By Peter de Kuster
Paris is a city of stories—each street, café, and monument a stage for quests, transformations, and revelations. Inspired by my book “The Seven Stories of Your Life,” I invite you on a walking journey through Paris, where at each stop you’ll encounter a story that embodies one of the seven archetypal plots. At every location, you’ll be prompted to reflect on your own leadership journey, using the city’s literary past as a mirror for your present and future growth.
1. Overcoming the Monster: The Phantom of the Opéra at Palais Garnier
Location: Palais Garnier, 9th arrondissement
In Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opéra, the Palais Garnier is both a palace of art and a labyrinth of fear. Beneath the glittering chandeliers and velvet seats lurks the Phantom, a figure of genius and torment who haunts the opera’s depths. Christine Daaé, the young soprano, and her allies must confront not only the Phantom’s threats but the darkness within themselves—their fears, ambitions, and desires. This story is the Parisian echo of the “Overcoming the Monster” plot: a confrontation with a force that threatens to destroy what is good and beautiful. In leadership, our “monsters” may be external—competition, crisis, injustice—or internal—self-doubt, ego, or inertia. The journey begins with a call to face what we most fear, followed by preparation and initial victories, then setbacks as the true power of the challenge emerges. In the darkest hour, when hope seems lost, the leader’s courage, ingenuity, and values are tested. Triumph is not just survival, but transformation: Christine’s voice is freed, the opera is saved, and the Phantom’s tragedy is revealed. In the grand foyer of the Palais Garnier, reflect: What monsters must you face in your own leadership? What treasures—creativity, trust, vision—await on the other side of fear?
2. Rags to Riches: Ernest Hemingway’s Paris at Shakespeare & Company
Location: Shakespeare & Company, 5th arrondissement
Shakespeare & Company, the legendary English-language bookstore on the Left Bank, was a haven for Ernest Hemingway in the 1920s. Arriving in Paris with little more than ambition and a notebook, Hemingway found community, inspiration, and the chance to hone his craft. His memoir, A Moveable Feast, recounts how, through perseverance, mentorship, and creative risk, he transformed his life and career. This is the “Rags to Riches” plot: the journey from obscurity or disadvantage to achievement and self-realization. In Paris, Hemingway’s rise was not just about fame or fortune, but about finding his true voice and purpose. For leaders, this plot is about starting with little—perhaps just an idea or a dream—and building something meaningful through resilience, learning, and the support of others. The path is rarely smooth: after initial progress, setbacks and doubts test resolve. True riches, the story reveals, are not just external rewards but inner confidence, wisdom, and the ability to inspire others. At Shakespeare & Company, surrounded by books and the ghosts of writers past, ask yourself: Where have you started with little and built something meaningful? Who have been your mentors? What does “riches” mean for you as a leader?
3. The Quest: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame at Notre-Dame Cathedral
Location: Notre-Dame Cathedral, Île de la Cité
Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is a tale of longing, justice, and belonging set against the soaring towers and shadowed naves of Notre-Dame. Quasimodo, the bell-ringer, embarks on a quest to protect Esmeralda, a journey that takes him through love, sacrifice, and the struggle against cruelty. The “Quest” plot is about setting out for a vital goal—be it a treasure, a truth, or a sense of home—facing trials, temptations, and allies along the way. In Paris, Notre-Dame is both a literal destination and a symbol of the journey inward: the search for acceptance, meaning, and redemption. For leaders, the quest is both external (achieving a vision, building a team) and internal (growing in wisdom, courage, and empathy). The journey is marked by obstacles, false friends, and moments of doubt, but also by unexpected help and discoveries. The true reward is not just reaching the goal, but the transformation that occurs along the way. Standing before Notre-Dame, reflect: What is your current quest? What obstacles and allies have shaped your path? What “holy grail” do you seek as a leader?
4. Voyage and Return: James Joyce’s Paris at 73 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine
Location: 73 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 5th arrondissement
James Joyce arrived in Paris as an outsider—nearly blind, far from home, and struggling to finish Ulysses. Paris became his “other world,” a place of exile and transformation. The “Voyage and Return” plot is about leaving the familiar, journeying through a strange land, facing challenges and dangers, and returning home changed. For Joyce, Paris was both a crucible and a muse; he endured poverty, illness, and creative struggle, but emerged with a masterpiece that changed literature forever. In leadership, this plot is about venturing beyond your comfort zone—whether it’s a new market, a crisis, or a personal challenge—and returning with new knowledge, skills, or perspectives. The journey is marked by anticipation, discovery, frustration, and a moment of crisis, before the return and integration of what has been learned. At Joyce’s Paris address, reflect: When have you left your comfort zone and returned changed? What lessons did you bring back? How do you integrate new perspectives into your leadership?
5. Comedy: Café de Flore and the Lost Generation
Location: Café de Flore, 6th arrondissement
Café de Flore was the creative heart of the “Lost Generation”—writers like Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Hemingway—whose debates, romances, and literary antics brought humor and lightness to turbulent times. The “Comedy” plot is not just about laughter but about confusion, misunderstanding, and chaos that resolve into harmony and reconciliation. In the café’s lively atmosphere, misunderstandings and complications abound, but by the end, relationships are restored, secrets revealed, and the community renewed. For leaders, comedy is about embracing the messiness of collaboration, finding joy in creativity, and using humor to build connection and resilience. The journey moves from disorder to order, from separation to unity. At Café de Flore, surrounded by laughter and conversation, ask yourself: Where can you find joy and playfulness in your leadership? How do you use humor to build connection? Who are your creative companions, and how do you celebrate together?
6. Tragedy: Oscar Wilde’s Final Days at Hôtel d’Alsace
Location: Hôtel d’Alsace (now L’Hôtel), 6th arrondissement
Oscar Wilde’s final days in Paris, spent at the Hôtel d’Alsace, are a poignant example of the “Tragedy” plot. Once celebrated for his wit and brilliance, Wilde suffered exile, poverty, and disgrace after his fall from grace in England. Tragedy follows a protagonist whose flaw, mistake, or misjudgment leads to downfall and catastrophe. Wilde’s story is marked by initial prosperity, the emergence of a fatal flaw (hubris, defiance), crisis, and an irreversible descent into ruin. Tragedy serves as a warning: unchecked ambition, pride, or denial can lead to suffering for oneself and others. Yet, in Wilde’s Paris exile, there is also reflection and a search for meaning. For leaders, tragedy is a reminder of the fragility of success and the importance of humility, self-awareness, and ethical choices. At L’Hôtel, reflect: What failures or losses have shaped your leadership? How do you find meaning in setbacks? What legacy do you wish to leave, even in times of difficulty?
7. Rebirth: Père Lachaise Cemetery and the Legacy of Greats
Location: Père Lachaise Cemetery, 20th arrondissement
Père Lachaise Cemetery is a place of endings and beginnings, where the remains of literary legends—Balzac, Wilde, Colette—rest among winding paths and ancient trees. The “Rebirth” plot is about falling under a dark influence or state, experiencing suffering or stasis, and then awakening, redeemed or transformed. Many buried here found renewal through their art, influence, or the love of those who remembered them. Rebirth stories are about the possibility of change, forgiveness, and the triumph of good over evil within oneself. For leaders, rebirth is about learning from failure, embracing new beginnings, and reinventing oneself after adversity. The journey includes a fall into darkness, the arrival of hope or a catalyst, and the emergence of a wiser, better self. In the quiet of Père Lachaise, reflect: Where in your journey have you experienced renewal? How do you reinvent yourself after adversity? What will be your enduring contribution?
One-Day Timeline
This journey is designed as a one-day immersive experience, but can be extended to multiple days or customized for in-depth exploration.
09:00 – 09:30 | Welcome & Introduction
Meet at Palais Garnier. Overview of the seven plots and leadership themes.
09:30 – 10:30 | Stop 1: Overcoming the Monster
Palais Garnier & The Phantom of the Opéra. Group reflection and discussion.
10:45 – 11:45 | Stop 2: Rags to Riches
Walk to Shakespeare & Company. Explore Hemingway’s Paris and personal growth.
12:00 – 13:00 | Stop 3: The Quest
Notre-Dame Cathedral. Leadership quests and purpose.
13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch Break
Café in the Latin Quarter.
14:15 – 15:15 | Stop 4: Voyage and Return
73 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine (James Joyce’s address). Transformation and learning.
15:30 – 16:15 | Stop 5: Comedy
Café de Flore. The power of joy, creativity, and resilience in leadership.
16:30 – 17:15 | Stop 6: Tragedy
Hôtel d’Alsace (L’Hôtel). Lessons from failure and legacy.
17:30 – 18:30 | Stop 7: Rebirth
Père Lachaise Cemetery. Renewal, reinvention, and enduring impact.
18:30 – 19:00 | Closing Reflection
Group sharing, journaling, and next steps for personal leadership journeys.
Benefits of the Leadership Walking Journey
- Personal Transformation:
Reflect on your own leadership story through the lens of timeless plots and Parisian inspiration. - Deep Learning:
Engage with literary and historical examples that illuminate universal leadership challenges and growth. - Connection:
Network with fellow travelers and leaders, sharing insights and building community. - Experiential Learning:
Move beyond the classroom—Paris itself becomes your leadership coach. - Customizable:
Options for private groups, multi-day deep-dives, or themed journeys (e.g., innovation, resilience).
Pricing
- Price: €995 per person
- Special Group Pricing:
- 3 people: €795 per person
- 4 or more: Price on request (further discounts available)
- Includes:
- Full-day immersive storytelling and leadership journey in Paris
- Guided by Peter de Kuster
- All materials (reflection journal, plot handouts)
- Coffee/refreshments at select stops
- Certificate of completion
- Ideal for: Individuals or small groups seeking a premium, in-person, high-touch experience.
The Hero's Journey in Paris 