Align Intentions First / April 28, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Suppose your business needs a specific individual's input. It could be a top manager, a business partner or a consultant.

The tougher the problems they solve, the less control you have over what exactly they can offer you. What sacrifice they considered but changed their minds about, you'll never know.

Top managers will hide behind formalities. Consultants will hold onto their expertise. Business partners will shift focus to other projects. Blaming them would be hard. And frankly, pointless.

So what to do? Think about how to align your intentions with theirs.

The hallmark of mature, competent, and driven people is understanding their life goals. They're as autonomous as a nuclear submarine. They seek the optimal path.

See how simple it all is? If you take the time to understand them, it's easy to see how to help them get where they want to go. They'll gladly join you on the project or for many years to come.

The only condition? You must first articulate your business and personal desired outcomes. Sadly, many founders don't bother.

Now you know why only a few companies can leverage exceptional individuals to create colossal value.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

How can I help you?
If you've long been trying to understand what is limiting you and/or your business and how to finally give important changes a push, then The Catalyst Session is designed specifically for you. Book it here.

Love of Life / April 27, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Life is a hundredfold more inventive than any human fiction. With dark humor as the goddess Kali likes. Just listen to the tale spun by MrBallen. You can't tear yourself away.

So when a friend from US asked about my forecasts for the future, I replied: "Right now, anything's possible. Seriously, everything."

In the theory of self-organization, there's this thing called a "bifurcation point." It's when a system is on edge, super-sensitive to fluctuations. It can plunge into chaos or leap to a new level of orderliness. All scenarios are equally likely.

My take? The human population is walking a tightrope. Not the first rodeo for Homo sapiens, right? So, there's hope it won't be the last.

Immunity against the viruses of ideologies lasts only a generation or two. Then, the mass consciousness has to catch the bug all over again.

This time, though, technology took a giant leap. But humanity's moral growth moves slower than a plate tectonics. Teenagers used to toy with a pocket knife, now it's a laser in their hands.

I don't know why I'm at peace. After all, there's still a chance for a constructive scenario. Last night, I reread Jack London's "Love of Life."

"He travelled in the night as much as in the day. He rested wherever he fell, crawled on whenever the dying life in him flickered up and burned less dimly. He, as a man, no longer strove. It was the life in him, unwilling to die, that drove him on."

See? I believe deep down humanity loves life.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

The Motivation Puzzle / April 26, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Motivating people is a strange concept when it comes to employees. Especially the key ones. Particularly the CEO.

After all, no one motivates the wind to fill the sails. Element acts according to its nature. You just need to harness its power for good. To regulate and guide. And, of course, not block it.

So why then are volumes written about the nuances of motivation systems? And what do extensive HR departments do? Where's the glitch?

Companies hire unmotivated people.

It's like gathering wet firewood for a campfire, then frying your brain trying to light it. Unnecessary challenges waste a lot of resources.

Curious why companies create problems for themselves? It's simple—motivated candidates aren't lining up for them. Except perhaps the completely inexperienced and young. But they run away quickly.

The company offers money, entertainment, perks, you name it. However, motivated people need something else:

A goal worthy of their efforts.
A critical mass of charged people around.
Spirit over letter, and function over form.
Conditions for the best from individuals and groups.
Understanding their work creates real value for clients.

Do you know many such companies? There you have it.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

An Entrepreneur's Contribution / April 25, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Do you know what mistake some entrepreneurs make? They rush to invest their personal money in a promising project.

You might ask: "Hmm, isn't that the essence of entrepreneurship?"

No, they shouldn't do that. But not because they're stingy with money. Many can provide money. But the creator's impulse? Few indeed.

The founder turns vague ideas into tangible value. The value of a business is reflected in its high price. Financial or strategic investors willingly pay for it. If the business is good.

The rest can only perform the reverse trick—turn tangible value into fleeting ideas. Just give them a budget. Such magicians are all over LinkedIn.

A wise investor understands this well. So, they confidently offer to a true entrepreneur, "I don't need your money. Just create value XXX. I'll generously share it with you."

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

Angelic Errors / April 24, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

What mistake do rookie business angels make? They believe that by watering many beds with capital, a new TikTok will surely sprout somewhere.

They don't realize that statistics work only if every project in the portfolio has the DNA of Canva or Dropbox. It happens only if you've managed to create a pipeline of Wow tech projects.

But why would talented programmers queue up for the uncle who struck it rich in real estate or selling soda?

More likely, an excess of capital will meet a deficit of integrity. One might get a little smarter, another a little richer. The "investor" will sigh and forget angel-investing like a bad dream.

Transferring your expertise from one field to another is inherently difficult. Especially when it's the skill of snagging government contracts or warding off competitors while perched on a gas pipeline. Better to invest in your realm of expertise.

"Only play games when you have an edge," said Ed Thorp, a math professor, author, hedge fund manager, and blackjack researcher.

"Do I have an edge?" That's a question relevant always and everywhere.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

Voice of the Body / April 23, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Rough biker's rule: "Choose a motorcycle with your butt".

That's exactly how I chose my Yamaha MT-07 once. Stepped into the showroom, hopped on the bike, and realized I wouldn't get off it for anything. Even though I had almost convinced myself to choose another brand from the catalog.

Relying solely on intellect is pretty dumb. It's good within what's already known inside out. But when it comes to what you have no knowledge or experience in, your body is advisor number one.

Just don't take the body literally, like a set of organs, nerves, bones, capillaries, and muscles. The body is that part of you that's directly connected to the surrounding environment.

An experienced judoka evaluates the opponent by the first kimono grip. When a schizophrenic walks into his office, the psychotherapist's scalp tingles with pain. An entrepreneur sells the business right before an economic crisis, explaining, "I felt it in my bones: 'Time!'".

To gather information about a phenomenon, you need to be in touch with it. Ideally, not just one channel, but a countless number of them. At the intersection of information flows, there's a chance to find a quiet signal in the noise.

Sometimes, we know the correctness of something with our whole being, even though we can't explain it yet. Such vague knowledge is worth its weight in gold. It can point out a new path or shield us from bigger problems.

The body is a generous gift from above. We're yet to fully appreciate it.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

A Journey with Clients / April 22, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

I've been lucky with clients. I owe that to fate.

They're honest in their work and reveal to me what they don't tell anyone else. As a result, instead of beating around the bush, we get straight to the heart of the problem. Their warm feedback makes me blush with gratitude.

hey stand out for their integrity and generosity in financial matters. One client paid two weeks early. Another reminded me to send an invoice. The third surprised me with a hefty bonus out of the blue.

Most importantly, they allow me to do what I love — unlock hidden value where business and personality intersect. This value is enormous, but somehow no one sees it.

I said I've been lucky with clients, but it wasn't always that way. In the early days of my career, I spent years forcing myself to work with those who were alien to me. Conflict arose within me, and then it broke me.

I had to shed some beliefs and take leaps of faith. In the end, I crafted my professional identity, my role, and the select few who find its value superb. Clarity about where to apply my strengths came at a high price for me. I wish I could shorten that journey by threefold.

But all the past doubts, temptations, catastrophes, and disappointments tightened the string and put the arrow in my bow. Nothing was lost; everything fell into place.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

From Victim to Victor / April 21, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Each of us faces a strong temptation to assume the role of Victim. At any moment, this "gravitational force" pulls us toward the infantile depths.

The Victim receives a surrogate for freedom. It's a "freedom from" — from obligations, promises, expectations, and so on. The Victim also receives pity and support from others, in other words, a surrogate for love.

The problem is that in exchange, the Victims give up themselves, selling their souls. After all, development is the fulfillment of your part of the secret contract. With whom? With your future self — the person you potentially can become. The Victim chooses stagnation, not life.

Choice is the key word. Some choose to go all the way, completely merging into what resembles warm "amniotic waters." But for others, such a trajectory will horrify or fatally bore them. One day they will shake themselves and cry out: "Enough!"

What will happen? The Victim will embark on the path of the Hero. He (or she) chooses bitter truth over sweet lies. This means taking responsibility for everything that has been, will be, and is happening now.

Abandoning the familiar narcotic is accompanied by withdrawal. False beliefs that have taken root in the mind must be burned away. It's painful, but the Hero has a "For what?" The answer redeems almost everything.

There will inevitably come a moment when the Hero will grow weary and ponder: "Why do I always exert superhuman effort? It's nonsense! Perpetual survival. But where is the growth?"

The Hero chooses to become the Victor. He creates conditions where he does not have to go berserk. He's studied his weaknesses and become invulnerable. Victor is not afraid of asps. On the contrary, he seeks them out to turn poison into nectar. He has "freedom to". The Victor truly lives.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

Unconscious Universe / April 20, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

The universe gives us what we subconsciously want. Even if your mind is convinced otherwise.

At every moment, countless phenomena surround you. But somehow, from this vast array, you pick one, then another, completely ignoring the rest. They don't grab you.

It gets to the point where a person ignores what could bankrupt or even kill him. Colleagues cry out, "Wake up! You'll burn out at work!" And yet, he smirks and cracks open another can of Red Bull.

And it doesn't matter what he says. Look at his actions—they make sense, even if they seem intricate and strange, like a European eyeing hieroglyphs.

Social media architects exploit our hidden interests to the fullest. Just pause on a post with X, not even liking or buying anything, and your digital universe starts morphing into an endless X. You get what you ordered.

There's no mystique in this. We hardly know ourselves. "I don't get what came over me," says one. "I didn't plan any of this, I just..." another tries to explain his odd behavior.

Don't rush to despair. Let's assume you see not reality, but only a tiny and distorted piece of it. So, your universe can expand at any moment. You need to learn to read the "hieroglyphs" your subconscious is drawing.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

Direct Yourself Toward the Goal / April 19, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

As we step inside, I wipe my dog's paws. Then I pour food into his bowl, and he lies in the hallway, waiting. Why so? If he waited by the bowl, there would already be a puddle of drool around him.

And what do you think my hungry dog does when I command "Lie down"? He swiftly turns his snout toward the bowl.

In other words, he does what doesn't contradict the order but somehow gets him closer to the goal. Symbolically. Like intent.

A dog teaches how to act when there's no opportunity to act.

You gotta stretch "north" like a compass needle, with your whole being. Yeah, there's no progress yet. But attention is focused, and the body's ready to jump. You just need to hear the long-awaited: "Go ahead!".

Of course, a good opportunity won't slip by. Your focused mind will hunt it. Among all those vying for this goal, you'll be the first.

And it's fair. Destiny grasped the hierarchy of your values.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

Invariance in negotiations / April 18, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Your stance in negotiations must remain invariant. This means their outcome shouldn't bother you.

They agree to your terms? Great, let's get to work. Declining on principle? No problem.

You might ask, "Wait! Aren't I interested in closing this very important deal?" Yes, but not at any cost. The word "very" signifies an excess of desire. It makes you vulnerable. You can be easily squeezed.

Your counterpart doesn't even have to try. You'll squeeze yourself. Give a super discount. Offer post-payment. Don't mention the troubling aspect in the contract. It'll blow up in a year.

The question is how to achieve invariance, right? You could, of course, read stoics, meditate, play poker, or study NLP.

But, the most reliable way is to have an alternative. Even better — not one.

What's important is this: the lack of alternatives turns a free person into a slave. By the way, this applies to alcohol, games, and drugs too. "Addiction is a progressive narrowing of the things that bring you pleasure.," said neurobiologist Andrew Huberman.

If a slave wants to find freedom, what should he do? Right, consciously expand the circle of such things.

In business, you're working on several promising deals at once. Until you sign and get paid. Things can go wrong at the last minute.

Yeah, it's labor. But freedom isn't free. You gotta work for it.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

Imperfect Fate / April 17, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

He is unhappy who demands perfection from fate. He must rest, be fed, be in a good mood, and not rush anywhere.

Fate, waiting for that moment, may finally surprise him: "Here is a unique opportunity that will make you golden."

Even for the mighty Fate, the chances of all this happening are slim.

Seeing such rudeness, it's more likely to decide to be hard on him.

And it's immediately obvious whom fate favors. That person will be exhausted from days of hard work. His eyes will close over a modest dinner. He won't have the energy to make his bed.

But once destiny whispers to him: "I happen to have an extra chance. Though I see you're almost shutting down...".

"What? Nah, just lost in thought," our hard worker's already on his feet, ready to seize the opportunity.

Who is this? The Entrepreneur, no doubt.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

Your Creative Journey / April 16, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Creative souls need nothing. With a touch, they turn Nothing into Something.

You can measure their power by how wide their range of raw materials is. One might stumble upon transforming negative feelings, another on unusual things, and yet another on frightening events.

If a person is open to new things and curious, each day brings a tiny but valuable gain. Just yesterday, fate threatened to break their familiar life, but tomorrow they'll smirk and say, "I am the tectonic shift."

Creating doesn't always mean composing or sculpting. It's the ability to turn a negative into a positive, and a positive into a negative at will.

Our body, mind, and spirit are initially dependent on... Oh, the list is long. All our lives, we fight for freedom, like a dolphin in a fisherman's net.

This path has no comparison. Everyone has a different starting point. The destination is unknown. You choose your own pace.

Do you agree that you have a creative path?

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

What's the Value of Price? / April 15, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Price is one of the most underrated things in business.

Why? Many business folk see price as set in stone. Especially if they've been around the block. The weight of tradition forces them to set prices like their neighbors across the street.

In their minds, price is like a hunk of metal. Heavy, cumbersome, and a pain to work with. So, they rarely tinker with it. And that's a shame.

But a better metaphor for price is Venetian glass. In the hands of a master, molten glass can transform into either a splendid chandelier fit for a king or a delightful trinket for a child.

And all because when we say 'price,' we always mean 'value'. Value is never tied to raw materials or hours worked. It's those who are too lazy to learn and think that make that connection.

Value is subjective and personal. People are similar, but each values service X diferently. And it's even more pronounced when the service is unique. That's why the ability to see the value in someone else's perception is priceless.

If you can do that, your business will breathe anew. It'll be clear that even the sky isn't your limit.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

Why Seek Your Thing? / April 14, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

The best antidepressant is doing something you love and/or find valuable. When my mind is absorbed in a client's problem, I completely forget all my fears, doubts, resentments, and pains.

What at other times ruins my life suddenly loses its power over me. At that moment, I'm invulnerable to the poisoned arrows of fate.

Like a diver, I'm surrounded by a foreign environment. But I calmly breathe in the oxygen of curiosity and meaning. And then the ocean offers new experiences, treasures of ancient ships, and the beauty of exotic fish.

I suspect deeply religious people are often in such a state. When peace reigns inside despite the tornado outside. I've met such people. You just want to prolong the moment when you are with them.

When I'm irritated or frightened, I become dangerous. Conversely, after a productive session with a client, I'm exhausted but radiate kindness and warmth. Work truly makes me better.

So, it's worth making an effort to find your Thing. And then dodging temptations to not lose it.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

Hidden beauty / April 13, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

A truly valuable business doesn't always look perfect. It consumes too many resources to keep up appearances. But resources are always finite.

Such a business has tons of investment opportunities. They're not obvious at first glance. Even the founder only vaguely guesses when they'll pay off. But the effort is worth it. The outcome could be immense.

Scammers, swindlers, and adventurers—now that's a different story. Fancy office, chopper security, and impeccable suits. With nothing under the hood, they slap on a convincing papier-mâché Bentley shell.

In a healthy business, function always slightly precedes form. People are passionately engaged in real work. The business evolves dynamically. Once they hit a critical milestone, they'll upgrade the exterior.

It's just like life. If someone's appearance is flawless, they're either a professional model or a narcissist. For health, hygiene is crucial. Aesthetics are valuable too, but not at any cost.

It's useful to learn to see the hidden function behind the form. That way, you can avoid traps and temptations. And find the Cullinan Diamond in the mud.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

Careful With Terms / April 12, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

The philosopher Thomas Kuhn gave me a valuable insight. A science thrives only when its community embraces one paradigm. Compare physics and psychology, for instance.

What this means, among other things, is folks don't need to argue over basic concepts' meanings. Scientists can laser-focus on the real meaty issues. No wasting energy.

Imagine a firefighting squad where one shouts "hose," another "pipe," and the third "trunk." With seconds ticking, from misunderstanding to tragedy is but a step.

Out West, a perilous trend's brewing—some forces blur or swap the meanings of accepted words. No wonder "Civil War" just hit US theaters.

It's the same biblical story. People were filled with pride and couldn't construct their grand tower. They stopped understanding each other because God made them speak in different tongues.

If you're the CEO, notice how managers in different departments call the same things. You know what to do to cut friction. A tiny change has a massive impact.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

Context Matters / April 11, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

In business, as in life, context is crucial.

Today, a certain method or software might be the ace up your sleeve. Tomorrow, it could be headed for the junkyard.

Or take a shovel, for instance. It's not disappearing anytime soon. But in one scenario, it's your lifeline; in another, it's excess baggage.

Things are patterns that people make into tools. Not my idea, but it's deep. I often ponder over it.

Calculator, tambourine, terrain map, Six Sigma, or Photoshop.

We often overvalue tangible things. At the same time, we tend to undervalue the implicit.

Sometimes, it costs us dearly. Like when we stubbornly cling to a familiar tool, even though the landscape has drastically changed. Either update its functionality or say goodbye to it.

Why does this happen? We ignore the context that birthed the tool. How to know? Use causes discomfort, friction, failure, or even injury.

So when your reliable tool suddenly fails, recall the conditions and purpose for which it was made.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

Believe In Them / April 10, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Recently, I came across a funny video. This chick was trying to grab a bite, but it kept missing. It'd get close to the caterpillar, open its beak wide, but bam! The caterpillar slipped away. The discouraged "hunter" repeated the trick.

It's a problem for little ones who have recently left their parental homes, nests, and burrows. They're spoiled with excessive care. The chicks are used to the idea that when hungry, all they need to do is chirp and open their mouths.

You can observe a similar situation in business too. Some leaders excessively coddle their subordinates. As a result, the latter don't develop skills like seeking, chasing, creating, etc.

There are many reasons for this. One boss doesn't trust employees to handle things. Another fears upsetting them. The third one doesn't have time to impart necessary knowledge to people. The fourth tends to attribute all merits to himself. The fifth one is eager to maintain control and power.

But you can't just stop the flow of life. There's a demand from employees, it's festering inside. Energy will seek a way out. What will happen? Self-destruction, departure to a competitor, or rebellion.

Interestingly, the CEO of the company will indeed do his best to improve business. He'll attract investments, implement efficiency-boosting methodologies, and conduct trainings.

Sure, the CEO will do his best to make things better. He'll try to get more investments, buy new software, and offer some training.

But what's really necessary is to help employees unleash their dormant potential. No investment needed, just a shift in mindset.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

Three Life Burns / April 9, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Looking back, I see that I usually got burned in three cases:

Was inattentive.
Trod on someone else’s path.
Was unprepared for the challenge.

I do not single out force majeure or other people’s evil intentions. They fit into one of the three categories above.

Number three - incompetence - it’s the simplest. After a tap on the nose, usually, it’s clear where the deficiency lies. Don’t be lazy, learn, train methodically, and one day you’ll become a master.

Another’s path - a tad trickier. Life’s full of temptations. Especially if you don’t know yourself well. No one teaches this comprehensively. You’ve got to gather knowledge bit by bit on your own.

Inattention is the primary issue. In fact, it even contributes to the other two.

First, you need to master your attention. If you’ve tried focusing breathing on the tip of your nose for an hour, you get it. The world is constantly stealing it and tearing it apart.

Yet this skill is nothing without clarity on where your attention should be directed. It’s the territory of meaning. You can’t rent it out. Meaning is always only yours.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.