As a teenager, I read everything I could find — Mills & Boon, Archie Comics, Danielle Steel — you name it. I was curious, restless, and constantly searching for something that spoke to me. I wasn’t loyal to any author or genre; I was still figuring myself out.
One evening, I was deeply absorbed in Danielle Steel’s The Long Road Home — a story of love, loss, and emotional survival. I remember narrating every scene to my mother as if I were living it. She listened quietly for a while and then asked what I liked so much about it. I told her it made me feel — it showed pain, courage, and hope.
A few days later, she handed me a new book. “Read this,” she said simply.
It was Women Who Dared, edited by Ritu Menon.
That moment changed my life.
The Turning Point
Women Who Dared was a collection of stories about remarkable Indian women — scientists, artists, reformers, pilots, dancers — each strong in her own way. I didn’t announce it to anyone, but something inside me shifted. I began to understand that courage isn’t about being dramatic or loud; it’s about showing up, quietly and consistently, for what you believe in.
That book opened something new in me. I started looking for more stories of people — real people — who built, created, served, and led. I realised I was drawn not to fiction anymore, but to lives. Biographies became my new world. I started reading Wings of Fire by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela, Becoming by Michelle Obama, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, and Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda.
Through them I saw that learning is not about memorising facts — it’s about recognising patterns: how great minds think, how they respond, and how they keep learning.
How Reading Became My Teacher
Over time, I realised there’s a difference between reading and studying a life.
Most people read a biography like a novel — they finish it, feel inspired for a few hours, and move on. But if you really want to grow, if you want to learn how leaders think, you must read with intention.
What I learned:
- Don’t read to finish. Read to absorb. Pause when a line hits you; sit with it.
- Notice the details. How do they start their day? How do they make decisions? What do they do when they fail?
- Underline patterns. Behind every great person is a repeatable rhythm — curiosity, consistency, and courage.
- Apply one thing. After every book, take one lesson and live it for a week. Reading is useless without embodiment.
These books became my private academy. They taught me that every leader is a lifelong learner — and every learner, in truth, is a spiritual seeker.
Learning as a Spiritual Act of Leadership
Every time we study a great life, we absorb more than wisdom — we absorb their energy, their discipline, their devotion. That is leadership at its core: awareness expressed through creation.
As a self-taught creator, I’ve realised that leadership and creativity are both spiritual callings. They require patience, perspective, and the humility to keep learning even after success arrives.
How Creative Leaders Think Differently
- They learn from life, not just lessons — finding meaning in details others ignore.
- They see failure as initiation — every obstacle is a doorway to deeper awareness.
- They lead with curiosity, not control — true influence is born from presence, not power.
- They keep creating even when no one is watching — because the act itself is the prayer.
Books That Changed My Thinking
Women Who Dared – Edited by Ritu Menon
The book that started it all. Stories of Indian women who changed the narrative of what’s possible. It showed me that leadership begins the day you decide to believe in yourself.
Wings of Fire – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Humility, faith, and vision — how a small-town boy became the People’s President. A masterclass in purpose and perseverance.
Long Walk to Freedom – Nelson Mandela
A story of grace and patience — the art of leadership through forgiveness and dignity.
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- Mandela, Nelson (Author)
Becoming – Michelle Obama
The quiet power of authenticity — how to lead with your truth while balancing the demands of life.
Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki
Mindset over money. It shifted how I see value — not as wealth, but as wisdom that compounds through courage.
- Kiyosaki, Robert T. (Author)
Autobiography of a Yogi – Paramahansa Yogananda
A guide to the higher self. It revealed that creativity and spirituality are reflections of the same inner light.
- Paramahansa Yogananda (Author)
How to Read Like a Leader
If you want to transform through books, here’s how to read them:
- Read with a question. Ask, “What can I learn from this person’s thinking?”
- Reflect while reading. Let each chapter teach you something about yourself.
- Write down one actionable idea. Use it in your daily life — leadership is practice.
- Don’t just collect books — integrate them. A few lived books are worth more than a thousand unread ones.
Closing Reflection
The right book at the right time can change your direction completely.
For me, that moment came when my mother replaced fiction with real stories of courage. Since then, I’ve never stopped learning — because learning isn’t something you do for school; it’s something you do for life.
Creativity and leadership are not separate paths — they are the same journey walked with awareness.
So pick a book. Read it with presence. And let it teach you how to lead yourself first.
