Robin Sharma’s balancing act

Leadership guru and writer Robin Sharma learns from life. And even as he learns, he loves to travel, eat, appreciate art and, at the end of the day, stretch out with a good book

Robin Sharma's balancing act

Leadership guru and writer Robin Sharma learns from life. And even as he learns, he loves to travel, eat, appreciate art and, at the end of the day, stretch out with a good book. Robin, who is down from the US to witness the theatrical adaptation of his best seller The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and the launch of his audio book The Leaders Who Had No Titles, says, "Now that The Monk... is a hit, how about buying an Audi for myself (laughs)?" He shares his leisure pursuits with CS:

Food courtu00a0
To tell you the truth, I am a big foodie. I love trying out world cuisine. But my heart lies where my roots areu00a0-- India. I love the food here. There is so much variety that you can practically spend hours tasting without getting bored. Right from starters to desserts, there is so much to be relished in every taste you desireu00a0-- sweet, tangy, spicy, etc. And if you have a chilled can of beer to complement the meal with, nothing like it. So chicken or a mutton curry with a naan or an onion kulcha along with tantalising pickle, chutney and salad is all I ask for.

Full house
When I read a great book, immaterial of the genre, I feel so much better. I feel grounded, refreshed, reconnected and all inspired to see things around me in a better light. My house is like a bachelor's pad where few rooms are almost full of books. Some of my personal favourites are The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi, and Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela. Currently, I am reading Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky that talks about ideating and executing in real corporate life.

Art for soul
I love art. Art in any formu00a0-- paintings, music or filmsu00a0-- completely enthrals me. My father is from the Kashmir valley. So it is something about India and its culture that keeps pulling me back. I love traditional Indian art, especially like the intricate carvings on the Taj Mahal ceiling. Apart from this, I am an avid listener of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Ravi Shankar's music.u00a0

Traipsing around the globe
I like travelling to and exploring new places. And if the trip includes my family, it's bliss. I keep travelling around the year and adapt myself to my surroundingsu00a0-- be it the hot desert climate or the snow-laden mountains where I ski. You can call me a professional touristu00a0-- literally. I love to see the setting sun behind the Taj Mahal alongside river Yamuna.

The writing track
And, however clich ufffdd it might sound, my writing and my mission in life are one and the same. It keeps me going. Everyday, I get up in the morning to pen down something new that I have learntu00a0-- from my sons, house help, or people around me. I love to give back what I have learnt and soak in what others have to offer. I feel every person is a leader and has something to offer to the world. The only difference is that some get titled, some don't.

Who: Author Robin Sharma
What: At the launch of the play adaptation of his book
Where: Tao Art Gallery