"If you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be succeed." With this thought, Eric Thomas, an influential speaker, demonstrates that even though the journey of life may lead you to bumps in the road and bruise you along the way, those who are willing to persevere through hardships are able to reach life goals. When one is youthful, society as a whole encourage young people to go after their dreams no matter what. On the contrary, in later years, the more mature in age are told that those dreams are impossible to achieve and it is essentially too late. .
Douglas Everett explains that throughout the course of life, "there are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other." Those who are caught in the dream world fail to recognize their reason for life and falter to giving up hopes. On the other hand, those who face reality chase after their "personal legend," or "their calling." Paulo Coelho, author of "The Alchemist," demonstrates through the protagonist Santiago, that past is irrelevant and the steps taken toward the future are much more meaningful. Santiago's journey exhibits the necessity for one to speak and hear the truth, to execute goals rather than make excuses. If one has this mindset, then it is possible to achieve their personal legend.
Following a personal legend requires ambition and persistence and if someone does not possess these qualities, the road ahead is impossible. .
After learning how tough and dangerous the path to the pyramids is, Santiago gives up and comes in contact with a glass merchant. The glass merchant's personal legend is to travel to Mecca and create a pilgrimage. In order to achieve this goal, he opens a shop to gather enough money to take him there. At the same time, he develops the fear that if he achieves his dream, there will no longer be a purpose in his life.