The Alchemy in our Work
10.10.2025
There are books you don’t just read, they find you at the right moment. For me, that book was The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It had been on my list for a long time, but only recently during long commutes between Brussels and home did I finally get the chance to dive in. Not on paper, but in audio. And although I usually devour non-fiction, this fictional story struck a chord. Because it reminded me of something I too often push aside in my work: the importance of intuition.
The Alchemist tells the story of a shepherd boy who follows his dream. Not by blindly hoping, but by acting, listening, and learning to read the signs of the world. The story makes it clear that moving forward isn’t just about plans and logic. It also requires trust, in your intuition, that quiet sense that often sees the truth faster than any model or analysis. And maybe that’s exactly why this book had to find me now. In a time when our industry is flooded with data, dashboards, and agents, intuition risks being pushed further into the background. When in fact, it may be more important than ever.
Because yes, we crunch numbers, analyze data, and build frameworks. But the insights that really matter rarely come from Excel. They’re in the small observations, the unexpected trends, the phrases people mention in passing. Intuition helps you notice those signals. It’s not a vague gut feeling, it’s a professional tool. The bridge between a brand’s dream and the reality of people’s lives.
The Alchemist reminded me that strategy is, in fact, a kind of alchemy: bringing together reason and intuition to find direction. Without data, you drift. So yes, use those agentic tools and deep searches to the fullest. But without intuition, you miss the signs.
Or, as the alchemist said:
“Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it comes from the Soul of the World.”
With Sokosumi, Plan.Net Belgium launched the first “app store for agents” within the Serviceplan Group Belux. From optimizing workflows to uncovering actionable insights, our consultancy shows how AI can transform your campaigns and daily operations.
