The frugelbinder!

Take a close look at your sneakers. See the plastic tube that goes around the end of the shoe lace? That’s a frugelbinder! What about the little umbrellas that accompany your daiquiri? That’s a frugelbinder!

Well all right maybe the umbrella is called a ‘cocktail umbrella’ and the plastic tube is called just that or some equally eloquent name. But that doesn’t stop them from being this wonderful thing called a frugelbinder.

You must be wondering what the heck it is I am going on about. Ask Tom Cruise in Cocktail, as he sits with Elizabeth Shue at an open air restaurant in the Bahamas. If any of you remember this scene from the movie, then you know what I am talking about.

For the rest of you – he is referring to the ultimate business idea. A product or service that is crucial in its own spectrum, but so small in the bigger picture, that most people will dismiss it. But for the reckless ‘mars or bust’ kind of people, it’s their ticket to fame and fortune.

Such an inspiration that movie was, that the word frugelbinder has imbedded itself in my head. I knew I had to find my own frugelbinder. I couldn’t wait to grow up, finish college, do my MBA (as everyone in my generation has done) and conquer the world with my own little miracle. I was quite sure that I would know what it is and before you knew it, I would be making millions and driving a Ferrari.

So many friends have shared similar aspirations with me. Some of them even went as far as suggesting new products, businesses, ideas. Our minds could work out all the nuances of each one and nothing ever posed a problem.

We were all going to do it… Then the only problems we would face, is whose pool to swim in.

Flashback over and I am sitting here writing this blog. I grew up (my folks may not agree, but I assure you I have). I did college (no doubt there). I didn’t do an MBA, but I did find a course that was even more apt for me. But, I still haven’t found my magic formula.

Have I given up the search? I would have to out of mind to do that. No Siree, I am still hunting. Today I am seeing an infant version of my ultimate goal; let’s call it ‘fru’. This I know, one of these days I will walk smack bang into my ideal. Then the world will be mine.

“Get rich or die trying” is what one of my t-shirts’ proclaims. That’s it, in a nut shell. What is the point of being educated, well read, exposed to a world of opportunities, if you cannot take each chance you get to do all you ever wanted?

What about you? What did you want, how far are you from getting it? More importantly, have you given up or are you still willing to take the chance? Most of the world’s best business people got where they did by sheer courage. If you don’t have the guts to try, you can’t get anywhere.

There must be something we can all do nearly everyday to take us closer to our goals, even if it is a small thing. Hey even plastic tubes are small things. Ask the guy who invented the glue that is world famous now because 3M used and packaged it to the hilt.

Come Monday morning, there must be something I can do to go one step ahead and so can you. Think about it! Till then happy weekend!

A toast to Cocktails and Dreams…