“How has reading an inspirational memoir influenced your goal-setting process? Can you share one specific goal you set or adjusted after being inspired by a memoir?”
Here is what 6 thought leaders had to say.
Self-Education Memoir Inspires Coffee Brand Launch
After reading “Educated” by Tara Westover, I was completely floored in my approach towards setting goals. The story of her life where she didn’t get any formal education but yet managed to get a PhD from Cambridge greatly affected me, especially as a person who used to doubt my own nontraditional career track. I came to the realization that I had been setting “safe” goals based on what seemed reasonable, not on what I actually wanted.
Once I read her book, I set my most ambitious goal which I had been putting aside for so many years: starting my own brand from scratch. At that point I was employed securely and had tons of excuses, but the story of Tara made me realize that the fear of failing is no comparison to the fear of not trying at all.
So together with my husband, we built Cafely; with our own savings, disorganized, and unpolished at the beginning. That goal later on became a viable business with a nationwide coffee base. Tara’s memoir was enough for me to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start investing in myself.
Mimi Nguyen, Founder, Cafely
Turkish Memoir Transforms Chaos into Opportunity
Reading Halide Edib Adivar’s “The Turkish Ordeal” reshaped how I think about persistence through uncertainty. She describes teaching herself English by translating newspaper articles with just a dictionary, then using that skill to become one of Turkey’s first female war correspondents during the Independence War. Her approach – building skills in chaos rather than waiting for stability – hit me hard. I was postponing major projects “until things settled down” at work, but stability never came.
Her memoir inspired me to stop treating disruption as a pause button. When our startup went through a brutal restructuring, instead of waiting it out, I launched that technical blog I’d been postponing. Edib wrote speeches while fleeing armies; I could certainly write SEO guides during a reorg. That blog, started in chaos, became my primary lead generation source and eventually the reason a larger company acquired us – they wanted our content engine more than our product.
Burak Özdemir, Founder, Online Alarm Kur
Nike Founder’s Memoir Reshapes Business Vision
Reading **”Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight**, the memoir of Nike’s co-founder, reshaped how I approach goal-setting—both personally and at Zapiy.
Before reading it, I approached goals the way many founders do: set the target, break it into milestones, measure obsessively. But *Shoe Dog* brought something deeper into focus—the importance of embracing uncertainty and committing to the long game even when the path isn’t clear.
What struck me most wasn’t Phil Knight’s business strategy—it was his ability to stay anchored to purpose while navigating relentless unknowns. He didn’t always know the next move, but he kept going, fueled by belief, resilience, and a willingness to course-correct. That inspired me to rethink how I define and commit to goals. It’s no longer just about hitting KPIs; it’s about aligning each goal with a long-term mission, even if the milestones evolve.
After reading the memoir, one specific goal I adjusted was our product roadmap. Originally, we had a very linear, feature-driven plan for Zapiy. It was safe, clear-cut, and likely to keep investors happy. But I kept thinking about Phil Knight’s relentless pursuit of what hadn’t been done yet—how he leaned into vision over validation. That’s when we decided to reprioritize innovation over optimization. We pushed forward an AI-driven module for HR compliance that wasn’t even on the radar six months prior. It was a leap—and it required letting go of immediate certainty in favor of a bolder, riskier vision.
That decision came with growing pains, but it also unlocked conversations, customers, and opportunities that playing it safe never would’ve. And the lesson I took from *Shoe Dog* still holds: great goals aren’t just measurable—they’re meaningful. They’re not always obvious, but if you stay close to your values and remain open to evolving how you reach them, you end up building something with depth, not just metrics.
Memoirs like Knight’s remind me that goals should be alive—rooted in purpose, but never afraid to pivot.
Max Shak, Founder/CEO, nerDigital
Entrepreneur’s Story Redefines Work-Life Success Balance
Reading an inspirational memoir opened my eyes to the importance of perseverance and embracing setbacks as opportunities for learning. One specific goal I adjusted after reading a memoir about a successful entrepreneur’s journey was how I approach my own work-life balance. Before, I focused too much on sheer productivity and long hours, thinking it would lead to success. The memoir taught me that long-term growth comes from sustained effort, not burnout. I adjusted my goal to not just build my business, but also to prioritize mental and physical well-being. Now, I focus on setting clear boundaries, scheduling time for personal growth, and being more intentional with how I use my time. This shift has made me more productive and has improved my overall sense of fulfillment, showing me that balance is a key part of achieving long-term success.
Nikita Sherbina, Co-Founder & CEO, AIScreen
Memoirs Offer Universal Strategies for Obstacle Navigation
Memoirs often inspire me. Even when I read about people who are very different from me, I almost always find similarities. It reminds me that we are all striving for success and facing/overcoming obstacles. So, I am often inspired by how other people overcome obstacles, and that will encourage me when facing my own obstacles. Sometimes I will set goals about how to overcome my obstacles according to the strategies other people have successfully implemented.
Steve Schwab, CEO, Casago
Resilience Stories Forge Purpose-Driven Financial Goals
Stories of resilience and triumph often highlight the importance of setting clear, actionable goals. Personal anecdotes from memoirs provide relatable frameworks for overcoming challenges in pursuit of success. The emphasis on adaptability and perseverance reshapes perspectives on long-term planning. Lessons drawn from real-life experiences inspire more ambitious yet achievable financial objectives. Such narratives reinforce the value of aligning goals with purpose and passion.
Real-life stories create a deeper emotional connection, making lessons more memorable and actionable. The focus on overcoming adversity mirrors challenges faced in financial planning, offering practical insights. Personal resonance often comes from seeing parallels between the author’s journey and professional experiences. The emphasis on persistence and adaptability reinforces key principles of financial success. Such inspiration drives a more intentional and purpose-driven approach to setting and achieving goals.
Linda Chavez, Founder & CEO, Seniors Life Insurance Finder