Husain Journal

“He had heard people speak contemptuously of money: he wondered if they had ever tried to do without it.” — W. Somerset Maugham, author of Of Human Bondage I don’t hate money. I hate the philosophy that dictates that money should be hated. Yes, we can’t drown in greed to acquire it. We can’t infringe on anyone’s rights to amass it. But we can’t also leave any legitimate way to earn it. Agree? Then read on. Digging around options to grow my money, I came across an intriguing concept: The Rule of 72. This simple formula helps you estimate how long it will take for your investment to double, based on a fixed rate of interest. Here’s how it works: you divide 72 by the rate of interest. For example, if you invest your money at a 10% annual return, the math is straightforward — 72 ÷ 10 = 7.2. That means ...

“I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” Abraham Lincoln Ever felt Like Progress Is Too Slow? Has it appeared to you that the going is getting tough? If yes, then read on. Today, I published another post on my blog, and I’m feeling good about it. Staying consistent with my writing has been a challenge, especially when the response from readers hasn’t quite met my expectations. But I’ve realized something important: consistency is key, and that’s what matters most right now. Progress Is About Showing Up As I reflect on my journey, I remind myself that progress doesn’t always come in big leaps. Sometimes, it’s just about showing up, day after day, and putting in the work. Improvement happens gradually — by keeping the momentum going, even when immediate results aren’t visible. I’ve set myself a goal: once I’ve published a dozen or so great posts, I’ll start looking for influencers to help spread the word. It’s often said that the secret to s...

Here’s the thing about hiccups: they’re often disguised as opportunities. Over the years, I’ve come to believe that every moment — good or bad — has something to teach us. Yes, some days, no matter how much we plan, life throws curveballs. Today was one of those days for me. Half the day has passed by, and I’m finding myself mentally drained, feeling as though I hadn’t accomplished anything concrete. Yet, as I reflect on the day, I realize it wasn’t a complete waste — far from it. A Slow Start with a Bright Spot The day began with a small but meaningful success: I offered my morning prayers on time. It was a quiet moment of gratitude and reflection, setting the tone for a promising day — or so I thought. But soon, the sluggishness set in. Despite my initial enthusiasm to write and hit a thousand-word target, I struggled to focus. Restlessness crept in, and my productivity felt like it had hit rock bottom. ...

Let me confess upfront: I’m terrible at small talk. Social gatherings are my Achilles' heel, especially when faced with the challenge of creating engaging yet effortless conversations. However, last evening, when I met my cousin sister and her husband, I found myself thrust into the proverbial deep end of small talk. What could I possibly say to make the evening flow smoothly? As luck would have it, I discovered that my cousin’s husband works in a UAE bank. Aha! Finally, a topic I could tackle: money. Lately, I’ve become deeply interested in personal finance, particularly in frugality and strategies to save for the future. This newfound interest had nudged me toward exploring mutual funds, a topic I eagerly brought up. Why Mutual Funds Caught My Attention For years, I relied on traditional saving options like fixed deposits (FDs) and recurring deposits (RDs). While these tools offer safety, they fail to outpace inflatio...

I normally get overly harsh with myself when I miss any of my important work. This harshness causes me undue frustration, self-hatred, and more often than not, I see my joy and productivity taking a slump. But when this morning I missed my prayers, I treated myself with kindness, as a caring friend. I countered the rising flood of self-reproach with love, forcing myself to see if there could be any underlying reasons behind this slipup. Guess who the first culprit was? A late-night writing marathon to hit my 2,000-word target. While I got close, the cost was a sluggish start to my day. Reflecting on this, I realised that missing my prayers isn’t just about physical tiredness — it’s a signal that I need a better balance in my life. To address this, I’m committing to waking up early and taking proactive steps to reduce unnecessary stress. Stress, especially the avoidable kind, weighs he...

For the past several days, I haven’t allowed myself the luxury of writing freely. Today, before diving into anything else, I’ve decided to hit the keys and reach at least 500 words. If I manage to cross 1,000 words, that’ll be a delightful bonus — but I’m not setting my sights on that just yet. Why? Because aiming too high can often feel discouraging. Instead, I strive to find a balance between setting a challenging goal and keeping it within reach. This balanced approach is something I’ve honed over time. Tasks that are overly ambitious can drain motivation because they feel insurmountable, while tasks that are too easy fail to provide the thrill of accomplishment. Striking a middle ground helps me stay motivated and ensures that I don’t fall into the traps of burnout or complacency. The Power of Balance in Goal-Setting 1. Confidence in Consisten...

Our minds are incredible, but they’re not always rational. Cognitive biases — mental shortcuts and errors in judgment — can often lead us astray, influencing decisions about money, time, and relationships. Here I’ll break down four of the most common biases, show how they play out in everyday life, and provide practical solutions to avoid them. 1. Anchor Bias What is it? Anchor bias occurs when we rely too heavily on the first piece of information (the "anchor") presented to us, even if it’s arbitrary. Everyday Example: Imagine you’re shopping for a shirt without a set budget in mind. The salesperson shows you a shirt for ₹2,000. You reject it as too expensive, so they offer a ₹1,500 shirt. Finally, you settle for one priced at ₹1,200. Here’s the catch: Your original budget — ₹800 — was never part of the conversation. Instead, you anchored yo...

In a world where distractions are endless and time feels scarce, finding moments for self-growth can seem challenging. But I’ve come to realise that some of the best opportunities for improvement are hidden in the everyday routines we often take for granted. Take my work at the front office, for example. My main job is to guide people and resolve their queries. On the surface, it might seem straightforward, but it’s given me countless chances to practice skills like patience, clear communication, and problem-solving. These are small but valuable ways I can grow each day, even in the middle of my regular responsibilities. Waiting for the “Ideal” Opportunity Like many others, I used to think, "If only I had better circumstances, I could do so much more." There were times when I wished for a quieter, more inspiring environment or for colleagues who pushed me harder. But over tim...

"To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future." Plutarch There’s something sacred in the quiet moments that follow a brisk morning walk: the sharp air, the gentle hum of the world coming to life, and the soothing warmth of a cup in hand. It’s a time when the soul feels at ease, preparing for the day ahead. This morning, I found peace in the early prayers at the mosque. It set a serene tone for my day, grounding me in the present moment. As I walked back home, the cold air nipped at my face, but I welcomed it. I found solace in the simple act of holding a steaming cup of tea, my hands warmed by its embrace. But today, my thoughts went deeper than the routine comfort of tea and silence. I couldn’t help but reflect on my time in Delhi — those formative years when my journey of learning and self-discovery was stil...

“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.” - Seneca It starts as an innocent itch, right? It would just be a quick check, you tell yourself. But one scroll turns into an hour, and the guilt that follows is unbearable. Facebook. It was Facebook for me, but for you it could be Instagram, email, YouTube shots – or any of those attention-sucking tools – that exploit psychological tricks to keep us hooked. Facebook wasn’t adding value to my life — it was draining my time and attention. In an era where every notification pulls us away from meaningful work, protecting our attention has become the ultimate productivity hack. Yet, how often do we let distractions like social media steal our focus — and our time? For me, this struggle hit hard in 2018, when Facebook became a tremendous obstacle to my productivity. I realised I needed a change. This realisat...