Making hay when the markets don't shine

Some meetings are better suited to a blog post than Meeting Minutes. When you are meeting with a private equity fund manager in shirt sleeves when markets are down and out, the possibilities for discussion are endless! Everything from the kid's schooling to the latest vacation, even the quality of the domestic cook are equally promising subjects to discuss. These are times when you actually "discover" something more about your client as a person, if you know what I mean. These are times when you say to yourself, 'How come I never asked clients about their favorite cuisine?' And a booming voice answers in your head, 'Because the markets have finally conspired with the Universe and given you the chance!'

As we worked our way through the weather, the crazy Mumbai traffic, the shocking events in financial markets since we last met, I realised how much I missed this. Meetings had become all too agenda-driven all through 2008. Check in at reception - get ushered into the conf room - shake hands with client - ask for tea or just water - discuss deal - confirm timelines - Get up and shake hands again - Leave for the next meeting. No mention of weather, not even the bollywood-multiplex strike!

Well, so times have finally changed for the better, for lack of a better word. The latent creativity in me has welcomed this change completely. Now I find myself unleashing it on clients. The aforesaid fund manager got a taste of it this week - When talk of sectors to invest in given current market conditions came up, I suggested investing in a chain of SCUBA-diving schools. And I had solid logic too - with more and more people finding time to discover passions, specially an addictive one like SCUBA-diving, diving schools are pretty much the next biggest thing. Remember, you heard it here first.

Every bear has a silver lining, I say.