I strongly feel that Google and the miracle of digital technology, WhatsApp, are greatly contributing to educate people and widen their knowledge on every subject under the sun. Talk of self-education? These are the two no-cost, all-time tools. A doctor friend of mine was so annoyed with his lady patient who began to spew her Google knowledge about her problem, he simply asked her to leave.

Yes, in a way I am also a beneficiary of WhatsApp as it has provided me many subjects to write this column, including this one.

A friend sent me a WhatsApp message about Jewish people, wantonly, knowing that I am a Kodava from Kodagu. Otherwise, there was no need for him to write below the video clip a note as follows:

“What a great piece of advice! A few things our community needs to adopt to stay relevant in our Kodava land.”

I usually pass over videos unless the face is of LoP or Trump. This one was of an African Investment Consultant. So, I ignored it at first, then I saw a note below it and the name Kodava. I was interested. Let me see what is there that a Kodava should learn. However, since it is universally applicable to all people to further their career and increase their wealth, I produce here a gist of it. The important question it deals with is: What makes Jewish people so wealthy?

Jews make up only 2.4% of the US population, but about 1 in 3 American millionaires are Jewish. The person in the video claims himself to be an investment advisor. He says after working with many Jewish clients, he had learned some wealth principles from them.

They focused on being rich rather than looking rich. They weren’t out there flexing. They didn’t feel the need to be flashy. They drove reliable cars, not all luxury cars.

Why is that? Because they cared more about being wealthy than looking wealthy. They were selectively extravagant and prudently frugal. They dropped serious money on education, on experiences, on their investments, or giving to a cause that they really cared about.

But some of the same people would also clip coupons at the grocery store. They knew when to spend big and when to hold back. It wasn’t about being cheap. It was about being intentional. They saw sales as a noble profession. Many of them encouraged their kids to go into sales. Why? Because sales create opportunities. It teaches communication, builds resilience, and uncaps your income. They didn’t look down on the sales profession. They saw it as a gateway to entrepreneurship and financial freedom.

They practised group economics. They did business with each other a lot. It wasn’t exclusionary because they still worked with others. But they had a deep commitment to supporting their own. They hired each other, referred each other and funded each other’s business ventures. And that’s something others too need in their community. One does not have to be Jewish to apply these principles. Wisdom is wisdom and it’ll work for anybody.

Probably, the person who sent me this video thinks Kodava community need to follow these guidelines in their businesses, offices and entrepreneurial activities. This was rather cerebral for me. So I asked a friend, who hails from Kodagu, for a take on this Jewish wisdom. This was what I got: ‘Yes, Jewish are frugal, don’t wear their wealth on their sleeves, don’t spend on flashy goods and swanky cars. Instead, they invest in education and community support.

‘These are exactly the opposite of what we in Kodagu do. Remember coffee boom days? Even mid cap planters had gunny bags to carry money. A  sales manager of a luxury car brand came to see how this small district could buy so many high-end cars!

‘Saturday morning, they make a beeline to Mysuru, eat, drink, splurge and return. In Kodava wedding, everything is opulent.

‘Fast forward to the post-coffee boom. Most cars were sold, half constructed guest houses were left incomplete. Many started selling their estates. Compared to the Kodavas, others were more cautious with their money and property.’

Hearing my friend’s observations, I thought the Jewish wisdom is worth emulating. I marvel at the way they have risen from the ashes to rule the world economy.

“Your post was truly a prompter for soul-searching to Kodavas,” my friend concluded.

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