Direct Dil Se # 3: Jacob Kurian’s Wake up Call
By Team SAMAKSH
A story of rediscovering the inner compass through Emotional DNA and narrative realignment.
Jacob Kurian was the kind of leader most aspiring professionals looked up to — sharp, shrewd, unstoppable. The MD & CEO of Kurian Steel Plant Pvt. Ltd., he had taken over the reins from his father 15 years ago. He started as a trainee, working his way up the ranks, never once using the “family card.”
Jacob’s work ethic was undeniable. Eighteen-hour workdays, multiple international trips each month, and now at 50, he was setting his sights on Africa for his next steel plant. He had recently turned investor, sinking ₹100 crores into a promising EdTech firm. His calendar was always full. His vision? Expansive. His mission? Clear.
But Jacob had been living by a silent narrative: “Growth is measured by the net worth you build.”
It was this belief that shaped his decisions, his relationships, and even his health.
A Life of Suppression
Jacob’s Emotional DNA carried traces of held-back pain, guilt, unexpressed grief, anger, and a fear of being seen as vulnerable. His stoicism was a mask he wore so well that even his wife Rina — a high-achieving CEO herself — couldn’t get past it.
He had never fully addressed the guilt of asking his father to retire. The man who had taught him everything died in his sleep a year later. Jacob never spoke about it.
He became more curt at work, firing senior leaders without a second chance. He blamed others for failures, but deep down, he blamed himself.
His body was now screaming what his voice could not: he had hypertension, cholesterol issues, smoked 12 cigarettes a day, and barely slept.
At home, his kids missed him. Rina tried to hold the family together. But Jacob had become an island—distant, cold, and unapproachable.
The Collapse
One day, after lashing out at a vendor over the phone, Jacob collapsed in his office.
His blood pressure had shot up to a life-threatening 269/145. The ECG showed irregular rhythms. The ICU lights flickered as his family huddled in prayer.
And then, something happened.
A Voice, A Mirror
Jacob woke up in the ICU, disoriented. He was alone… or so he thought.
“Jacu, your time is not yet up,” said a calm voice beside him.
To his shock, the man looked just like him.
“W-who are you?” Jacob stammered.
“I’m your HEART,” the figure said, gently. “I’m your mirror. The part of you that you’ve long ignored.”
What followed wasn’t a dream. It was a reckoning.
His heart reminded him of their younger days — when Jacob would talk to his reflection, hand on chest, seeking clarity and courage before taking bold decisions. That version of Jacob had slowly faded away as his net worth grew.
“You stopped listening to me,” said the heart. “You let arrogance take charge. And when arrogance moves in, I move out.”
The Three Mantras
The heart then offered three mantras — a lifeline back to himself:
- Growth Happens from Within
Material success can only carry you so far. Real growth stems from emotional clarity, self-awareness, and inner alignment.
2. People Make Things Happen
You’ve been surrounded by talented humans. Trust them. Nurture them. Give them chances, just like someone once gave you.
3. Believe in Your True Self
You have always had what it takes — but somewhere along the way, you let fear, guilt, and control override your natural instincts. Reconnect with who you truly are.
Jacob broke down.
“I promise, Jacu,” he said — calling his heart by the name he once gave it.
“I’ll return to who I was meant to be.”
The Return
Jacob’s vitals stabilized. His 2D Echo and Renal Doppler reports were normal. By 3 PM the next day, he was discharged.
But more importantly, he was transformed.
He wasn’t just going back to his business. He was going back to his Emotional DNA, realigned and awake.
Today, Jacob Kurian leads with reflection, not reaction. He’s redefining what it means to be a successful leader, not just by balance sheets, but by emotional balance.
His story reminds you that You don’t have to collapse to return to yourself.
Sometimes, all you need to do is pause… and listen, Direct Dil Se.
At SAMAKSH, we partner with Business Leaders and Working Professionals to rewrite their Life Stories, decode their Emotional DNA, and channel their growth in life and business with renewed clarity, energy, and purpose. DM to Know More!
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