In Safar: An Immigrant’s Journey of Life & Leadership, Ravi Prakash describes his personal journey coming to the United States from India as a college student and rising from hourly retail jobs to leadership positions in global corporations. Through the lens of personal stories, the inspiring memoir encourages readers to lead a meaningful life.
Safar: An Immigrant's Journey of Life & Leadership is filled with practical wisdom that demonstrates the importance of perseverance, integrity, and gratitude. While readers at any stage in their careers will gain valuable insights from Safar, it seems ideal for people experiencing a transition. “Wherever you are, you have to take the next step. You don’t have to be perfect but don’t give up. Even if you aren’t sure, show up. Growth is the way we become better.”
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I recently had the opportunity to talk with author Ravi Prakash about his book and his motivation for writing it. Prakash hopes that sharing some of the highlights and hardships of his own journey will give readers a realistic view of immigration in the United States. He encourages people to be independent readers and thinkers, advising, “Be in tune to your life. You have to lead yourself. It’s an inside job.”
Prakash writes candidly about moving past setbacks like financial struggles and professional losses. He describes employment opportunities he rejected upon recognizing that they did not align with his personal values. Instead of focusing on outcomes, he urges readers to make decisions based on their own moral code. "We have to learn to do what is good for the world, not just for ourselves."
Prakash identifies inflection points as important instruments of personal growth and change. “Inflection points are not big things, they are often small and can be overlooked if you aren’t paying attention.” One pivotal turning point that changed the course of Prakash’s life—an offhanded comment from a family member—made him determined to use his own merits to seek opportunity abroad. Prakash says inflection points may not always seem positive at the time but can be useful vehicles for change. He encourages people who feel stuck to practice making decisions, adding. "Guilt should not stop you from doing something to better yourself."
In Arabic, "safar" translates to "journey", which is an appropriate title for a book that includes anecdotes from around the globe. Prakash expresses heartfelt gratitude for the friends, family, and acquaintances who offered him assistance at key moments in his life and advises, “Have empathy for people known and unknown because none of us are self-made.”
Follow Ravi Prakash on journeywithravi.com or on LinkedIn where he posts essays and observations on leadership along with his own personal poetry. His future publishing goals include a book of original poetry, a book of essays on leadership, and a book about cultures around the world with a focus on women's personal stories. Prakash believes ideas and inspiration come from everywhere and is a firm believer in the value of stories, saying "Stories are what connect us."
Alica Cavitt
Information Specialist
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