As motivated as the quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Whatever you can do or dream that you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

At some point in every life, there comes the time when a dream burns softly in the heart. It will be writing and publishing a book, launching a company, pursuing a new career, or merely changing one’s life. These are moments of abundant potential, and yet often the moments are also fraught with second-guessing. In that tentative moment between dreaming and doing, there comes the thunder of Goethe: “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” His quote is an enduring invitation—not so much to dream, but to dare, and to start.

Goethe’s appeal comes easy and deep. In saying “whatever you can do or dream you can,” he testifies to the power of the human imagination and potentiality. Dreams are not wishful ideas; they are reality seeds for want of activation to turn them into reality. But if one merely has dreams and not do anything, they stay inactive. The real alchemy lies in the initiation act. To initiate is to infuse life with possibilities.

It’s so strong of a quote because Goethe values boldness. “Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” This isn’t calling for impulsive rashness, but for fearless commitment. Genius isn’t just intellect here, but cleverness, adaptability, and instinct that arrive when one commits fully. Power is the momentum that builds when action takes priority over fear. Magic is that unaccountable grace that appears as if out of thin air when we take the leap—doors swing open, support appears, and the path materializes.

To start something is to stake your claim against fear and delay. We are all deterred from taking the first step by the myth of ideal timing. We wait for perfect moments—more time, more means, more clarity. But such perfection is often not forthcoming. As the Indian spiritual tradition reminds us in the Bhagavad Gita, excellence lies not somewhere else, but precisely in doing: “Yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam”—action itself is sacred. The start is not merely the first step; it is the doing of aligning with one’s dharma, or true path. Equally pertinent, however, is the fact that boldness also comes with its setbacks. Not every dream is achievable, and not every step for boldness leads to success. There are possibilities of failing, of being mocked, of venturing into unknown land without any clear guidance. But these are not reasons not to do—but omens of entering the journey with full awareness, and steering as one navigates. Indian industrialist Ratan Tata has said, “I don’t believe in taking right decisions. I take decisions and then make them right.” These are the very same phrases that validate the belief that boldness has absolutely nothing to do with being certain—but everything with being resolute and changing course.

There are plenty of examples from history of those brave enough to initiate. In the instance of Dr. Devi Shetty, the visionary cardiac surgeon who began Narayana Health, he began with the dream of making quality heart surgery affordable and accessible to the very poorest of India. It was thought at first impracticable, utopian. But he began, and now his hospitals have transformed cardiac care not just in India, but globally. He illustrates Goethe’s thesis—courage, when paired with intention, truly summons genius, power, and magic.

Internationally, consider Elon Musk. His ventures into electric cars and private space travel seemed unrealistic—bordering on absurd. He faced ridicule, financial collapse, and repeated failures. But he began. His boldness not only challenged traditional industries but changed them forever. Whether one agrees with his methods or not, Musk’s story is a testament to what happens when daring is followed by doing.

In the world of social change, boldness also comes in the form of personal truth. Indian sprinter Dutee Chand had the courage of running against the tide of social pressure and personal adversity. As the first openly gay athlete from India, her boldness surpassed the race track. She started—not just racing, but racing into history.

This magic of beginning is not limited to celebrities or leaders. It is found in the young girl applying for a scholarship despite odds, in the middle-aged man restarting life after a setback, in the artist who picks up the brush again after years. The magic lies not in grandiosity but in intention. As Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam wisely said, “Dream is not that which you see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep.” Dreams that nudge us from within are calling us not just to believe in them—but to act upon them.

Fear is natural. Doubt is inevitable. But stagnation is the ultimate danger. The future isn’t dictated at the hands of those who wait, but at the hands of those who start. Goethe’s ultimate directive, “Begin it now,” reminds us clearly that time is passing. Every postponement is an opportunity lost, every hesitation a narrowing of potential. We move ahead if we start now, imperfectly. We risk never moving at all if we wait for perfection.

In the spiritual and philosophical traditions of India, time is not linear—it is cyclical. Every moment offers a new beginning. The Upanishads teach us, “Uttishthata, Jāgrata, Prapya Varān Nibodhata”— “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.” This ancient call mirrors Goethe’s exhortation: rise up, begin, and walk the path of your dream. 

In conclusion, the genius of boldness lies not in its results, but in its rebellion against fear. Power arises not from guarantees, but from motion. And magic is not fantasy—it is what unfolds when purpose and action meet. Whether your dream is small or monumental, don’t wait for a better time. There is no perfect moment to begin—only this one. 

So begin it now.

Dr. Prahlada N.B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh). 
MBA in Healthcare & Hospital Management (BITS, Pilani), 
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Executive Programme in Strategic Management (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru). 

Senior Professor and former Head, 
Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Cochlear Implant Surgery. 
Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India. 

My Vision: I don’t want to be a genius.  I want to be a person with a bundle of experience. 

My Mission: Help others achieve their life’s objectives in my presence or absence!

My Values:  Creating value for others. 

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