The Fortune of a Shoeshine Dreamer

The CEO of a major Mumbai bank got his shoes polished every day from the shoeshine man at the street corner.

He would sit on a chair usually reading the Economic Times as he got his shoes polished.

One fine morning, the shoeshine man asks the CEO: "What do you think of the stock market situation?"

The CEO condescendingly inquires: "Why are you so interested in this subject?"

The shoeshine man replies: "I have 200 crore rupees deposited in your bank and I am thinking about investing part of the money in the stock market"

The CEO smirkingly says: "Yeah right! What is your name?"

Shoeshine man replies: "Asaf Kutty Chacko ”

Upon returning to his bank, the bemused CEO asks the Account Manager: "Do we have a customer named *Asaf Kutty Chacko*?"

The Manager replies: “We certainly do. He is an esteemed customer! He has 200 crore rupees in his account.” 

The CEO is shocked!

The next day, when getting a shoeshine, the CEO says to shoeshine man:

"Mr. Chacko, I want to invite you to be our guest-of-honour at our Board meeting next week and tell us your life story. I'm sure we will learn a lot.”

The following week, at the Board meeting, the CEO introduces shoeshine man to the board members:

"We all know Mr. Asaf Kutty Chacko, who makes our shoes shine like no one else. But he is also our valued customer with 200 crore  rupees in his account. 

I invited him to share his life story. I'm sure it will be inspirational. 

Please, Mr. Chacko, do tell".

Asaf Kutty narrates his life story: 

"I came to this state 30 years ago as a young boy from Kerala…. 

I wandered hungry and exhausted in search of a job without success….

Suddenly, I found a coin on the sidewalk and bought some apples….

I had two options: eat the apples to quell my hunger or start a business….

I sold the apples and bought more apples with the money….

This way I started accumulating money…

With the saved money, I managed to buy a set of used brushes and shoe polish and started a shoe shine businesss…..

I lived frugally and didn't spend any money on fun or worldly trappings. I lived like a monk and saved every paisa I could….

After a while, I managed to buy new brushes, variety of polish and a chair so that my clients could sit comfortably….

I continued living frugally and saving all I could…

Then, a few years ago, I was able to purchase this nice corner location from another colleague who decided to retire…

Finally, about three months ago, my brother, who was a drug-dealer in Kochi, passed away and left me 200 crores ….” 

This is just a campaign to promote reading. 

Reading stimulates the mind and imagination! So stop listening to unbelievable stories and start reading something of literary merit. 

Discipline and Strength Through Krishna's Wisdom

 🔆 Conversations for Inner Strength: The Power of Discipline

​1. Arjun: I always start with great enthusiasm (motivation), but after a few days, the fire dies out.

✅Krishna: Motivation is unreliable; it is like a spark that lasts only a moment. Discipline is the fuel that keeps the fire burning. Do not rely on how you feel; rely on what you do. Motivation gets you started; habit keeps you going.

​2. Arjun: But what should I do when I honestly just don't "feel" like working?

✅Krishna: That is the trap. You believe you need to "feel good" to act. A warrior does not wait for the right mood to fight. You must learn to separate your feelings from your actions. Do the work because it is necessary, not because it is easy.

​3. Arjun: Discipline feels like a cage. I want to be free to do what I want.

✅Krishna: That is an illusion. If you cannot control your own mind and impulses, you are a slave to your moods. True freedom comes from self-control. Discipline is not a prison; it is the key that unlocks your potential.

​4. Arjun: It is painful to force myself every day.

✅Krishna: Remember this truth, Arjun: "The pain of discipline weighs ounces, but the pain of regret weighs tons." You must choose your pain. Would you rather sweat now or cry later?

​5. Arjun: I try to change my whole life in one day, and I fail.

✅Krishna: You are trying to swallow the ocean in one gulp. Consistency beats intensity. It is better to do small things 100% of the time than to do a big thing once in a while. Small, boring, daily actions compound into massive success.

​6. Arjun: What is the secret to staying consistent?

✅Krishna: Stop negotiating with yourself. When the alarm rings, do not ask yourself, "Do I want to get up?" Just get up. When you start debating with your mind, your laziness will always win. Make the decision once, and then follow it blindly.

​7. Arjun: How do I become the master of my own will?

✅Krishna: By keeping the promises you make to yourself. If you say you will read 5 pages, read 5 pages. Every time you break a promise to yourself, you weaken your soul. Every time you keep it, you build an iron will.

​💡 A Small Tip

​The "Don't Break the Chain" Method:

Get a calendar. Every day you complete your specific task (e.g., studying for 4 hours), mark a big X on that day.

After a few days, you will have a chain. Your only goal is: Don't break the chain.

The visual pressure of seeing the chain grow will push you to do the work even when you feel lazy.

#rajarlaoriginals

Life Lessons from 2025

 A few lessons learned from 2025:

1) Life has a way to give you what you want after you give up on chasing it directly.

2) Never open up about your financial issues with anyone. That may change their perspective of looking at you.

3) The best conversations happen serendipitously between people with no agenda.

4) If you are not becoming more humble as you get older, you are running in the wrong direction.

5) Always try to get married to someone thoughtful who genuinely cares and who is committed to building a better life together, you’ve already won the lottery.

6) My sisters have kids and when I look at my sisters I realise that , Kids completely change your routine, but it doesn’t mean you will be less productive, you just need to be more efficient with your time and focus on the right things.

7) If your environment doesn’t reflect your vibes, the faster you have the courage to move on, the earlier you will start getting lucky.

8) You can always take a good guess at how much time you have left with your loved ones, it’s up to you to make the most of it, for them but also for you.

9) People who don’t grow much are just people with too much pride and not enough humility to question their methods.

10) Everyone should have one hobby that forces them to be the healthiest and physically strongest version of themselves, and another hobby that forces them to maintain mental sharpness and bold creativity.

11) Lack of courage to speak your mind ruins all relationships regardless of your intentions.

12) The most talented people don’t take themselves seriously, otherwise, they wouldn’t have made all the necessary mistakes to get where they are.

13) Being well-dressed and aesthetically pleasing is underrated, for yourself but also for others; most people who claim it’s narcissistic just don’t have the discipline to make the efforts.

14) People with clear and ambitious goals, and a loving family, don’t have the time or the energy for any unnecessary drama.

15) Introducing people who might get along great with each other is an underrated habit.

16) You are more resilient than you think, especially when you do things for people you genuinely love.

17) Nomatter how much you love someone, you can't be their choice and expecting it to be is also not correct. 

#rajarlaoriginals

#2025 #2026

Life's Unfairness

In Mahabharat, Karna asks Krishna-

“My mother left me the moment I was born. Is it my fault I was born an illegitimate child?

I did not get the education from Dhronacharya because I was considered not a Kshatriya.

Parshu-Raam taught me but then gave me the curse to forget everything when he came to know I was  Son of Kunthi belong to Kshatriya.

A cow was accidentally hit by my arrow and its owner cursed me for no fault of mine.

I was disgraced in Draupadi's Swayamvar.

Even Kunthi finally told me the truth only to save her other sons.

Whatever I received was through Duryodhana's charity.

So how am I wrong in taking his side ???"

**Krishna replies,

“Karna, I was born in a jail.

Death was waiting for me even before my birth.

The night I was born I was separated from my birth parents.

From childhood, you grew up hearing the noise of swords, chariots, horses, bow, and arrows. I got only cow herd's shed, dung, and multiple attempts on my life even before I could walk!

No Army, No Education. I could hear people saying I am the reason for all their problems.

When all of you were being appreciated for your valour by your teachers I had not even received any education. I joined Gurukula of Rishi Sandipani only at the age of 16!

You are married to a girl of your choice. I didn't get the girl I loved rather ended up marrying those who wanted me or the ones I rescued from demons.

I had to move my whole community from the banks of Yamuna to far off Sea shore to save them from Jarasandh. I was called a coward for running away!!

If Duryodhana wins the war you will get a lot of credit. What do I get if Dharmaraja wins the war? Only the blame for the war and all related problems...

Remember one thing, Karna. Everybody has Challenges in life to face.

LIFE IS NOT FAIR and EASY ON ANYBODY!!!

But what is Right (Dharma) is known to your Mind (conscience). No matter how much unfairness we got, how many times we were Disgraced, how many times we Fall, what is important is how you REACTED at that time.

Life's unfairness does not give you license to walk the wrong path...

Always remember, Life may be tough at few points, but DESTINY is not created by the SHOES we wear but by the STEPS we take...

#rajarlaoriginals