Why I Chose This Book
For Father’s Day, I received several books from my family—each one a gift of love, encouragement, and belief in my growth. One of them was The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, a title I had heard about many times but never truly explored. I chose to start with this one because I knew it carried a message about purpose, transformation, and destiny. At this stage of my life, with everything I’ve been through and everything I’m working toward, this book felt like the right starting point.
What I Learned from This Book
At its core, The Alchemist is about a young shepherd named Santiago who sets out on a journey to find a treasure he dreamed about. Along the way, he meets people, faces challenges, doubts himself, and ultimately realizes that the treasure he was seeking was always connected to who he already was. The book teaches that when we pursue our “Personal Legend” (our true purpose), the entire universe conspires to help us achieve it.
There were several powerful takeaways I connected with deeply:
The Real Journey is Within: Santiago travels far, but the transformation he undergoes isn’t just physical—it’s internal. That mirrored my own path. I’ve gone through courtrooms, trials, confinement, and pain. But the real growth has been in my mindset, my values, and my faith.
Listen to the Language of the World: There’s a recurring theme in the book that speaks to signs, omens, and intuition. I’ve come to trust my instincts more—whether in how I structure my days, how I guide my children, or how I choose what to build next.
Fear is the Biggest Barrier: Santiago almost quits his journey many times out of fear. That hit me hard. Fear of being misunderstood. Fear of injustice. Fear of being forgotten. But I’ve learned that courage doesn’t mean you don’t feel fear—it means you move anyway.
How This Book Connects to My Journey
This book arrived at the perfect time.
I’ve often felt like Santiago—on a path no one else truly understands, walking through deserts of uncertainty, questioning whether the treasure I’m pursuing is real. But this book reminded me that what I’m building through my writing, my discipline, and my family legacy is my Personal Legend. And the adversity I’m facing is not a detour—it’s part of the story.
As a father, this book also reminded me of the example I set for my children. Santiago’s growth wasn’t handed to him—it was earned through action, mistakes, and persistence. That’s the lesson I want my kids to carry with them: don’t be afraid to go after what calls to your spirit, even when others don’t understand it.
How Will Reading This Book Contribute to My Success
The Alchemist reframed how I define success. It’s not just freedom or financial recovery or public redemption—those may be milestones, but they’re not the end. True success is living in alignment with purpose. It’s being present with my family. It’s building tools that help others avoid the mistakes I made. It’s walking my path with faith, even when the outcome is uncertain.
This book gave me a renewed sense of trust in the process. It reminded me that the treasure isn’t found by running faster—it’s revealed by walking with intention.
And that’s what I plan to do—every single day.
