts on others when you were angry and upset. Remain calm and never open your mouth when you are angry

When life becomes a grind!

I don’t like a boring life and for that matter anyone does. How it feels to do the same things again and again? The same car to drive, the same route to travel, the same set of things to work upon at the job…the list is endless. There is a tipping point where life seems to come to a grinding halt. Have you seen those big machines start giving out some screeching sounds and eventually come to a grinding halt? Folks, if you treat your life like a machine, you need to expect that screeching sound sooner or later before it ultimately breaks down.

Everyday, we get up, pack our bags and run to work only to return back in the evening, browse a bit and hit the bed in anticipation of sleeping off soon. From the top most executive to a bottom level worker, the pattern of life is almost similar except for the expectations and desires. You know what? the more options you have, it brings more headache! You consider a beggar on the street; he wakes up, gets to a place where he can attract the crowd and boom…he gets on with his business. Some good food to eat and a better place to spend the night is all he would think about day after day as he has to fight for it.

Now, consider your life. How is it going? Is it boring and are you frustrated? How many times you have tried out different things only to hit the same spot again and again? You think you are weird? Whats happening to you?

If you get a chance, You can ask the richest person in the world about his state of affairs, he will have a similar story to tell; one that would contain frustrations of certain unfulfilled expectations and desires.

There are lot of expectations and desires inside us and as time passes by, they turn into sources of frustration. You expect someone to help you with something and when it didn’t happen as expected, you are depressed. Now, the source of your depression is the expectation that you first created.

It is better to live without any expectations in this world, be it from anyone. It may be your spouse, siblings, parents or children, you should not have much expectation that they will be with you in everything. You should be ready to face lot of disappointments in life. This is the reality.

When someone says that they don’t have any disappointments or setbacks in life, we can be sure that it is far from being true.

People forget your goodness very soon

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger lands the damaged plane on Hudson river, miraculously saving all the 155 lives on board. He is charged for not landing on LaGuardia or Teterboro and for ‘risking’ the lives of the passengers and damaging the airplane.

He says, “42 years of successful landings, and they would still judge me for those 208 seconds.”

Did you catch it, yet?

Imagine he worked 5 days a week, 1 flight every day, and exclude the Christmas holidays too.

Number of successful landings = (5/7)*42*365*(11/12) = 10,037 flights
Number of passengers landed = 150*10,037 = 15,05,625

Before he was acquitted, they blamed him for those 208 stressful seconds where his reaction time was 35 seconds, and nobody actually gave a damn about his past record of landing more than 1.5 Million people safely. Even though, after landing, all he cared for was the count of “155”.

And here you have a very very harsh lesson to learn.

You can do 99 things for someone and all they’ll remember is the one thing you didn’t do.

Most people forget all the good that you did, and in the end only judge you for the bad, or rather what they perceive to be bad. Nobody cares about the good intent behind your actions. All they see is the final output. Simply because it’s easy to overlook the good, and remember the bad.

After a while, most people don’t give a damn about how much you have helped them. They take you for granted, because hey, you were just performing your duty or friendship. Just one bad thing, and they are all against you.

In personal life, be helpful without expecting too much from anyone. It’ll hurt you less. And if you are compromising on your comfort for helping anyone who isn’t worth it, then it’s time to think through and make a wise choice before it’s too late.