। । श्री । ।

सप्रेम नमस्कार विनंती विशेष,

Hello Everyone,

Today’s letter is special because I’m writing it in English. As you know, I usually write my Sunday newsletters in Marathi (my mother tongue), but English is helping me connect with people across the world. Once again, thank you to all my readers. We are growing day by day, and many of you are enjoying this weekly reading format. It feels great to know that you are learning something new from it every week. If you don't want to miss my newsletters you can subscribe to the email list here.

Interestingly, I actually started my newsletter journey in English. Later, just for fun, I began writing in Marathi, and everyone started enjoying it. That’s how the Marathi newsletter (which we call Patra) began!

Now, let’s talk about something important today – Opportunity Cost.

What is Opportunity Cost?

In simple words, opportunity cost means the benefit or value you miss when you choose one thing over another. You cannot be in two places at the same time, so when you choose one, you automatically let go of the other.

Let me give an example related to mobile phone usage. Suppose there is a Book Club event in your city. But you decide not to attend because the venue is far, you don’t know the author, or you prefer to spend time on your phone or watching a movie.

By skipping the Book Club, you miss a chance to meet new people, learn something new, or even discover an opportunity that could have helped you grow. That’s the opportunity cost—you lost something valuable by choosing your phone instead.

I’m Not Against Mobile Phones (yes I am)

I’m not blaming mobile phones or social media. My point is simple: sometimes we lose important chances because we avoid taking action. Some people don’t like networking or meeting new people. They think, “Why should I spend time talking to someone? Let me enjoy alone.”

But in the long run, they miss out on meaningful connections, and that’s a huge opportunity cost.

A Small Task for You

Next time you go to a restaurant, observe people around you. Notice families with children. Many times, parents give a phone to their kids so they sit quietly, and the parents can eat peacefully.

Now, we all know showing phones to kids while eating is not good—but let’s go deeper. Think about the opportunity cost here. That child could look around, enjoy the beautiful restaurant, smile at someone, or observe how kindly the staff is serving. Maybe he’d make a new friend.

But instead, he’s glued to a screen and misses all those small but beautiful moments. That’s the real cost—the lost opportunities to experience the world.

How I Made a Profit from Opportunity Cost

A few weeks ago, I was returning from Mangalore to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar with my wife and son, Vardhan. We had a connecting flight and a long 5-6 hour layover. We ate lunch, used our phones a bit, and I explained the airport to Vardhan—how planes take off and land, how many shops there are, etc.

While I was on a phone call, Vardhan started talking to a stranger—a kind old man who wasn’t even from India. Vardhan smiled and shook hands with him. After my call, we told Vardhan to say “Namaste” to his new Vietnamese friend.

We started talking, and I quickly realized he and his wife were wonderful people. His gentle smile and warm heart turned a simple airport meeting into a memory we will cherish forever. His wife appreciated how friendly Vardhan was. She is a graceful and kind-hearted woman whose gentle words and caring nature made us feel like we had known her for years.

After a short conversation, the man gave Vardhan a $1 note, calling it “lucky money,” a part of their culture. Though I refused politely, he insisted, and finally, I accepted it with gratitude.

Later, we found out they were travelling to our city too! We met again, and today, they are two of our nicest friends.

How Do We Miss Opportunities—and How to Avoid It

Most of the time, we miss opportunities not because they don’t exist, but because we are not fully present in the moment. We are busy thinking about comfort, being lazy to take action, or distracted by screens. These small decisions—like not attending an event, avoiding a conversation, or ignoring what’s around us—add up to a big loss over time.

To avoid this, we need to stay aware and intentional. Ask yourself, “Am I choosing the easy option or the valuable one?” Step out of your comfort zone. Talk to people, explore your surroundings, and give attention to real-life experiences. Even a small step—like putting the phone aside during a meal—can lead to a big, positive change. That’s how you turn opportunity cost into opportunity gain.

The Lesson

All of this happened because we chose real experiences over screens. If Vardhan had been busy on a phone, he wouldn’t have made a new friend. And we wouldn’t have met such kind people.

So, think about your own opportunity costs. What are you missing by choosing comfort over connection, or screens over real life?

Next time, choose the moment. You never know what opportunity is waiting for you.

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Stay Healthy, Stay Happy and be happy in your work.

See you in my next letter.