5 O’Clock Reflections is a daily blog by Hemant Rustogi as he explores lessons learned in life, business, and his quest for wisdom. Each month Hemant invites a person who intrigues him, to join him for a 5 pm interview to share their insights over their favorite cocktail.
What drives me to write this blog?
For me, it is a humble opportunity to reflect and to share what I have learned.
This blog began as the result of a challenge from my friend and colleague, Judi. Convinced that I suffer from severe attention deficit, but equally convinced that I have approximately “30 minutes of genius a day,” she challenged me to tap into that genius. And that is what I hope to do. I certainly do not write for fame or fortune — it is not who I am as a person — I have no misguided notions of my talent. I write to share my thoughts with my friends, my family, and most importantly the thousands of students who have graduated under my watch over my 25 year university teaching career. Over the years, a large number of my students have told me that I touched their lives… and they certainly have touched mine! Maybe I can keep an open dialog with them through this blog? If I can touch a single life with my writing, and have fun doing it, then this will be well worth the effort.
What is this blog about?
I’ve learned that commitment (and addiction for that matter ) comes from doing something constantly. It is a strong measure of dedication. I’m dedicated to writing daily and plan to sit down each evening at 5 p.m. so I can share my insights about life, business, and infinite wisdom.
Why interview over cocktails?
I believe the best conversations happen over a drink. I am certainly not wise…yet. I seek wisdom and insights into life from the people who touch my life, and my many travels around the world. Each month I invite a person of interest to me to share their insights and inspiration over their favorite cocktail. Our interviews are informal, and mostly focused on lessons learned, motivation, advice, success, and failures.
At the end of our conversation, I ask each person the same ten questions:
- What drives you?
- If you had to go to the moon and take a single piece of music with you what would you take and why?
- If you were a cocktail, how would you describe yourself? What kind would you be and why?
- Who in the world would you most like to sit down and have a drink with (living or dead) and why?
- If you had a single piece of advice to give to young people, what would it be?
- Who’s career do you envy and why?
- When you were 16 years old what did you most often get in trouble for?
- If there were one word to describe your family life growing up as a child, what would it be?
- What is the most important thing you remember about your first love?
- What would you like your legacy to be?
You can find our interviews here.
Your role as the reader? Keep me honest. And keep me humble. I hope you will travel with me on my ambitious journey!
