Ancient wisdom from India – short story. Do you think like an emperor?

One night, Emperor Akbar dreamt that he had lost all his teeth, except one. The next morning he invited his imperial court astrologer to interpret this dream.

The astrologers prophesized that all his relatives would die before him.

Akbar was very upset.

Later that day, Akbar asked his wise minister Birbal to interpret his dream.

After thinking for a while, Birbal replied that the Emperor would live a longer and more fulfilled life than any of his relatives.

Akbar was pleased with the explanation and rewarded Birbal handsomely.

So, do you think like Akbar? Let’s run a thought experiment

There are two different insurance products in the market with exactly the same outcome - it is designed to pay lump sum to your dependents after your life .

The first product is branded and marketed as “Life Insurance” and the second product is branded and marketed as “Death Insurance”

Which one will you choose?

Did you choose "Life Insurance" ? Why?

What if the death insurance offers 10% discount in premium or 10% higher lump sum payment?

Will you choose Death Insurance?

Is there a price point at which rational economics overcome human OS psychological wiring?

It takes a lot to rewire evolutionary psychological wiring.

Be aware of your default decisioning system's blind spots.


Note:

Akbar-Birbal stories are part of Indian folklore, it was an oral tradition passed down through generations, original author unknown.

Growing up in India, my grandfather narrated lot of stories, the simple stories planted in my memory decades ago do resurface time and again.

On a another note, we evolved telling stories to each other around camp fire. Stories are much more effective than monologue or speech, narrate as many stories as you can to your children.

Views are personal and certainly not a financial advice.

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