It happened on a trip I took with my wife, to Goa in 2017. Demotivated and disoriented from the results of running my business that I had poured my heart into, I needed to zoom out and get a better grip on the direction of my life. The visit turned out to be one of the most important decisions of my career.

Actually, it was not so much about all the things that happened there, but more about the time I spent reading one book that changed the course for me. I must admit though, I made for a bad travel companion; but in my defense, I did warn my wife earlier.

If you’re a bibliophile like me, you understand that a good book is a whole world in itself. It takes you on a journey like no other. Books conjure up different images, flash memories, evoke emotions and maybe inspire us to become a better version of ourselves.

“There are two types of writers: those who make you think and those who make you dream” said English writer Brian Aldiss.

Brazilian author, Paulo Coelho helped me dream. Infact, he helped me nudge towards a dream, a road, I didn’t even know existed. I’ve been vocal about books being a friend and guide to me, when I didn’t have many to name. Through his book, going on a journey with him has been a beautiful trip worth taking. Seeing the way he saw the world, was a breath of fresh air.

That book was The Alchemist. The power of his simple stories shifted something inside of me that helped me follow the path on which I am currently walking. It broke my confines of thinking and rediscovered a dormant belief in me about pursuing a career in performing arts or broadly the creative space. It was an extremely difficult decision to wind down my already running venture. But, I had to act upon what I knew to be true all along.

In the book, Paulo Coelho often talks about omens; the signs from Universe, which if you listen to carefully, gives you the answers to what you are really seeking. The answers have actually been with you all along, but you’ve just got to listen and believe in them. Now I should mention, this book is not for everybody. This is more of a spiritual quest. If things like these don’t fascinate you, it’s alright.

But, if you’re in a phase of life where you need to course correct or find answers about which direction to take, maybe The Alchemist, will be that guide worth listening to. It helped me expand my horizons of thinking. I hope it does the same for you.

Have you already read the book? What was your experience? Do share in the comments below.