The Alchemist Paulo Coelho - Executive Book Review – For ...executivebookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/...TheAlchemist.final_.pdf · The Alchemist Paulo Coelho Why read this book?

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Copyright 2016 |Blue Sky Leadership Consulting | All rights reserved

Volume 3

Issue 9

The Alchemist Paulo Coelho

Why read this book? The Alchemist

BLUE SKY LEADERSHIP CONSULTING | 210-219-9934 | [email protected]

Blue Sky Leadership Consulting works with organizations to leverage Strategic Thinking and Execution Planning and we encompass many

of the principles in these books into our Four DecisionsTM methodology and development of company’s One Page Strategic Plans.

Whatever system you decide to use, understand them fully, implement them slowly and completely and maintain the discipline and

rhythm necessary to see concrete results. Employees tire of “Flavor of the Month” and thrive on organizational alignment, execution of

plans and achievements that garner a sense of accomplishment.

Key Quotes

“When we first begin fighting for our dream, we have no experience and make many mistakes. The secret to

life, though, is to fall seven times and get up eight times.” (Forward)

“It is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” (P13)

“The boy didn’t know what a person’s “Personal Legend” was. “It’s what you have always wanted to

accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is.” (P23)

“As he mused about these things, he realized that he had to choose between thinking of himself as the poor

victim of a thief and as an adventurer in quest of his treasure. “I’m an adventurer, looking for treasure,” he

said to himself.” (P45)

“Every search begins with beginner’s luck. And every search ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”

(P137)

“It’s true; life really is generous to those who pursue their Personal Legend, the boy thought.” (P170)

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Issue 9

Santiago’s story follows the “monomyth” and holds all of the characteristics of each of our life stories:

1. Family of origin expectations, encouragement and discouragement

2. Career choices and key influencers

3. Unforeseen circumstances and setbacks

4. The power and challenge of love

5. Multiple opportunities to give up

6. The sweet reward for perseverance

Two key concepts are presented in the book: pursuing one’s unique “Personal Legend” and reading “omens”

along the way.

“In the long run, what people think about shepherds and bakers becomes more important

for them than their own Personal Legends.”

Family of Origin

• Parents wanted Santiago to be a priest (P10-12)

• He started seminary studying Latin, Spanish and theology

• He finally summoned the courage to be honest with his father

• His father didn’t encourage him to follow his dreams, but blessed him anyway

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Career Choices & Key Influencers (shepherd, crystal salesman, adventurer, alchemist)

• Shepherds were the only poor people in Andalusia who go to travel and see new places

• Santiago went to a Gypsy fortune teller to see if she could interpret his recurring dream; she

confirmed that he would find his treasure at the pyramids of Egypt (P14-17)

• He meets Melchizedek and learns the world’s greatest lie: “It’s this...” (P20)

• “Curse the moment I met that old man, he thought…” (P65)

• The crystal merchant (P47) (P63)

• The Englishman (P67)

• The Alchemist (P112-116)

Unforeseen Circumstances & Setbacks

• The sheep sale (P31)

• The betrayal in Tangiers (P41)

• The tribal battles in the desert

• The loss of fortune 3x (P41, 145, 166)

The Power & Challenge of Love

• Santiago’s sheep (P28)

• The merchant’s daughter (P30)

• Fatima (P95) (P100) (P171)

Multiple Opportunities to Give Up

• “You were about to give up…” (P25)

• “…he had to choose between thinking of himself…” (P45)

• “Enough money to buy himself a hundred and twenty sheep…” (P62) (P67)

• “I want to stay at the Oasis…” (P122)

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The Sweet Reward for Perseverance

• “When he reached the top of the dune his heart leapt…” (P164)

• “The boy stood up shakily, and looked once more at the Pyramids. They seemed to laugh at him, and

he laughed back, his heart bursting with joy. Because now he knew where his treasure was.” (P168)

• “He sat and looked at the sky for a long time…” (P169)

Actions

1. Remember Key Career Influencers in your life. Contact them and thank them for

playing this invaluable role.

2. Thank your loved ones for the vital role they play in your life.

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Volume 3

Issue 9

Calendar of Events October 28th 8:00 AM – Wittigs Triggers – Marshall Goldsmith

November 18th 8:00 AM – Wittigs Scaling Up – Verne Harnish

December 16th 8:00 AM – Wittigs Ideal Team Player – Patrick Lencioni

Friday December 16th

Friday November 18th

Friday October 28th

In his classic book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni laid out

a groundbreaking approach for tackling the perilous group behaviors that destroy

teamwork. Here he turns his focus to the individual, revealing the three

indispensable virtues of an ideal team player.

In The Ideal Team Player, Lencioni tells the story of Jeff Shanley, a leader

desperate to save his uncle’s company by restoring its cultural commitment to

teamwork. Jeff must crack the code on the virtues that real team players possess,

and then build a culture of hiring and development around those virtues.

Beyond the fable, Lencioni presents a practical framework and actionable tools

for identifying, hiring, and developing ideal team players. Whether you’re a

leader trying to create a culture around teamwork, a staffing professional looking

to hire real team players, or a team player wanting to improve yourself, this book

will prove to be as useful as it is compelling.” (Goodreads.com)

In Triggers Goldsmith shows how we can overcome the trigger points in our lives, and enact

meaningful and lasting change. Change, no matter how urgent and clear the need, is hard.

Knowing what to do does not ensure that we will actually do it. We are superior planners, says

Goldsmith, but become inferior doers as our environment exerts its influence through the

course of our day. We forget our intentions. We become tired, even depleted, and allow our

discipline to drain down like water in a leaky bucket. In Triggers, Goldsmith offers a simple

“magic bullet” solution in the form of daily self-monitoring, hinging around what he calls

“active” questions. These are questions that measure our effort, not our results. There’s a

difference between achieving and trying; we can’t always achieve a desired result, but anyone

can try. Goldsmith details the six “engaging questions” that can help us take responsibility for

our efforts to improve and help us recognize when we fall short. (Amazon review)