PhOTO: V.K. Santosh Kumar
Renowned author and international motivational speaker Shiv Khera unveiled his latest book, Live While You’re Alive: Take a Break Before You Break Down, at a well-attended launch on May 31 at the Singapore Swimming Club.
The event drew an audience of over 450 people, including business leaders, educators and professionals, who gathered to hear Mr Khera’s insights on tackling one of modern life’s most pressing issues — stress. Dignitaries present included India’s High Commissioner to Singapore Shilpak Ambule, former Member of Parliament Inderjit Singh, and K.V. Rao, Chairman of Tata International Singapore.
PHOTO: V.K. Santosh Kumar
Addressing the audience, Mr Khera stressed that the book goes beyond conventional advice. “This isn’t just about achieving success — it’s about safeguarding your health, wealth and relationships from the silent killer called stress,” he said. Unlike typical self-help books that dwell on meditation or breathing exercises alone, Live While You’re Alive takes a mindset-first approach.
“Without the right attitude, no technique works. You can’t meditate with a mind in turmoil. It’s the mindset that drives the method, not the other way round,” Mr Khera explained.
He highlighted alarming statistics showing how stress levels worldwide have soared by over 400% in the last 20 years, fuelling family breakdowns, strained relationships and even severe health problems. “Stress is universal and natural — you can’t hire someone to handle it for you. But you can manage it by knowing what to change and what to accept,” he told the gathering.
Through real-life examples and relatable stories, Mr Khera illustrated how our reactions — not circumstances — dictate stress levels. “Two people stuck in traffic have different experiences: one seethes with anger, another turns it into a chance for self-improvement,” he said.
PHOTO: V.K. Santosh Kumar
Packed with actionable advice, the book encourages readers to transform stress into strength and adopt a proactive attitude to daily challenges. “Stress, when managed right, can push you to excel rather than break you,” Mr Khera added.
Alongside the book launch, Mr Khera announced an exciting new venture — the upcoming High Impact Leadership Programme under a planned leadership academy based in Singapore. This four-day intensive course will cover attitude, leadership, motivation and core values, with the aim of nurturing authentic, people-focused leaders.
“Singapore is the ideal launchpad for this academy. It has a strong appetite for world-class training and a culture that values innovation and personal growth,” said Mr Khera, who has made Singapore his home and has previously taught at the Singapore Institute of Management.
PHOTO: V.K. Santosh Kumar
He also underlined the timeless importance of interpersonal and persuasion skills in today’s changing world. “Technology evolves, products become obsolete — but people skills, persuasion and knowing how to prioritise will never go out of fashion,” he pointed out.
Touching on the human disconnect in an age of screens and social media, Mr Khera cautioned: “Our youth can text and swipe, but struggle with real conversations. Robots can’t replace relationships. We must nurture genuine connections, not just accumulate contacts.”
After an engaging talk, Mr Khera signed copies of Live While You’re Alive and personally greeted readers, leaving them with a signature piece of advice: “The world doesn’t remember dreamers — it celebrates doers. Dreamers take dreams to their grave; doers leave lasting legacies.”
The book is now available at leading bookstores and online. The first leadership academy sessions are expected to launch later this year.
For more information, visit shivkhera.com.
