The Best Book I’ve Read On Overcoming Obstacles: Rereading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Written By Evan Burk

There are a lot of books about achieving goals, overcoming obstacles, and pursuing your dreams.

And I've read most of them.

But the best book on realizing one's dreams and going after what one wants in life no matter what challenges stand in the way that I've found is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, an incredible book I have re-read multiple times in my adult life.

After having just recently re-read this book, I wanted to share a few reasons the The Alchemist resonates with me so deeply.

Reason #1: Change the Way You Look at Things

Wayne Dyer said one of my favorite quotes that I heard early in my coaching career in 2006: "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change". This quote helped me reframe a lot of my early career struggles in coaching and shows up time and time again within the pages of Coelho's tale.

"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."

In a low moment after having been robbed of all his money, the Shepard mused to himself that he had a choice to make before moving forward. Will he be the victim or the hero in his own story?

Reason #2: Adversity is Inevitable

Whether defeats are necessary or not in each of our own stories does not really matter, the fact is that they happen to everyone.

"The secret of life is to fall seven times, and get up eight."

Resilience is a trait we recognize and admire in all the performers and people we all look up to. The ability to get knocked down, get back up, and become better as a result of getting knocked down.

Reason #3: Appreciating Each Moment

Another reason I love rereading this book is the theme of appreciating each moment and having patience in difficult times.

"Life will be a party for you because life is the moment were living right now"

Life has a way of being generous to those who pursue their Personal Legends, and it's an important reminder that life exists solely in this moment, regardless of where each of us are in our own personal journeys.

If you are at all interested in a book about overcoming obstacles, taking control of your own life, and pursuing your dreams, I can't recommend this book enough.

(And if you've read it, do you agree? What other book would you recommend for beginners?)

Evan Burk

Evan Burk is a speaker, former NFL coach, and podcast host who uses the sports world as his backdrop to engage audiences with thought-provoking lessons of leadership, team-building, and creating championship cultures.

Evan Burk is not your typical football coach. Despite not playing football beyond high school and no network in the coaching profession, Evan's unlikely football journey began as a 4th grade coach, where he quickly worked his way to the NFL in just 6 years, and included coaching for teams such as the Miami Dolphins, UCLA, and SMU.

After spending fifteen-plus years working with the highest-performing athletes, coaches, and teams on the planet, Coach Burk uses his unique football coaching background to teach people how to utilize the same strategies in business and life that elite players and teams use to perform at a world-class level.

Evan received his B.S. in business management from the University of Colorado, and his Master of Liberal Studies degree from Southern Methodist University. He also hosts his own weekly sports leadership podcast, The Highest Level, where he reveals how championship team cultures are built and the keys to leadership excellence at the highest level.

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