Vinod Gootam has learned that change, while often unsettling, can be the clearest path to growth. It has meant stepping away from a life he built over decades and embracing opportunities he could never have imagined, from being an entrepreneur, builder, developer, and real estate broker in Palm Beach, Florida, to writing and producing his own novel, Arem's Portal. "Sometimes you need that in life to pivot, to change your direction," he says.
Born in South India to professional parents, his mother from Chennai and his father from Hyderabad, Gootam's family came to rural Arkansas, trading the warmth of home for the unfamiliar trails of America. But his path wasn't easy. "We had to prove ourselves," he recalls. "We often felt out of place, but we had to push through it."
Despite cultural and social challenges, Gootam found beauty in his surroundings. He spent his childhood in Arkansas exploring the forest and living on a lake. "It was very American," he says. "And my parents cooked amazing Indian food. So I learned to make everything from South Indian curries to Southern pies." Blending both of his worlds, East and West, later informed his creativity and his approach to life.
Together with his uncle, he helped design and oversee the building of many modern homes in Florida. "I did all the design work and construction supervision. It became my whole world, and I loved every minute of it," he shares.
After nearly three decades of business, Gootam found himself at a crossroads, but rather than retreating, he turned to writing. His debut novel, Arem's Portal, is a spiritual action adventure drawing from the classic Indo-Greko kidnap myth, exploring the theme of lost female potential. "It's based on spiritual stories and mythologies, but it places women on a pedestal, where their power becomes recognized, where women aren't viewed as victims, waiting to be saved," he says.
The book's success led to an unexpected opportunity in Hollywood, where Gootam was offered the chance to serve as an executive producer on its adaptation. "It was a big change for my life, but I accepted it and packed my bags," he shares. "I was initially intimidated, but I realized your perception becomes your reality. So I decided to amplify my success story, and everything started coming to me."
This new chapter, for Gootam, is rooted in personal growth and professional ambition. He has found balance in his partnership with a civil engineer who complements rather than competes with him. "He stands right beside me, not in front, not behind. We both do our work, and then we come home; it's a healthy partnership," he says.
This forward momentum has become his guiding principle through all walks of life, which he encapsulates within an analogy: "There's a tree, and you have your major branches and twigs. The twigs can break off; that's no problem. You can trim those. But you can't cut near the trunk. You just have to keep growing upward," he explains.
Looking ahead, he envisions creative work across genres, from drama to thrillers, comedy, and more, with aspirations of producing award-winning adaptations of his stories.
Ultimately, Vinod Gootam's story is less about sudden transformation, but more about steady, intentional growth, about shedding what no longer serves and moving deliberately toward what matters. "You can't look back," he says. "Don't live in fear. Focus on what's important to you, and do what's good for you, not selfishly, but truthfully."
