It’s a very short book as I started reading while waiting for my flight in Bangkok airport. I finished it within days after. Very unusual for a slow reader like me.

The story-telling itself is straight forward with a very clear core message. It’s advice to the protagonist that “when you really want something to happen, the universe will conspire to make your wish come true“, makes this book more a self-help than a fiction.

Wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure

Paulo Coelho

Are we in control of our destiny or are our lives controlled by fate? The author tries to answer this question by telling the story of a shepherd boy named Santiago. He fulfilled his destiny in spite of finding true love and he had to sacrifice it to fulfil his personal destiny. It was through his actions and determination that he started his journey to find this treasure.

The book made me think about my situation a few years ago. In the story, the treasure to Santiago was a box of gold. But to me, my treasure at the time was my dream job.

I came from a technical web developer background. 7 years ago, I had a desire to become a business analyst but I had no idea how to. I changed job and ended up in a role that I wasn’t suited to. I was frustrated with the company. I would wake up every morning feeling demotivated. I hated going to work. So I quit.

I was quite confident I could find another job easily. But after a few months of searching, I couldn’t find any. It was either I didn’t have the right qualification or I didn’t have enough experience. All this also happened in the middle of the GFC too. The job market was shrinking. I panicked. Just like any Chicken Little would!

The darkest hour of the night came just before the dawn

Paulo Coelho

In the end, I went back to my previous role at a new company due to financial pressure from my home mortgage. Although it was a small firm, it gave me a lot of autonomy in my work. Within a year, I was recommended by my manager at the time to work on a project as a BA. I had never looked back since, as I kept developing my skills and experience for my dream job, sorry, not a dream job anymore. It’s my job now!

Although it took me a few years of going back and forth, the universe did conspire to make my wish come true. But it wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t back it up with actions and determination.

Do you have a treasure that you desire in your heart? Are you doing anything to make it happen? Drop me a comment about your personal journey. Or your thoughts about the book. I would love to hear about it!