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“Have you ever set an alarm for 5 or 6 AM, only to hit snooze the second it goes off? If so, you’re not alone.” Motivation often stems from dopamine, a neurotransmitter tied to pleasure and drive. In today’s world, with endless information on social media, overstimulation is common. We’ve all heard our parents say, “Put the phone down,” and while it might feel annoying, they have a point. Spending too much time online not only distracts but also lowers motivation, affecting our academic and social priorities. Constantly seeing others’ curated lives online can hurt self-esteem, making us feel like our efforts—like studying for a test while others party—are less valuable. This brings us to discipline over motivation. Discipline isn’t about endless grind; it’s about doing what needs to be done, even when you don’t want to. The person who works consistently, regardless of mood, will always make more progress. Why Discipline Is Hard Let’s be honest—discipline isn’t easy. It’s tough because it goes against our inherent desire for instant gratification. Sticking to a schedule, saying “no” to distractions, and choosing long-term goals over short-term pleasures takes commitment. This struggle is what makes discipline so powerful: every time we choose it, we’re resisting the comfort of the present for the rewards of the future. Discipline and the Growth Mindset Building discipline helps develop what’s called a “growth mindset”—the belief that we, and the lives we live can improve with effort. When we approach setbacks or challenges with a growth mindset, we’re more likely to see them as opportunities to learn and grow. This shift makes the process of disciplined work feel satiated, as each step forward reinforces our belief in our own potential. Self-Compassion and Discipline Some people believe discipline has to be harsh, but it doesn’t. True discipline includes self-compassion. If you slip up or forget, don’t be too hard on yourself. Remind yourself that discipline is a skill you’re building, and give yourself the grace to improve over time. Self-compassion makes discipline sustainable and ideal, helping you get back on track without burning out. Building Habits through Micro-Discipline Moments Discipline doesn’t have to mean grand gestures—it’s often the small actions that make the biggest impact. Micro-discipline moments, like deciding not to hit snooze or setting a daily time to review class notes, are small but powerful. Over time, these choices become automatic habits, helping you stay consistent even when motivation dwindles. Why Discipline Brings Fulfillment While motivation often chases instant results, discipline is about seeking long-term fulfillment through self-actualisation. Each disciplined action builds confidence and a sense of achievement that goes beyond temporary pleasure. Unlike fleeting motivation, the fulfillment from discipline is lasting, because it’s rooted in real progress and self-respect. Key Takeaways Relying on motivation can be detrimental because it’s not constant. By working through challenges especially on difficult days, you build resilience and a strong trajectory for success. Discipline is the quiet but powerful force that fuels progress when motivation’s absent. Challenge yourself to practice one small act of discipline daily. Whether it’s studying an extra 15 minutes, putting your phone away at night, or keeping a workout schedule, you’ll find that discipline, more than motivation, is the key to lasting success, and in the process you’ll find yourself and your purpose in life. I envisage that you realized how this blog can give you a boost and sense of direction for you to achieve your dreams.  “The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself; to be conquered by yourself is of all things most shameful and vile” – Plato

Pecunia, argent, dinero, okane, all of them mean the same: money. Businesses all around the world, profit or non-profit organizations, need money for different purposes: Operations, to increase capacity or to buy capital equipment to increase level of output; Finance, to introduce IT computerized accounting system to increase efficiency; Marketing, to promote the business’s goods or services to the general public via advertisements (through media like TV ads, social media); and Human Resources, to employ the right amount of people with the appropriate skills to help the business achieve its corporate objectives. This blog will be your personal comprehensive guide towards choosing the right external source of finance. External sources of finance can be categorized in two parts: short term & long term. In short term external finance, there are 3 main sources: Bank overdrafts, trade credit & debt factoring. What is a bank overdraft? It is when a bank allows the business to borrow a credit for a specific monetary limit. This can be very beneficial in instances where the business has a very low balance, for example: $1,000, and it has to pay its credit supplier $2,500 for purchase of goods. In this case, the business can ask and arrange an overdraft, where the business can overdraw its account’s balance and pay it to the supplier to reduce its trade payables. Bank overdrafts prove to be an important source for unincorporated businesses, where the business and the owner do not have a separate legal identity (like sole trader/proprietor & partnership); however, there are some drawbacks to this as well. Interest rates are often higher, meaning the business may have to pay higher rates than usual, leading to increased expenses and outflows. In some cases where the bank is not sure about the financial status of a customer to pay back the overdraft, it can just call back the overdraft immediately and force the firm to pay.  What does trade credit mean? In essence, trade credit means delaying the payments that need to be made to creditors/credit suppliers or trade payables. By doing so a business can save cash and reduce its cash outflows for a particular month, where maybe the closing cash balance is negative in the cash flow statement. Instead of arranging a bank overdraft, which will help overcome the negative closing cash balance, where security will have to be given and interest will have to be paid on a timely basis, simply delaying your payment or asking for a longer credit period would help the business in maintaining a good cash flow. Even though the business can use the goods purchased and pay later, the opportunity cost becomes the cash discount, given by the supplier for prompt payment. The supplier may also look for rival businesses where they pay the suppliers promptly; in turn, suppliers may refuse to offer credit terms and sell only on a cash basis.  Debt Factoring? Never heard of that For businesses to get immediate cash on selling claims over trade receivables, businesses must sell these claims to a debt factoring agency. This is a better option than insisting on cash payments, and waiting for long periods of time for debtors to settle their accounts. On the contrary, when the businesses sell to the debt factoring agency, it’s not for the full amount of the debt. This is where the debt factoring agency makes its money, they discount the debt and pay less than the actual debt amount. Suppose the debt sold is of $25,000, the agency may only give $18,000 cash to the business and keep $7,000. That $7,000 becomes the opportunity cost for the business, where if it waited for the settlement from the debtor, it might’ve received the full $25,000. But again, it’s not guaranteed that the debtor will pay, sometimes they never pay, leading to irrecoverable/bad debts (the amounts of the debt will not be recovered and are gone).  Now let us look at the long-term sources of external finance: hire purchase, leasing, long-term loans & venture capital.  What is the difference between hire purchase and leasing? Hire purchase is when a company buys an asset and agrees to pay the amount in fixed installments over a period of time. Once the final payment is made, the asset will belong to the purchasing company. This prevents the company from paying the initial outlay cost as a whole, but the interest rates can be higher than for a bank loan. The partial payments of the purchase cost needs to be made, alongside the payment of interest.  Leasing is obtaining the use of an asset, but it is owned by the leasing company. The leasing charge must be paid over a fixed period, which avoids the need to raise long-term capital to acquire the asset. Leasing helps in reducing the risk of using unreliable or obsolete assets, as the leasing company is responsible to repair and update the asset as part of the agreement, and helps improve cash flow position as compared to an outright purchase of the asset. It can prove to be a high-cost option, but reduces the inconvenience of repairing, maintaining and selling off the asset.  Are loans only long-term? Loans can be short term or long term, but we will be focusing on the long term aspect of loans. These loans do not have to be repaid for at least one year. Interest rates can be either fixed or variable; fixed interests provide more certainty, but it can be expensive if the loan is arranged during a period of high interest rates. Fixed interest rates can also help in terms of planning for payments, if interest of $200 is to be paid, the business can see if their cash flow position is negative or positive and then plan to pay for the interest accordingly. Additionally, security or collateral has to be given to banks to give them a sense of security, otherwise the loans will not be approved of or arranged. A benefit of loans

In June 2021, World Bank E Library Source published an article reconfirming that global multinational companies (MNCs) run by successful business people have expanded exponentially since the 1970s. They contributed 36% of global output in 2016, including around 66.66% of global exports and more than 50% of imports. The data released reconfirmed that yes, global businesses run by global business people not only contribute to world development but also contribute towards betterments of all stakeholders/parties involved at local, national and international levels Forbes also published the list of the most successful multinational companies of 2023, Top 50 Companies of this list contribute back to society to fulfil its corporate social responsibilities. Renowned individuals such as, Mark Zuckerberg, Andrew Carnegie, Warren Buffet, Ratan Tata, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and George Soros give back to the public by being philanthropic. With the data given here above, we can observe that when successful entrepreneurs make money, they invest and spend their money, ultimately making it advantageous to the external stakeholder groups. Multinational Companies investments /spending have other following advantages : Development of the infrastructure: As successful business people have their own companies, those companies may invest in improving the state of the developing countries, by introducing new facilities. These MNCs may introduce facilities like factories, training centres, educational institutions and so on. This way the developing countries can use them effectively and try to benefit the general public from these facilities. Job creation: As MNCs wish to expand overseas, possible in a new country to try to exploit a new market or to increase market share, labour is warranted. The country in which the MNC is expanding, local residents will be benefiting from the increased job opportunities. More job opportunities can potentially increase employment and reduce unemployment, which can help in increasing residual incomes of the local citizens. If the company’s size is big enough, it may benefit from economies of scale that will help in driving down those average costs of production per unit. Lower average costs can help increase the profit margins of the business if the selling price increases or remains the same. Sometimes, businesses may even reduce prices as a result of reductions in average costs of production.  Technological advancements: Innovation and technology go hand in hand, once MNCs have expanded, they may bring in new technology with them. New technology can be beneficial to the country as a whole, as it can help in improving the lifestyles of the local people. In addition, introduction of new technology can be used for enhancing efficiency and productivity. For instance, the latest machinery and equipment that have various features can be used by a manufacturing company, to attempt to increase efficiency and productivity of the production process. Technical economies of scale are possible to utilise, reducing average cost of production, increasing profitability. Increased productivity also increases the level of output, meaning the same or even more output can be produced in a short span of time as compared to before. As a result, increased productivity can improve competitiveness in the businesses.  Consumers enjoy multi choice solutions : Consumers are more aware about competitor’s products than ever due to the abundance of data on the internet. MNCs may produce a wide variety of products and services that help increase the consumer choice for the local public. More variety leads to more informed decisions to be made by the people. They can compare prices, features, materials, date of manufacturing, etc, before making the final decision, which can help them make the right choice. GDP Contribution: Successful businesses often contribute to the local GDP via improved productivity and technological advancements. Increase in the GDP will also help in improving the standard of living of the people. These businesses usually invest heavily in advanced machinery and equipment which assist in improving efficiency and productivity, leading to increased levels of output and reduced average cost per unit. The new technologies developed by these companies can help revolutionize new industries in terms of production, etc. Apple and Google are great examples of tech companies that have improved the quality of living alongside bringing in innovations to everyday products like phones, TVs and more. Tax Payments : Taxes are also needed to be paid on the profits/revenues generated by businesses. With these taxes the government is able to finance education, healthcare and social security, which is essential for the general public. Hence, when successful people make money it’s beneficial in terms of economic development and growth. The successful companies that earn billions in revenue and profit, are usually charged a lot in the terms of corporate tax, this way the government can allocate the funds earned/generated from the tax revenue to building hospitals, schools, and other facilities.  Mackenzie & Company have also published a report specifying the advantages of corporate revenues flowing towards households reconfirming benefits enjoyed by the society, as and when successful business people make huge revenues from their Businesses To reconfirm our stance, of successful business houses investments allow them to invest it back in the society, let’s explore some ways on how this can be achieved : After generating millions and billions in profits, successful business people invest in a list of things. These 4 investments can have a positive impact on the general public: In essence, it’s evident that if successful business people make money or spend their money, it will have an impact on the general public. Most of the impact tends to be positive, so successful business people should continue with these actions so it can benefit them as well as the general public.  References –  

“What is a dopamine detox?” If you are clueless about what a dopamine detox is, then let me explain. Primarily, a dopamine detox is where an individual decides to cut off all activities that usually enhance dopamine production in our brains. Examples of such activities are: endless scrolling on social media, prolonged periods of video gaming, addiction to substances and much more.  “Why should I even partake in something like this?”         In my experience, the dopamine detox enables an individual to get off the sensation of desiring more of something, such as more screen time or the augmented will to binge watch your favourite show. Not only will you reap the reward of increasing your attention span, but also to improve your overall morale and mood. Due to the inevitable advancement in technology, our lives are heavily influenced by electronic devices. From the time you wake up due to an alarm set on your phone, watching the news on the television, messaging your friends and family saying how much you miss them, till the time you finally realise that you have been at it for hours, and now it’s very late and you must doze off.  “How would I even feel if I started following the dopamine detox protocol?”         Unfortunately, it’s really difficult to give out an opinion, as to each their own. However, what I have learned after interacting with my fellow mates who have undergone this detox is that, there’s a common tendency in all our experiences. The first week is no walk in the park. You see, we humans have evolved throughout time, yet our main tendency has yet to change. We have had constant stimuli to entertain us and keep us hooked. During the prehistoric times, it was fighting animals for food, escaping life threats and being constantly on the run in order to survive. In today’s day and age, it’s a 360 degree turn in terms of the activities we do, but the result remains the same. Nowadays, we aimlessly scroll on Instagram, consuming mind-boggling amounts of content, of which there’s hardly anything that’s warranted for growth or development. Unless you are using it for marketing purposes, then it can be of some use.  After a week, the benefits are evident. Your mood will be more stable, no random sadness by seeing your friends partying on a Friday night, whereas you are at home studying good old Maths, or no random boosts of motivation by seeing a motivating clip from Denzel Washington saying, “If you don’t fail, you’re not even trying”. You need to remember this, these random mood swings can take a huge toll on your productivity and your willingness to do something. Another obvious benefit is that you will be able to focus on the task in hand. If you are on social media, or listening to Akon half of the time, you may hear the song on repeat in your head, as if someone selected the repeat option on Spotify. As you eliminate these poor habits, you are able to make informed decisions, alongside maintaining your peace of mind.  “What is the ideal duration for doing the dopamine detox?”         It is recommended to follow this practice for two weeks to a month. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that is present in our brain and body, that is responsible for pleasure, reward, motivation, and movement. Additionally, it plays a huge role in regulating mood, attention, learning, and feelings of pleasure.         Abstaining from continuous irrelevant actions that boost dopamine, is a very widely known practice, known as dopamine detox or monk mode. Dopamine detox is a very researched topic, and most of the results show that to maximise the benefits, two weeks is satisfactory.  Personal anecdotes         Given that I am a student, academics and my social life can get out of hand. What I mean is, sometimes socialising is amusing and warranted, but it can influence one’s behavioural patterns. Partying, meeting some mates, going on dinners, is one side of the coin with regards to socialising, another side is usage of social media. Due to its inexplicable and rapid growth in popularity, social media has become the new way of interacting, and as a 16 year old teen, I used to use it very often, and with that I mean 4-5 hours a day. That’s a lot! I couldn’t help but notice the time I was spending on Instagram was absolutely wasteful. Since I had my board exams coming right up, I decided to do a dopamine detox and see the results for myself. On Youtube, there are hundreds and thousands of influencers preaching about monk mode and dopamine detox. Well, it was time. I used to go through my phone searching for Instagram, and there were many occasions where I had dressed immaculately, or was travelling around the world. I felt an innumerable amount of urges to post something. Not only was Instagram not downloaded, but also none of my acquaintances were aware of my experiences. Privacy has become challenging to protect, hence, abstaining from using social media too much is necessary. Focusing on subjects such as Accounting, Business and more were as easy as rest and play, due to my mind concentrating on the only thing I was providing it with, academics and learning. Work life balance is a known concept in Business, where typically employees are able to allocate the right amount of time and efforts towards their work, and their life outside work. Similarly, one should prioritise things to get the best result.  Conclusion         As mentioned earlier on in this blog, dopamine detox has proven to be useful to me and many others. However, to each their own. If you are a student who wishes to improve their grades, then this is an absolute cheat code for you. If you are a person who spends a lot of time on social media or the internet in

When we hear the words “Millionaire” and “Billionaire”, we often associate it with sleepless nights, working long hours, or simply inheriting money from the previous generation. While some of those assumptions may be true, there are many behind the scene factors that enable even the poorest people to turn their life around. From rags to riches. In accordance with Forbes, the United States remains the country with the most billionaire citizens as of 2024, with 813 who are collectively worth $5.7 trillion. It is without a doubt that this wealth is impossible to be amassed overnight. The key points that are warranted to be successful is exactly what we will be breaking down in this blog. So, if you are interested in learning some high quality habits that are consistently seen in these affluent individuals, then grab a pen and paper, and get to work! “What should I do to start my journey towards becoming a millionaire?” It’s crucial to self analyse the areas where one can improve. For instance, if you are aware you study too less as compared to what you should, then recognising the gaps will help in providing clarity. This clarity will guide you by giving you a sense of direction and focus as to what is missing currently, and what must be done to fill this void. Being one hundred percent transparent with oneself will assist you in making better decisions. Avoid being too harsh or soft on yourself, you must remember, everyone starts somewhere. It’s not the destination that counts, it’s the journey that leads to the destination. Habits commonly observed in successful entrepreneurs: There are several habits that can aid you in improving yourself, either physically, mentally, or in terms of honing your existing competences. These habits are not something extraordinary, however with the right guidance and implementation, anyone can attract success in their own way. The habits include: Living modestly by implementing frugality, establishing an entrepreneurial spirit, gaining real time experience and work-related knowledge, networking and relationship building, being organised by planning efficiently & being financially literate. Living Modestly by implementing frugality The rich do not focus their time and energy in impressing others by wearing or looking rich. There’s a saying that goes like, “the goal is not to look rich, but to be rich”. This saying is true for the most part of it for many successful, wealthy individuals, who don’t buy expensive, designer clothing with big logos, or flashy sports cars.  An amazing example is Warren Buffet, he has a net worth of $139 billion as of April 2024. He is always seen in simple, minimalistic clothes with no logos or branding. Being the co-founder, CEO and the chairperson of Berkshire Hathaway, he is the 9th richest man in the world. With his financial stature, Warren Buffet could easily afford these luxuries, but there is a reason why he does not spend his money on those goods. There are plenty of other people such as Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs. Mark Zuckerberg is often spotted wearing basic tees in monochromatic colours, the reason being the more choices you make throughout the day, the harder each one becomes for your brain. Steve Jobs used to wear only the black Issey Miyakey turtleneck and jeans, reinforcing discipline and uniformity.  Establishing an entrepreneurial spirit All affluent individuals are self-employed and self-motivated. Everyone feels that some days they are fuelled up to conquer the world, and some days they can’t get themselves off the bed. It happens to everybody, but what separates the rich from the poor is the ability to work hard and with the right mindset. Working hard doesn’t necessarily mean work all day, all week, if that were the case the poor wouldn’t remain poor after putting in a 12-16 hour shift. The rich are able to prioritise the tasks and look towards maximising efficiency (which will be covered further down this blog). There is nothing wrong with having a 9 to 5 job, but you must realise that it may satisfy your needs, but it will not fulfil your wants.          The rich try to retain all financial freedom by starting their own business venture. Nowadays, thanks to technology, there are endless opportunities for individuals to start earning money from scratch. The rich try to figure out a niche market or an unexploited segment, which could be used for their benefit. “What is a niche market?”. Well, a niche market is where there is a small segment of a much larger market that is yet to be exploited, so a business creates a good or a service in order to exploit that segment. For instance, if in your city there is a lack of good Asian cuisine, an intellectual upcoming entrepreneur would recognise this gap in the market, and will try to come up with the most cost-effective solution, in order to start off with minimal expenses.         The benefits, as it will be the only good Asian restaurant in that vicinity, thus it attracts more potential customers, leading to increased sales revenue, increased profitability, increased customer base, and helps reinforce a brand identity. With being in control of your work related actions, you experience satisfaction and contentment, as you are not bound to anyone or anything. Gaining real time experience and work related knowledge Successful entrepreneurs hardly ever spend time and energy on the things that will not be fruitful, they do the things that can be incorporated or useful in their business. Experience is an essential key to unlock confidence and self-belief. Not only does experience help build confidence and self-belief, but it also helps in improving one’s skill level. No athlete or sportsperson can be the best in their sport without years of practice and failures, the ones who are consistent are able to reap the rewards of success. Likewise, the rich focus on getting hands on experience and knowledge. For instance, if you wanted to be an accountant, you wouldn’t be busy