There I was, sitting with a delightful group of women entrepreneurs over lunch, savoring both the meal and the banter. The question on the table was simple yet profound: “What do you want in life? What’s your dream?” Now, this wasn’t your average lunch-table chat about the weather or the latest Netflix series. This was the kind of conversation that tickles the universe into eavesdropping.
One young, successful entrepreneur leaned in and declared, “I want a lovely house on the beach.” To which I, with a twinkle in my eye and a dash of mischief, said, “Be careful.” Not to scare her, mind you, but to nudge her into a bit of specificity. Because if you leave too much to the imagination, the universe might just have a field day.
And how do I know that? Well, let me tell you a story.
A Dream, A Diary, and a Dash of Surprise
I have this quirky little tradition. Every 1st of January, I ceremoniously pull out a fresh diary, flip to the very first page, and jot down my dreams for the year. It’s like sending a wish list to the cosmic department of possibilities. Back in 2012, a few months after moving to Bangalore, I wrote one particular dream with great conviction: “I am living in a 3 BHK home near a beach.”
Then, like most diaries, it was neatly tucked away, joining the archives of forgotten aspirations. Years passed. Life happened. Dreams shifted and shuffled. But the universe? Oh, it never forgets.
Fast forward to 2019. I was about to move into my new home in a picturesque residential complex called Purva Palm Beach in Bangalore which I had booked in 2024. As I packed, I stumbled upon that old diary. Curious, I flipped through its pages, and there it was — my beachside dream. And then it hit me. I was indeed moving to a home near a beach — a man-made one! Yes, a sparkling, synthetic shoreline crafted meticulously to bring the sea to the city.
There was my beach. No salty breeze. No crashing waves. But a beach, nonetheless! Every day, I can see it from my balcony. Magic? Absolutely. But a sprinkle of misplaced logic? Perhaps.
When Specificity Meets Serendipity
Had I written “I am living in a 3 BHK home near Juhu Beach or Anjuna Beach”, who knows? Maybe I’d be sipping coconut water with my toes in the sand. But the universe is a cheeky little trickster. It delivered precisely what I asked for, just with a creative twist.
So, to my beach-loving friend and every dreamer out there — be careful what you wish for, but also be delightfully open to how it shows up. Because sometimes, the universe doesn’t follow a straight path. It dances, twirls, and occasionally pulls a rabbit out of a hat.
And that’s the joy of it.
Great Leaders Know When to Let Logic Go
Interestingly, this same concept applies to leadership. Great leaders understand that not everything can be planned to perfection. They set clear visions, but they also remain flexible, allowing room for the unexpected. When logic reaches its limits, they lean into possibilities.
Think of the visionary leaders who launched breakthrough innovations. Steve Jobs believed in creating products people didn’t even know they needed. Great Leaders know when to silence the voice of logic and listen to the whispers of imagination.
As leaders and coaches, it’s essential to encourage teams to embrace ambiguity. Create spaces where bold ideas are welcomed, and failures are seen as stepping stones. Guide people to dream big, yet refine those dreams with clarity. When people believe magic is possible, they often discover their own hidden potential.
The Takeaway?
- Dream big, but dream clearly.
- The universe has a great sense of humor. Lean into it.
- When logic ends, don’t panic. That’s when the real magic begins.
As for me, I’ve already penned down my next set of dreams. And this time, I’ve included latitude and longitude.
You never know.
Because when logic stops, magic truly begins.