Srijana Sharma

Big buildings are always alluring to me. But I am interested more in what takes to make them than their aesthetic aspects. My obsession with them stems more out of my belief that inside them live probably some of the richest and most successful businessmen ever.

I remain glued to the beautiful and well manicured organisational lawns and think not about the skilful gardeners and the time they devote in making such a wonderful sight, but think about the maintenance of the accounts related to their salary. To be a witness to such an aristocratic life, and to be able to afford to possess a black limousine with the chauffeur driving me around has been the sincere wish of my entire life.

The biographies of the Fords and the Rockefellers interest me more than that of Newtons or even Einsteins. I relish each and every bit of news about my business idols. Their sermons and remarks have probably been a greater inspiration to my life than that of my parent’s exhortations or of my teachers’ advice to excel. So what exactly is so fascinating about them? It is not about the glamour and glitter and it is certainly not about the sense of power that they ought to have tasted after their success. For they are most humble

after their extraordinary achievements and do not in anyway flaunt their wealth and opulence.

One of the most fascinating things about these people is the fact that they carry history behind their backs. It’s more interesting to learn that Bill Gates didn’t complete his studies at Harvard, yet in the years to come, became one of the most envied individuals in the world.

Success follows hard labour, grit and determination and these people have exemplified it through their deeds and hence bask in such a glory. That is perhaps the most fascinating factor about them. There is, however, even more stronger force, which draws our attention towards them. And that is money.

Of course it is all about money, for without it, Bill Gates would no more be what he is now; Henry Ford would have died as one of the many entrepreneurs who fiddled with umpteen ideas but died in a cellar, name and glory always eluding them. Money, or

better wealth, among others, catapulted them to a different recognition level. It is as if

all they have is a world of money and that it is the most powerful thing in the world. Bill Gates and Ford are always in the top of our mind because most of us belong to the lot with a craving for money — and lots of it.