3 years ago, My childhood bestie gifted me a copy of this book ( technically her mom did ). Unsure of what to do ahead, I found myself pursuing Science in class 11th then. It was later in class 12th when the things got serious, our coaching dumped us, my fear for maths, joining new classes but realizing I was lagging far, far behind when I had tried it all but nothing seemed to work. I was still behind- frustrated and a failure. What hurt me the most was when my own parents used to say every day that I don't try, even when I was, harder every day. It had become an anxious cycle for me- go to classes, try to understand but because of the unclear base couldn't understand, realizing that I'm lagging, go home and open the thick books and try to cover but like the vast ocean that they were I could never grasp them all, used to try telling my parents that I'm finding it hard, they would shut it me down with, "You don't try", I would get hurt because I  was trying and cry myself to sleep. One year, the same story.

One similar evening, I'd just heard from my dad how lazy ass I was and how all of it was a joke to me, I came wailing to my bedroom, cried staring into nothingness. This book lied next to me on my study table- it lay there for a year but I realized I'd never picked it up. Another realization struck me that the bookworm that I was since childhood, hadn't read a single novel in a year. Why? Because I was so easily convinced by my mom when at the start of the year she told me that these non-academic books could always wait, I already had too many academic books to study. That evening, after an hour of wailing, I picked this one up irrespective of the fact that my finals were just 9 days away.

I finished it within 3 days and suddenly I wasn't scared anymore not that the circumstances had changed but because I  was prepared for what was to come. I still didn't know what I wanted but I was sure that 'Science' was not it that I wanted to do from my heart and that's why I failed, no matter how hard I tried. This book made me realize that, it gave me the courage to acknowledge it. After that, I became careless of what I scored, who will say what about me because I knew I didn't want to do it.  Later, I told my parents and they agreed to change sides, went to a career counselor, and chose a degree course according to my test results (because I was not sure still) and yes, they still think that I didn't try but it doesn't bother me anymore because I know I did.

The problem is that too many people spend their whole life aiming and never firing. They are always getting ready, getting it perfect. The quickest way to hit a target is to fire, see where the bullet landed, and then adjust your aim accordingly. 

When I talk so highly of this book, I do not mean that it has some magic and will change your life overnight. That didn't happen to me as well. It's just that I found this book when I was going through a real tough time when I was lost and directionless and it made me come across a few striking realizations.

I believe you have inside you a core genius- some one thing that you love to do and do so well that you hardly feel like charging people for it. It's effortless for you and a whole lot of fun. And if you could make money doing it, you'd make it your lifetime's work.

I rarely read self-help books, but the long story you heard is the main reason I'm attached to it. But other than that, most self-help books feel like bombarding to me, something way out of reach. Sure, this one lists principles as well but they all come from the people like you and me, and ig that's what makes them more believable and achievable. I find myself reading this one when I'm lost and this was my 2nd time reading it and I know I'll read it many more times ahead.

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Hope you guys found it helpful.

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See you in my next blog.