[Personal] What will be different about 2020 for you and me?

Let me first wish you a happy new calendar year 2020. As some reminded me, it is also the beginning of a new decade. Wow!

I was joking a while back that 2020 is bound to be perfect – a number I learnt to talk since I had these specs on my nose.

Well, I am actually doing something to make this a 20/20 year.

As the new decade begins, I am picking the 2s from 2020 to make 2 big decisions, my 2 big investments for the year, which will hopefully shape my next decade and through my work – a bit of yours too.

#1 – moving to Pune. I have been in Navi Mumbai for over 11 years now. 11 years has been a very long tether for a nomad like me who believes that ‘change is the only constant’.

I came here in 2008, even survived 26/11. I was a 5 minute walk away from the CST station when I could hear those gun sounds. Thanks to a call from a colleague, I turned around.

2020 changes that. I am moving to Pune. It has been on my mind since I first visited the city for work, in 2008. While some will say, it has lost that old charm, I still find it ‘cool’. I will now be a part of the city.

For better or for worse, Puneites will see more of me, in real.

If you happen to be in Pune, pass me any tips – on eating, shopping, treks, places, on making the most of living in this wonderful city.

#2 – make coding a key skill. I have been dabbling in coding since forever. I made several tries over 2.5 decades, including choosing it as a 5th subject in senior school. It was a contrast when everyone in my section was opting for ‘physical education or PHE’.

The interest remained and I tried many more times in subsequent years but didn’t pursue enough. I came to have the opinion that ‘coding is a necessary skill’ for everyone.

Then, as I built Unovest as a platform, my frustration in dealing with other software companies, knew no bounds. Enough!

In the latter half of 2019, I started to learn to code, again! It’s 2020, I am still at it. I believe that within this year, I can add ‘coding’ to my list of skills.

I will let you be the judge on this. Watch out for the improvements on how we do financial planning, take investment decisions and track goals and asset allocation on Unovest.

Now, I have stated it publicly and tied the noose around my neck 🙂 I hope you will hold me to it.

Between you and me: So, that’s how I am doing in 2020. What about you? What are your how you are planning to make it a 20/20 year.