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Shital

Shital Kakkar Mehra  | Answer  |Ask -

CEO Coach, Business Communication Expert - Answered on Apr 24, 2023

With over 20 years of experience, Shital Kakkar Mehra is one of India’s leading coaches for CEOs. She has personally trained over 45,000 professionals across Asia, including numerous CEOs from leading multinational and progressive domestic companies. Mehra is an All-India gold medallist in hospitality administration from the Institute of Hotel Management, Mumbai. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Mumbai and an executive presence certification from Cornell University.... more
Riki Question by Riki on Apr 11, 2023Hindi
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Career

Hello madam/sir, I have a question in my mind. I work in a bank. I donot like to talk much with anyone, while other colleagues are free among themselves. Does this emit any sense of ego, or haughtiness or the likes from me? How do others perceive my behaviour? I do reply their questions, wherever possible. Or else i prefer to be in me. Their questions sometimes are more of spiral in nature. Please help.

Ans: Dear Riki,
Building healthy workplace relationships is critical for success and smooth working. While you are a quieter person, do make an effort to have a few meaningful conversations with your colleagues - it builds better likeability quotient.
Career

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I am working as Branch Manager in Bank. My nature is more talkative and also due to my job many customers are meeting me. This fact increases my talkative nature and due to this though customer is satisfying my working time get reduced and I can't do my office work. Please advice about how to overcome this.
Ans: It's great that you're aware of the impact your talkative nature has on your work efficiency. Here are some strategies to help you manage your talkative tendencies while balancing customer satisfaction and your office responsibilities by establishing clear boundaries for your interactions with customers. While it's important to provide excellent customer service, set limits on the length and depth of conversations to ensure you can prioritize your office work. Allocate specific time slots during your day for customer interactions and office tasks. Use techniques like time blocking to schedule dedicated periods for meeting with customers and focusing on your administrative duties. Identify your most critical office tasks and prioritize them based on importance and urgency. Focus on completing high-priority tasks during designated office hours, and schedule customer meetings around these priorities. Delegate certain customer interactions or administrative tasks to your team members or support staff. Empower your team to handle routine inquiries or transactions, freeing up your time to focus on strategic priorities. When engaging with customers, practice active listening to understand their needs and concerns effectively. Summarize key points and address their inquiries efficiently to prevent conversations from veering off-topic. Clearly communicate your availability and office hours to customers. Set realistic expectations regarding response times for inquiries or follow-ups, and inform customers of alternative points of contact for urgent matters. Implement visual cues or signals to indicate when you're available for conversations with customers and when you need uninterrupted time for office work. For example, use a "Do Not Disturb" sign or closed office door during focused work sessions. Reflect on your communication habits and identify triggers or patterns that contribute to excessive talking. Practice self-awareness and mindfulness techniques to manage impulsivity and maintain focus during work hours.

Consider participating in workshops, seminars, or training programs focused on time management, communication skills, and customer service excellence. Develop strategies and techniques to enhance your effectiveness in managing customer interactions and office responsibilities.

By implementing these strategies and techniques, you can strike a balance between providing excellent customer service and fulfilling your office duties effectively. Remember that managing talkativeness is a skill that can be honed over time with practice, self-discipline, and a proactive approach to improving your work habits.

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11089 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Mar 30, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Mar 30, 2026Hindi
Money
Hi, I am 44 years old salaried having monthly income of 2 lakhs living in Gurgaon, planning to retire by 2030. we are family of 3, me wife & daughter in class 9th. Sharing below details, m i on right track & what advice would help me maximizing gains out of below portfolio. 1- Term plan of 2 crores 2- Family health cover 10 lakhs 3- 2BHK house loan free in Gurgaon having resale price of 1 cr. 5 years old property high rise. 4- 3 BHK house loan free in Gurgaon, current value 1.3 cr. 5- EPF accumulation till now 50 lakhs. 6- SIP accumulation 53 lakhs with monthly SIP of 1,07,000. mix of LC,MC &small cap. 7- OLD lic jeewan anand poly maturing in 2033 - 20 lakhs 8- PPF accumulation till now 11 lakhs 9- SSY for kid accumulation 11 lakhs. 10- Rental income 22k from 2 bhk. Booked another 3 BHK "2 cores", possession in 2028, Bank loan. current EMI is 52k, as loan is partial loan disbursed. Do not posses any inherited property or money. Is it wise to retire by age 50 with above investment. planning to repay bank loan before retirement either by selling 2 bhk & remaining by savings. Monthly expenses including school fees stands 50-60 k today.
Ans: You have built a very strong financial base by age 44. Two debt-free houses, strong SIP discipline, EPF accumulation, child education savings and protection planning show clarity and commitment. Early retirement by age 50 is possible in many cases like yours, but it needs careful adjustment in the next 5 years because your retirement horizon is long (almost 35+ years after retirement).

Below is a structured assessment and improvement roadmap.

» Your Present Financial Strength

– Term cover of Rs 2 crore is appropriate for your income level and responsibilities
– Family health cover of Rs 10 lakh is good, but can be strengthened
– Two loan-free houses worth about Rs 2.3 crore together provide stability
– EPF corpus Rs 50 lakh is a strong retirement backbone
– SIP corpus Rs 53 lakh with monthly investment Rs 1.07 lakh is excellent discipline
– Child education corpus already started through SSY Rs 11 lakh
– PPF Rs 11 lakh adds safe retirement cushion
– Rental income Rs 22,000 supports future passive income planning
– One traditional insurance maturity expected Rs 20 lakh in 2033 adds support

Overall, your base is strong for someone targeting retirement at 50.

» One Important Reality About Early Retirement

Retiring at 50 means your wealth must support:

– Household expenses for 35+ years
– Child higher education and possibly marriage
– Medical inflation
– Lifestyle inflation
– Loan closure before retirement

So the focus now should shift from accumulation only to income sustainability planning.

» Your Current Monthly Expense vs Retirement Need

Today expenses are Rs 50–60k including school fees.

After retirement:

– School fees will reduce later
– But lifestyle expenses increase with inflation
– Medical costs increase after age 55
– Travel and personal goals increase after retirement

Practically, your retirement income target should be higher than today's number.

Your rental income already supports part of this.

That is a strong advantage.

» Impact of the New 3 BHK Purchase

Booking another property worth Rs 2 crore is the only area where caution is required.

Because:

– Loan continues till retirement window
– EMI reduces SIP flexibility
– Possession in 2028 means financial pressure close to retirement year
– Real estate concentration becomes high in total portfolio

Your idea of selling 2 BHK before retirement to close the loan is sensible and practical.

This improves retirement safety significantly.

» Health Insurance Needs Immediate Upgrade

Current cover Rs 10 lakh is not sufficient for a family of three in a metro city.

Suggested improvement:

– Increase family cover to Rs 25–30 lakh using top-up structure
– This protects retirement corpus from medical shocks

This is very important before age 50.

» Education Planning for Daughter

Child is in class 9 now.

Higher education timeline:

– Only 3–5 years away

SSY corpus Rs 11 lakh is a good start.

But education costs may require additional support from:

– SIP accumulation
– LIC maturity Rs 20 lakh (2033)
– Partial EPF later if required

Plan this carefully so retirement corpus is not disturbed.

» Retirement Income Planning Strategy

Your future retirement income sources may include:

– Rental income from one house
– EPF withdrawals after retirement
– Mutual fund SWP income
– PPF maturity support
– LIC maturity amount
– Possible second property decision

Because you already have multiple income sources, retirement at 50 becomes realistic if loan closes before retirement.

» SIP Strategy – Continue Aggressively Till 2030

Your SIP of Rs 1.07 lakh is the strongest engine in your portfolio.

Maintain this for next 5 years without interruption.

Also ensure:

– Allocation remains diversified across large, mid and small companies
– Periodic portfolio review every 12 months
– Avoid stopping SIP during market corrections

This step alone can decide early retirement success.

» EPF Should Be Preserved Till Retirement

Do not withdraw EPF before retirement unless emergency arises.

EPF acts as:

– capital stability layer
– longevity protection layer
– inflation balancing support

This is your safest retirement pillar.

» LIC Policy – Keep Till Maturity

Since maturity is approaching in 2033 and value is reasonable, continue it.

It will support mid-retirement liquidity needs.

» Asset Allocation Observation

Currently your portfolio has:

– strong real estate exposure
– strong equity SIP exposure
– strong retirement accumulation through EPF
– safe allocation through PPF and SSY

This is a balanced structure already.

Only improvement required:

Increase financial asset share slightly over next 5 years.

» Is Retirement at Age 50 Possible?

Yes, possible if these conditions are followed:

– Close housing loan before retirement
– Continue SIP till 2030 without reduction
– Increase health insurance cover
– Avoid additional liabilities
– Preserve EPF till retirement stage
– Plan daughter education separately from retirement corpus

If these steps are followed, retirement at 50 becomes achievable and comfortable.

» Action Steps For Next 5 Years

– Continue SIP Rs 1.07 lakh monthly
– Increase health insurance protection
– Avoid new liabilities
– Close upcoming housing loan before retirement
– Build additional emergency fund equal to 12 months expenses
– Review portfolio once every year with a Certified Financial Planner
– Keep rental income reserved for future retirement buffer

» Finally

You are already ahead of many professionals in your age group.

Your discipline, debt-free properties and strong SIP commitment create a solid base for early retirement success. With small corrections in health protection, loan closure timing and retirement income structuring, retiring at age 50 can become a practical and safe decision instead of a risky one.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramalingamcfp/

...Read more

Pushpa

Pushpa R  |71 Answers  |Ask -

Yoga, Mindfulness Expert - Answered on Mar 30, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Mar 30, 2026Hindi
Health
I’m a 34-year-old with a desk job, and I’ve been dealing with constant stiffness and lower back pain. Can yoga for back pain relief actually fix posture issues caused by long sitting hours, or is it just temporary relief? Which yoga poses are most effective for office workers?
Ans: Yes, yoga can do more than temporary relief. For many office workers, lower back pain comes because long sitting makes the hips tight, weakens the core, and rounds the back. This changes posture. If posture does not improve, pain keeps returning.

Yoga helps by stretching tight muscles and strengthening weak muscles. Slowly, the body learns to sit and stand correctly again. This is why regular yoga can give long-term relief, not just short relief.

For desk-job back pain, these poses are very useful:

Cat-Cow stretch – reduces stiffness in the spine.
Child’s Pose – relaxes the lower back.
Bhujangasana (cobra pose) – opens the chest and improves posture.
Marjariasana with gentle twist – helps release back tension.
Setu Bandhasana (bridge pose) – strengthens the back and hips.
Pavanamuktasana – reduces lower back tightness.
Tadasana – teaches correct standing posture.

Also, every 45–60 minutes, stand up, stretch, and walk for 2 minutes. Small changes in sitting posture help a lot.

Please do not practice only from videos. Wrong posture during yoga can increase pain. A qualified yoga or meditation coach can understand your body and guide you safely for lasting results.

R. Pushpa, M.Sc (Yoga)
Online Yoga & Meditation Coach
Radiant YogaVibes
https://www.instagram.com/pushpa_radiantyogavibes/

...Read more

Pushpa

Pushpa R  |71 Answers  |Ask -

Yoga, Mindfulness Expert - Answered on Mar 30, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Mar 30, 2026Hindi
Health
I’m 29 and I’ve tried gym, diet plans, even walking regularly but nothing seems to stick. My friend tells me that yoga is good for weight loss and belly fat, but I don’t understand how slow movements can actually burn fat. Can you give me some real life examples to help me understand how yoga helps reduce weight?
Ans: Many people think yoga is “too slow” for weight loss. But weight gain is not only because of food. Stress, poor sleep, emotional eating, hormones, slow digestion, and sitting for long hours also increase weight and belly fat.

Yoga works on all these together.

For example, think of two people. One does hard gym for 1 hour but feels stressed, sleeps badly, and eats more later. The other does 30 minutes of yoga daily, sleeps better, feels calmer, digests food well, and stops emotional eating. Slowly, the second person often loses weight more easily.

Another example: belly fat is like water filling a bucket. Food is one tap, but stress is another tap. Yoga closes the stress tap. Practices like Surya Namaskar, twisting poses, plank, and breathing improve metabolism and burn calories. Meditation reduces cravings and mindless eating.

Many of my students say they first lost inches, then their clothes became loose, and later the weight reduced. Yoga may look gentle, but when done regularly, it changes the body from inside.

Please do not practice only from videos. Weight loss yoga must suit your body, routine, and health. A qualified yoga and meditation coach can guide you safely and help you stay consistent.

R. Pushpa, M.Sc (Yoga)
Online Yoga & Meditation Coach
Radiant YogaVibes
https://www.instagram.com/pushpa_radiantyogavibes/

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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