Dr. John Giftah is a Top-ranking Podcaster / Bestselling Author / Award-winning Inspirational Speaker / World-Record Holder / YouTuber / Aerospace Engineer and Founder of John Giftah International. He is an inspirational voice to multitudes around the world as he speaks through virtual and LIVE speaking engagements in conferences, podcasts, television, schools, corporates, colleges, personality-development programs, churches and various other forums.
Apart from his first book, “Who Am I?” – a book on our identity and value, his recent bestseller “Unveil Your Purpose” became a #1 New Release on Amazon in India and takes its readers on a quest to discover their purpose and to start walking in it.
He hosts “Fuel for the Soul with John Giftah”, a DAILY podcast which primarily ranks as #1 Christian podcast in India and trends around the world. Apart from short solo episodes, he also has interview episodes and has hosted several world-renowned guests including Hollywood/Disney Actress Gabriella Graves, Mark Angel Comedy’s lead Actor Baze 10, Holly Starr, Stella Ramola Dhinakaran and Samuel Dhinakaran.
We caught up with him for a conversation on his latest bestselling book Unveil Your Purpose. Here are some of the excerpts from the interview:
1. What inspired you to write the book Unveil Your Purpose?
An aircraft will be at its best, showcase its full potential and fulfill its purpose only in the sky. A train will not make it outside its track and a car cannot thrive in water. Each vehicle has its specific area depending on its functionality.
Likewise, each person has a specific area where they can be their best and unleash the best version of themselves. That area is a culmination of their gifts, talents, strengths, childhood dreams, passion and more.
So, I wrote this book to help people find out that area of their life. I want them to discover their real identity and live out their purpose so that they will live their best life now and also be a blessing to others.
2. What challenges did you face while researching and writing it?
The biggest challenge I faced was time. I work in a full-time corporate job and run ‘John Giftah International’ (a Christian organisation with daily podcasts, YouTube videos, social media and events) along with other speaking engagements and endeavours. So, it was a big challenge fighting through the tiredness, exhaustion, burnouts and to sacrifice my personal time, sleep and pretty much a lot of things! Good things don’t come easy.
3. What part of the book fascinated you the most as the author?
Honestly, the part that still fascinates me the most about the book is the unique way I wrote the Acknowledgement section. I still can’t imagine how it beautifully fell into place. Unlike taking the usual approach, I wrote the acknowledgement section comparing the journey of the book with an aircraft journey considering each person as a part of an aircraft (showcasing my Aerospace engineering background :D). Throughout the book, I loved the way everything beautifully fell in place – especially the anecdotes!
4. What message do you want to convey from this book?
The main message of the book is that every single individual has a unique purpose and no one is here by accident to merely make it through life. It encourages its readers to stop living a mediocre life and to strive to live the purpose of their life so that they will have a sense of fulfillment, a rewarding and meaningful life, unleash their full potential, be a blessing to others and hereby build GOD’s Kingdom. By reading this book, they can learn to have a purpose-driven mindset and lifestyle, go through the step-by-step process to discover their purpose and to start walking with it along with encouragement and motivation from my life.
5. What is the most challenging part for an author in general?
I think it would be to understand that sometimes the people we expected to buy our books and to share the information about our books would most likely be the first to disappoint us. Initially I used to get annoyed that there were close ones and friends who don’t mind spending thousands of rupees on a single eat-out would not be willing to spend a mere 100 rupees to purchase your book. So, I think making people buy your book as a budding author is definitely one of the most challenging things. So, the key is to hunt for those who love you and your work and who are also readers themselves!
6. What are you working on next?
Though my schedule is quite hectic this season with work, daily podcasts, YouTube, social media content and other speaking commitments, I am hoping to edit and publish some of the short stories that I wrote as a kid. I have written lots of adventure, romantic and Scooby-Doo stories and can’t wait to see them printed as a book.
7. What keeps you going as a writer?
There are three principles I hold on to.
Firstly, I believe that if we don’t USE what we have, we will LOSE it. So, I don’t want to lose my GOD-given gift of writing.
Secondly, I cannot expect to develop that gift if I don’t keep working on it. As the timeless saying goes ‘practice makes man perfect’, I want to keep writing so that I can become a better writer every single day!
Lastly, I believe my gifts and talents are to be a blessing to others. So, I write everyday with a heart to encourage, inspire, motivate, teach and be a blessing to others.
8. If you had to suggest two books for Indian Youth, which would they be and why?
If I can suggest two books that made a great positive impact on my life, they would be “Become a Better You” by Joel Osteen and “Don’t Drop the Mic” by TD Jakes.
The former transformed me and my outlook of life by changing my perspective, attitude, habits, the way I handle things and how I respond to circumstances and relationships. It truly made me a better me and so many people around me could see such a change in me after that.
The latter taught a lot of practical tools and communication skills that helped me in becoming a better communicator.
I think both these books will really make a huge positive difference in the lives of its readers and so I would highly recommend them to our youth!
