Where to buy
Carried by Amazon in every market, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Waterstones, Booktopia, Kinokuniya, Flipkart, Google Books, Apple Books and Kobo. Printed on demand close to wherever it is ordered.
Listed with the worldwide trade network, so any bookstore or library can order it. Ask for it by ISBN: 978-1957456027 (paperback).
What is inside
Unlocked by Dr. Kousar A Shah explores the idea that the most dependable source of support can come from within. Drawing on his own experiences of setbacks, learning, and personal transformation, Dr. Shah encourages readers to recognise their ability to become the strongest support system in their own lives.
At the heart of the book are ten core values that the author believes can help individuals strengthen themselves personally and professionally. The book examines how these values can be understood, practised, and gradually transformed into daily habits rather than remaining abstract ideas.
Through real-life experiences from the author’s journey, Unlocked looks at resilience, self-belief, discipline, and the ability to learn from difficult circumstances. It reflects on how challenges and stumbling blocks can shape character when approached with awareness and a willingness to grow.
The central metaphor of the “Godfather within” represents self-reliance and inner guidance. Rather than waiting for an influential person to solve problems or create opportunities, the book encourages readers to develop the qualities that help them make decisions, recover from setbacks, and continue progressing independently.
Unlocked is written for professionals, aspiring leaders, students, entrepreneurs, and individuals who feel limited by a lack of support or direction.
It is particularly relevant to readers seeking practical perspectives on building resilience, strengthening personal values, developing constructive habits, and becoming more self-reliant in their pursuit of personal and professional growth.
Excerpt
The mother of all the virtues a leader must possess, is a choice between convenience and what’s right.
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” – Thomas Jefferson
Bundle of Temptation
It was late in the night. A man stretched out his hand and extended a bundle of Rs 500 notes to me. I noticed that he appeared to be really distressed about something. Well, his daughter’s life was on the line, in a literal sense. But before you take any wrong leaps of imagination, I should probably tell you the whole story.
This incident occurred during one of my night duties in 1997 when I was a houseman in the department of Pediatrics. I got called to the Emergency Department for a very sick baby who had come in and I had rushed to see the child. I did all that was needed to stabilize the child clinically and admitted her to the Emergency Ward.
Following this, I completed all the necessary clinical work, including the documentation, gave the necessary treatment-related instructions to the nurses, and stepped out into the corridor. As I was walking back to the duty doctors’ room, I heard someone calling out. I turned around to see the child’s father crying inconsolably.
I immediately went back, and spoke to him, and shared the clinical condition of his daughter. I explained the procedures that were carried out and what he could expect.
I was trying to motivate him to stay positive. Suddenly he held my hand and put a bundle of notes in it. I could see the notes were in the denomination of Rs 500 each. He told me, “Doctor sir, please keep this money and see that you reserve your best treatment for my daughter.”
I was stunned. I pushed the bundle back into his hands and told him, “Sir, this is a government hospital. You need not spend a single rupee here. We will treat your daughter to the best of our capabilities, no matter what.”
He tried pushing the bundle back and said, “This is for your expense, sir. Do not worry. I will not share this with anybody else.” I was enraged by his remarks. I threatened to call the cops on him for trying to bribe me. He was taken aback by my reaction. He immediately fell at my feet, apologized, picked up the money, and left.
But when I completed my shift, the incident replayed itself in my mind. For some reason, I was unable to rest easy. I did not know why. Certain vagrant thoughts led me to question my decision to refuse that amount of money.
About the author
Group Chief Executive Officer, ShardaCare - Healthcity , Sharda Hospital · Delhi, India
Dr. Kousar A Shah is Group COO at Aakash Healthcare and a transformational leader. Drawing on his own journey, he shares practical lessons on values, habits, resilience, and building inner strength for lasting success.
Published by Stardom Books — written from the author’s own words, in the author’s name. Browse the catalogue
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