Business Crossbow /  by Alexander Lyadov

When we say the word “lie,” our imagination pictures crooks fooling naive Pinocchio, or the politician who “promises to build a bridge where there is no river. Far more often a person deceives himself, though this is less obvious. I am talking about false assumptions. Like a layer of grass on a swamp, they create the appearance of solid ground while you make a path with your eye, but fall through beneath your feet as soon as you step on it.

The lie can’t stand contact with reality. But until then, it looks like a monolith. Some assumptions have been instilled in us in the family and are therefore sacred. Others are subtly sewn into the subculture in which we grew up. Others literally saved us when we found ourselves defenseless in a difficult situation. Since then, however, the world, the culture, and, of course, ourselves, have changed greatly. Many assumptions have long since become irrelevant, or even hinder us, like a welder’s mask after dark. The mask is at least noticeable, but it is easy to forget about the sunglass contact lenses. Our perception of events is distorted, but we get annoyed at a “corrupt” and “unfair” world.

In business it is noticeable, for example, by chronic problems, which, like the heads of the Hydra of Lernaeus, stubbornly grow back after the strike of the sword. Or when the founder complains about the lack of reliable partners, because everyone he has met before for some reason tried to deceive him. Sometimes it seems as if an evil fate destroys any entrepreneurial venture at the stage of rapid ascent. But analysis reveals that he is right-handedly breaking what he left-handedly creates.

There is good news in this. The more false assumptions hold your business back, creating tension inside, the more the business accelerates after it is released from them. Just like a bolt finally released from a crossbow.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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A true expert /  by Alexander Lyadov

Splinter with rose in his hand

Unknown artist

It used to be that for knowledge one had to go to the central library or borrow a forbidden book from friends with a promise to read it overnight. I remember as a child gnawing at copies of pages with b/w illustrations of sambo and karate moves. Today the problem is different - how to discern a diamond in a mudslide of content. That’s why in any field I try to find the best expert and draw knowledge from him. In jiu-jitsu — John Danaher, in health — Andrew Huberman, in kettlebells — Mark Wildman, in business — Naval Ravikant, etc.

In addition to the obvious criteria - whether the qualifications are sufficient, whether he is trustworthy, and whether he presents knowledge clearly - what matters to me is whether the expert has a systematic approach. This means a holistic set of interconnected elements, when there is not just a set of lenses of different diopters, but a microscope. The Internet is full of Brazilian jiu-jitsu techniques, which by their exoticism are stirring up interest. The problem is that they don’t relate to each other. Their study makes your fight chaotic - sometimes you get something, but there is no stable result. Also, most tips are only appropriate for specific bout conditions, body anatomy, etc. The one who gives advice does not bother to indicate the limits of applicability of his tool. The student can only wonder whether he is slow-witted, or whether the pseudo-expert is lying.

Coach John Danaher is another matter. Each of his video courses has a clear structure, hierarchy and principles that allow you to quickly grasp a complex topic. All courses, like Lego bricks, fit together perfectly. Therefore, with each studied subsystem, the increase in knowledge is not linear, but exponential. Most importantly, John’s advice is highly reproducible, that is, 99% of the techniques in the video course I can immediately repeat with a sparring partner. Every contact with an expert should leave you with a feeling of infinite depth of knowledge. He is willing to share it generously. All that is required is a willingness to take them.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

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Don’t sell /  by Alexander Lyadov

Nothing interferes with the purchase of a product or service as much as the seller’s persistent attempts to impose it on you. Even if you were disoriented, confused, and he managed to sell you something, you will never go to this seller again. Violence, after all, no one likes. Unless it’s consensual, like in sports, sex, or games. Nevertheless, there are many industries whose processes are sharpened for one purpose — how can consumer resistance be circumvented, outsmarted, or hacked?

The idea that the consumer needs to be cracked open like a bank safe seems fundamentally false to me. The implicit assumption is that the product is rare crap and no one will take it willingly. An even deeper assumption is “My product or service cannot be radically improved.” Figuratively speaking, he who is born a spear sees in everyone he meets nothing but a target. In other words, the sense of hopelessness of the impasse breeds resentment and hatred, and they, in turn, justify a willingness to manipulate others to get his way.

Every animal has its own competitive advantage or crowning technique. Man’s gift is his creativity. The ability to ingeniously untie cunning sea knots, tied by fate, allows humans to adapt quickly to anything and successfully survive for 2.6 million years. If ancient man was able to master fire and create tools from stone, can’t a manufacturer in the 21st century reinvent his product so that its value in the eyes of consumers grows exponentially?

When customers derive stunning value from using your service, you don’t have to trick them, smooth-talk, or change their minds. The best sales are when you don’t have to sell anything. Customers happily get in line to buy your exceptional services again.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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The waterfall of life /  by Alexander Lyadov

After birth, each of us, figuratively speaking, finds ourselves in a boat without oars. The waves of the river lull us so sweetly that for some, childhood drags on until they turn gray. But if the process goes right, the young man or girl wakes up in time and greedily explores the world around them. And the world is truly beautiful — the caressing sun, the bottomless blue of the sky and the shores buried in verdure. Although the meaning of the journey is unclear, the flow of vivid impressions makes it impossible to think or feel sad. It seems that it will only get better from here. Of course, from time to time something or someone clouds existence and even traumatizes the psyche. However, the vitality of youth is so strong that the wounds quickly heal, and the lost tail grows back.

After a while, the ear catches a strange noise. A vague uneasiness arises in one’s stomach. It is as if there is a mystery that all, without exception, must learn. But the tumult of hormones drowns out everything, concentrating on relationships, achievements and expanding one’s influence. The noise gradually increases, so that sometimes, in silence, at rest or before going to sleep, a person is paralyzed by terror.

One sooner or later has the insight that the outlandish sound is the rumble of a waterfall. The stability of the river of life is an illusion. All rivers are born from condensed clouds and end up in the ocean. But before all that the river carries has to go down with the waterfall. In flight, everything is scary — the inevitability, the unknown and the altitude.

Since one cannot stop the boat or dock on the shore, over the years one is forced to make a choice — run from or step into one’s fear. Surprisingly, with each step the anxiety decreases, and the harmony of life, even a little, but increases. One can’t help but wonder, “What would my life be like if I accepted reality as it is, all at once?”

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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Why is it important to give a name? /  by Alexander Lyadov

By giving your service a name, you gain the right to possess it. The thought I’ve heard is too precious. It’s not about legal rights, of course. In the metaphysical sense, to give a name is to extract something from nothing. The inappropriateness of known categories to describe one’s experience is at first uncomfortable, then painful, and eventually maddening. Why?

A human being orients himself in the world with the help of meaning, even if there is no such “fancy” word in his vocabulary. The fact is that any environment quickly becomes deadly if the understandable, read predictable world turns into a delirium. This is why, for example, in rituals like ayahuasca, there is bound to be a “coordinator." He does not take the psychedelic and makes sure that in an altered state people do not harm others or themselves. By the way, it was a great relief for me when, over time, I began to understand what was happening to me during the most difficult ceremonies. The terms, categories, and analogies I found helped put this unimaginable, horrible, wonderful, wild experience in my head. Logos brought order to chaos and transformed absurdity into value.

I use this insight today when my clients, founders of companies, find themselves knocked down by an uppercut of fate. When uncertainty covers the mind like an impenetrable blizzard, it is dangerous to remain motionless, sinking into sleep because of the risk of freezing. The first thing to do is to name this particular chaos very precisely. Surprisingly, by giving a name, it is as if one is appropriating a formidable phenomenon. The gain of meaning changes the balance of power. Instead of a confused prey, the predator is met by an eager hunter.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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"I have an extremely important business decision to make. Can you help me?
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The speed of transformation /  by Alexander Lyadov

The development of complex systems is usually non-linear. Society, business, and the individual are no exception. Like gold miners, we have been successfully exploiting a plot of land for some time. But everything eventually has an end, especially the things that are valuable and useful to us.

So scientists find themselves confined to the limits of the accepted scientific paradigm, which is no longer able to explain the growing number of anomalies. Frustration, despair and a sense of deadlock grow in their community. Wolfgang Pauli wrote to a friend a month before Heisenberg’s paper on matrix mechanics pointed the way to a new quantum theory: “At the moment physics is again terribly confused. At any rate, it is too difficult for me; I would rather write scripts for movie comedies or something like that and never hear about physics” [1].

According to the historian Thomas Kuhn, all this marks the transition from a normal phase of scientific development to a revolutionary one. A paradigm shift is required, so that the scientific community breathes a sigh of relief and enthusiastically continues to push the boundaries of the known worlds. Less than five months later, Pauli said: “Heisenberg’s type of mechanics has again given me hope and joy in life. To be sure it does not supply the solution to the riddle, but I believe it is again possible to march forward.”

If such a transition were a trivial matter, all systems would renew and evolve much faster. But the profound transformation of form (Greek “μεταμόρφωσις”) is a sacred process, that is, one that has to do with the suprarational, the divine, the otherworldly. The “before” and “after” states are obvious to all. The mystery is what happens “in-between”. Therefore, at all times a special kind of people have helped to bring about transformation. For the state — it is a charismatic leader, for the scientific community — a visionary scientist, for the individual — a shaman, priest or psychotherapist. It is impossible to delegate the transformation of a business or a person, but it is possible to speed up the process many times over.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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"I have an extremely important business decision to make. Can you help me?
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Perspective /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

The lack of a long-term vision comes at too high a cost. Although at first glance it seems like it shouldn’t be a problem. Just react spontaneously to opportunities that arise along the way, and enjoy being, breathing in the wind of change. But this is in fantasy; in practice, it’s different.

Perhaps the Buddha could, like a fish, swim with the current of life freely and easily. But most of us are far from such mastery. Something is constantly going wrong in our perception. Daily expectations fail to materialize, to-do plans crumble, and barriers arise at every turn. Any such small bummer is not worth attention, but together they resemble “凌迟” (pinyin), literally: “death by a thousand cuts,” a protracted Chinese execution in the Middle Ages. No wonder there are so many irritated people in traffic jams, even in a fed-up Western metropolis. Nothing deprives the mind of peace like a lack of control over one’s life in trivial little things.

It is different when one has some kind of vision of one’s future in perspective. It is not about detailing in the style of a geodetic map. Quite enough image, drawn with rough brush strokes. But an image that is dear to the person, and therefore irresistibly attracted to him. In this case, any incident of the day is perceived through the prism of a long-term perspective. One constantly asks oneself: “Is this event distancing me or bringing me closer to my goal? Or is it just Brownian noise?” There is less nervousness, stupor and fuss in his life because he has the luxury of choosing his attitude toward sudden change. In turn, calm observation allows in any phenomenon to see not only the harm everyone understands, but also the unobvious benefit.

If your business has long-term goals, the question is, does its founder have a clear vision?

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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"I have an extremely important business decision to make. Can you help me?
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To sell or not to sell? /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

Surprisingly, not all founders think about selling their business. Especially while they have strength, pay dividends, and can’t raise their heads from the routine, the founder pampers himself with illusions: “I’ll own it until I pass it on to my children.” Usually, the question of the sale is actualized or when (rarely) out of nowhere comes a stubborn buyer, or when (more often) something went wrong. For example, because of irreconcilable differences, the co-founders turned into Montagues and Capulets, the owner burned out, the company’s growth slows down, and the economy goes into a dive. But when things are terrible, it’s hard to sell the company, and you can’t get a tangible sum.

On the contrary, it is possible to get the best price only if there is not one but a good number of strategic buyers fighting among themselves for the right to buy. This is only possible when your business is the missing emerald for their “crown”. They lacked your company to make the quantum leap. Notice that it’s not so much about your current financial performance as it is about the extra value that the buyer will create with your business itself. What sets entrepreneurs apart is their ability to put themselves in the shoes of another-a customer, an employee, a supplier, an official, a lender, and finally, the person to whom they want to sell their business.

You might ask, “What if he doesn’t want to?” You know, there’s an intergalactic difference between being forced to sell and having the choice to do so at any given moment. Isn’t entrepreneurship the pursuit of ultimate freedom? The wise founders I know regularly analyze whether their business is ready to sell and work systematically to increase its value from day one. When the transaction happens is not that important to them. But rest assured - the timing will be optimal, the deal is done on their terms and the highest price is paid.

And how ready is your business for sale?

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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"I have an extremely important business decision to make. Can you help me?
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Essence and nonsense /  by Alexander Lyadov

When you become passionate about something new, whether it's a job, a hobby, or a sport, you often pay too much attention to the outward form rather than to the essence. Sometimes it gets to the point of absurdity when newcomers argue fervently and arrogantly about why one trinket is more important than another.

I myself shudder to recall the early years of my motorcycle hobby, when I spent an insane amount of time and money on advanced tuning of my "racehorse". Reading the endless threads of discussions on biker forums, I conducted a multi-criteria optimization before buying the exhaust, turn signals, license plate holder, motorcycle jacket, etc. In terms of the intensity of the analysis process, each decision resembled preparing for a PE fund investment committee meeting about an eight-zero deal. A similar dynamic was repeated in the early years of my fascination with Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Instead of researching the details of the techniques shown by the coach the day before, I collected and double-checked reviews to choose the perfect kimono.

Later, of course, that obsession went away. Hundreds, or even thousands of hours of riding and wrestling drew a clear line in my mind between the essential and the non-essential. I began to understand a philosophy based on the principle of necessity. It is an honest answer to the question, "What is necessary at this moment?" Not someday, but here and now. Not for someone, but for me. It turns out that I need to acquire very little, sometimes even nothing.

And in business, and in life, the main thing that does not require us to make expensive investments, move, change partners and other dramatic upgrades to external forms. Knowing what is most essential allows us to make the choice of the best fulcrum for our effective efforts. Thus, the creation of the most effective leverage occurs solely in our minds.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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"I have an extremely important business decision to make. Can you help me?
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Self-improvement for real /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

One of the most popular tags on Medium is self-improvement. That is, a huge number of people are seriously concerned with the question, “How do I fix myself?”. Desperate demand generates a tsunami of offers. No wonder that wherever you turn, you’re bound to find a webinar, an online course, or just a hack. There is everything on the market — from a primitive upgrade in presentation skills to esoteric pumping of all seven chakras. So the improvement collector can endlessly collect Instagram selfies, medals and certificates. Whether in this race of accomplishments the individual really changes for the better is a big question.

Equally worrying, however, is the now increasingly popular motto: “You’re already beautiful and you don’t need to change at all.” A thick layer of pseudo-empathy tries to assuage a person’s natural anxiety at the sight of egregious facts in the present, the consequence of which will be illness, suffering and loss in the future. This is how a mother emotionally “chastises” the object of reality, “You bad table!” that her roaring son has bumped against. Instead of teaching him to be more attentive to his surroundings during exuberant playtime. Fifteen years from now, reality will just smack him down for parentally encouraged carelessness.

Given these extremes, one can’t help but wonder, “What to do?” It seems to me that the answer is paradoxical — you have to change without changing. With time, after many attempts, you come to the conclusion that it is impossible to change the structure of your personality. Tattoos, buttocks, a Harvard degree, or a hundred books read in a year are waves on the surface, not touching the depths of your ocean. The only way out is to realize your essence as it truly is, not as you want it to be. It’s not a pleasant process, but it gives you a chance to make your “unacceptable” essence functional. The minus turns into a plus by itself. This is self-development for real.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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"I have an extremely important business decision to make. Can you help me?
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Achieving without wanting /  by Alexander Lyadov

“The real trick in life is to want nothing, and to succeed in getting it,” I learned yesterday while reading Shantaram. It’s amazing how I missed this magnetic novel by Australian author Gregory David Roberts, published back in 2003. The book is based on events from his life. David had a history of heroin addiction, was found guilty by a court of law of bank robbery, later escaped from prison, then went into hiding in India, where he lived for about 10 years. In short, an intriguing personality who has explored every shade of the bottom.

The initial thought echoes the observation of investor and entrepreneur Naval Ravikant: “Negotiations are won by whoever cares less.” It’s not even a question of your opponent noticing your obsession with something and using it against you. In fact, you are the one producing the moonshine that then makes your alcoholic go on a binge. Obsession makes your position vulnerable. On the contrary, if the message comes from you in a negotiation is, “This is how it’s going to be. Agree or disagree. I don’t care,” then there is no subject for argument or manipulation. You win without even playing the game.

Life is also a negotiation. It seems to be with fate, but in reality with yourself. When movement is dictated by necessity rather than lust, you won’t demand too much, but yours won’t get away from you either. Hard deadlines become unnecessary, because they too are motivated by passion. It turns out that the ideal is to achieve a paradoxical state. To strive without craving. To achieve without undue effort.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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"I have an extremely important business decision to make. Can you help me?
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Gliding /  by Alexander Lyadov

“Ah, that’s it! You have to glide in the water, stretching into a string with one hand and clinging to the water with the other to push off of it!” - I thought excitedly when all the elements of the crawl finally came together. And immediately I began to choke less, because each push created a quasi-steadiness for a fraction of a second, just enough time to turn on my side and take a gulp of air. It would seem that two such different environments - liquid and ice - but the principle of movement - gliding - turned out to be common. Each subsequent movement is like picking up the baton handed down by the previous row or push. There is no meaningless loss of energy, because the process does not start from scratch every time. The future uses the momentum of the past effectively.

I know entrepreneurs who, to everyone’s surprise, have launched very different businesses one after the other. But from conversations with them, it was clear that it was the old experience that fertilized the mental black soil for the sprouting of the new initiative. They have a long planning horizon and a clear understanding of the desired future state they want to achieve. Everything they do or that surrounds them now they perceive not literally, but as a potential tool for a consistent approach to the goal. Thus, a skilled woodworker sees not an old oak stump, but a uniquely shaped tabletop for a table that he will sell to an investment banker for a fabulous sum.

And then I wondered what my life would be like if I could get rid of all the extra movement. It’s one thing to start the car by pushing, especially in the mud, but it’s another thing when it rolls itself down a hill. What if every decision, action, mistake and pause made a valuable contribution to the Tao (道), that is, the personal Path? Instead of crawling in defiance of friction, life would be a glide from one exciting possibility to another.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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Synthesis of Worlds /  by Alexander Lyadov

Many Ukrainian children today went to school in a foreign country, and their parents found jobs there. Is that good or bad? It depends on the horizon and the angle of view. When our investment fund worked in Latvia, locals told us that after the economic crisis, many Latvians were forced to go to Europe to work and study. Some made a new nest there.

But after a few years, like a spring in the mountains, a stream entered Latvia and began to gradually grow stronger. More and more of those who left decided to buy a ticket back. Some had a hard time in a foreign land and were glad to come back, as soon as they could earn decent money at home. But - surprise, surprise! - there were also many who had achieved considerable success abroad. They had a wide range of choices, but Latvia won. Why?

When one finds oneself in a new territory, symbolically and literally, the complexity of the problems requires concentration of all one's strength and enthralls one entirely. Therefore, he tends to over-value the skills, knowledge and experience that he does not yet have, but also to ignore everything that he already has.

After some time of adaptation, it dawns on the intelligent person: "Hmm, unlike the others, I find myself between two worlds. Now I know how life and business works in the UK, but I also remember how it is in Latvia. Thanks to the "in-between" position, there are some curious possibilities. For example: "Why isn't such a popular service in England still available in Latvia? I can be the first!". After working in a Michelin-starred European restaurant for several years, a Latvian finds an investor and, in his capacity of a chef, opens an amazing restaurant in Riga. Or he gets the insight that there is a surplus in the Baltics of what is in short supply in England. And this happens in every field - business, science, art, etc. There is a synthesis of old and new experiences, which allows a person to create something of value at the intersection of the two worlds. Both Ukraine and Europe will benefit.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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An oasis of adequacy /  by Alexander Lyadov

Man playing with his head

Unknown author

 

An oasis of adequacy.

I was already taken aback — a man and a woman, pushing a large stroller with a child, ran across Lesia Ukrainka Boulevard in Kyiv through six lanes. The separating fence was broken in a couple of places, which created a temptation. During the first weeks of the war, there were not many cars, so many people stopped using the underpass two hundred meters away and began saving time by moving straight through.

The problem is that this particular boulevard is one of the best roads in town: quality asphalt, straight sections and new full-length traffic lights. So day and night amateur racers on cars and sportbikes are trying to see who has the bigger, ahem, exhaust pipe.

The situation here can change in a split second. Just then it was empty, when suddenly a biker comes out and a tuned Geländewagen chases after him. What’s on the mind of grown men with strollers who put three of their lives on “zero”? Probably like the steppe, there's nothing there but wind. There are dozens of such examples if you watch people closely.

Business creates the illusion that there are many adequate people around you. Former CIA agent Andrew Bustamante, MBA told Lex Fridman in an interview that the only thing he misses is the high concentration of smart, energetic and determined people one encounters in the corridors of Langley. You, too, are likely to inhabit an "oasis of adequacy", beyond which you are much more likely to find absurdity, delirium, and chaos. So we need to appreciate the fragile harmony felt at least somewhere from time to time. And to be grateful for an imperfect micro-world in which to live, work, and create. This is already a lot.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

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Chaos and order /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

Have you ever been in an artist’s studio? Primordial chaos reigns there, allowing him to create productively. In the domestic sense, however, it is impossible to live in this disorder. On the contrary, you can probably remember someone’s house, in the repair of which the owners have invested a lot of effort and capital. All the elements there are strictly in their places, and the order and cleanliness of the dwelling reminds one of a museum or an operating room. The owner is proud to show the achieved result to the delighted guests, who think to themselves, “It is very beautiful, but I would not be able to live here." This is understandable, because due to the many restrictions of freedom in the museum after a few hours one suffocates physically and existentially.

We face two extremes. In one, there is an excess of chaos, and in the other, an excess of order. Both are unsuitable for family living, especially with children and pets. The first because of anarchy, which dissolves literally everything in the acid of unpredictability. The second — because of despotism, which hits at every step with a ruler on the hands. What's the solution if, say, you inherited such a house from your third cousin?

Obviously, it is necessary to restore the disturbed balance. So, a long abandoned and overgrown with weeds park needs to add a spoonful of consistency according to some kind of plan. If you are not an artist, it makes sense to keep the original spirit of the workshop, as this will only increase the appeal and value of the house. But the chaos definitely needs to be localized and clear axes of order outlined. As for the house-museum, there is no need to smash the walls and scratch the polished table. It's enough to inject chaos by adding live plants and hanging art here and there. What should be the ratio? That’s a matter of taste.

Now, look at your business through these glasses. Better yet, ask employees about organizational convenience. Perhaps your business, too, has tilted to one side and the team is quietly suffering from an overabundance of despotism or anarchy.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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”Who are you and what do you do?"
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.

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Envy of trees /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

Sometimes I envy trees. Especially those that have been observing life for several hundred years. One could accuse them of apathy, lack of willpower, or lack of ambition to move and achieve. If a dialogue were to take place, such words would seem strange to the trees. They would wiggle their crowns in surprise: “Why would someone who has everything run somewhere?

For example, the process of photosynthesis is simple and ascetic - it requires only carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight. All of this is available around you - you don’t need to produce anything. The risk of lack of mobility is debatable, because in a clear field in the rain you will be wet, regardless of whether you stop or run. As for the desire for new experiences and content, the trees settle in as if they were in a movie theater — life flows past and through them. If one observes a certain phenomenon for a very long time, the threads of numerous patterns will weave themselves into a carpet of wisdom. The realization that literally everything has happened many, many times before calms all emotion, leaving only a cool interest: “Ah, now it’s like this, well, well….”

After such reflection, the belief of the indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin that plants are wiser than we are doesn’t seem so naive. That’s what the Indians say: Master Plant. So they enter with deep reverence and gratitude into the ritual of “knowledge transfer,” whether it be Ayahuasca, San Pedro, or magic mushrooms. When for more than a thousand years a person after meeting with a Master comes out renewed, focused and energized, only a fearful and shortsighted mind could decide that some plants are so dangerous that they should fall under prohibition. Fortunately, a few decades have passed, historically a blink, and today there is a growing wave of serious scientific research confirming the exceptional benefits of cannabis, psilocybin, DMT and other substances found in wildlife.

Knowing everything up front, taking it as it comes, not rushing into anything. Generously passing on photosynthesized insights to those people who are willing to take them. I think I’ve described my nirvana. Wouldn’t you like to look at this crazy world through the eyes of a tree?

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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.

"I have an extremely important business decision to make. Can you help me?
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The Master /  by Alexander Lyadov

What is the difference between a Master and a specialist? The former are few and the latter are the majority. Even if you were able to weed out the pseudo-experts, which with the development of their marketing skills, is becoming increasingly difficult. The master gives you just one, but very focused advice and the chronic problem disappears.

Case in point - about a year ago, I developed lower back pain on my right side. Since I spend 6-12 hours a day at the computer, sometimes my favorite business therapy and creativity turned into torture. Getting my spine corrected by an orthopedist brought peace, but only for a couple of weeks. Traditional back pumping exercises brought no relief.

My versions were a sedentary lifestyle, kettlebells, wrestling, and even youthful injuries. I remember the first time I severely injured my lower back when, about 30 years ago, I was stretching fighting dogs while in a stupid bend. I listened to advice from doctors and fitness professionals offline and online that looked convincing… but didn’t help.

After stumbling across the channel of Jeff Cavaliere, a former physical therapist for the New York Mets team, I listened skeptically to him say that often lower back pain is not related to a herniated spine or weak back muscles. The problem is the medial gluteal muscle. When the body rests on one leg, this muscle tilts the pelvis to its side, in short, its function is to stabilize the pelvis. Jeff showed a very odd exercise — walking with a kettlebell suspended between your legs. It looked ridiculous from the outside, but the middle gluteal muscle was “killed” instantly. The result — my lower back pain was gone in a few days.

Health, education or business - in any area, the main thing is to find someone who knows how to highlight the non-obvious essence behind a jumble of minor details.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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.

"I have an extremely important business decision to make. Can you help me?
Reserve a time on my calendar that is convenient for you to meet with me. We'll clarify your request and discuss options for how you can help.

The Shortest Way /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

Reading Murakami at bedtime continues to provide insights. Here’s an example: “- As you know, water always flows along the shortest path provided to it. However, in some cases, the shortest path is created by the water itself. A person’s thoughts — they are like water.”

The metaphor visualizes ambivalence-the simultaneous presence of two opposite properties. There is no contradiction here, for the appropriateness of water’s particular “behavior” is determined by the balance of power and context. It is as if water is testing any obstacle for strength, so that, taking into account the consumption of energy, it can choose the best of the alternatives - to destroy or bypass.

Is the obstacle amenable to pressure? Good! All the power of the accumulated water in the dam rushes into a microscopic crack. A boulder in the path of the stream is irresistible? No problem! Water eagerly rushes around. Or it evaporates to condense elsewhere. Even if the rock turns out to be a boundless monolith, water will grind the rock for a thousand years. And what’s its hurry?

So a new facet emerges in the Buddha’s words, “Your suffering is caused by your resistance to what is. You have to make sure that what is in front of you is not the imaginary, but reality. Often an impregnable pile of circumstances tells us, “Don’t even think!” Sometimes this is true, and then it’s time to activate plasticity. But first it makes sense to examine the problem carefully to find its vulnerable point. Poke at it, and the problem is gone. How much time and effort is saved!

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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.

"I have an extremely important business decision to make. Can you help me?
Reserve a time on my calendar that is convenient for you to meet with me. We'll clarify your request and discuss options for how you can help.

Free yourself once and for all? /  by Alexander Lyadov

For years I’d been resting my head painfully against the mysterious glass ceiling, preventing me from rising up and breathing fully. If there was a hatch, the intricate lock required either a secret code or a picklock. I was convinced that once this puzzle was solved, the world would open toward me once and for all. It took a lot of trying and extra effort, but in the end, it seemed, I overcame this obstacle. And indeed, living, working, and creating became much easier for me. Similarly, a beginner’s motorcycle engine overheats and roars until he has mastered the throttle, brake and clutch knobs enough to switch to the next speed in time.

To my surprise, I didn’t instantly go into Earth orbit. I’m not complaining, though. So many new possibilities opened up that you only have time to mark promising areas to methodically develop them later. But I can’t help but notice friction and discomfort, now in other places, which is a harbinger of more problems to come.

Anyone familiar with the Theory of Constraints should presumably not be surprised by the displacement of the bottleneck. After one bottleneck has been successfully overcome, another bottleneck is sure to appear. Fortunately, the bottle itself increases in size. But one thing is production or business, and another thing is personality. How strong is the illusion of getting rid of all the problems in one fell swoop? In reality, each of us in our profession, creativity and personal development is doomed to open one lock after another. I think when this thought can be accepted, then it becomes even interesting what awaits us next.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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.

"I have an extremely important business decision to make. Can you help me?
Reserve a time on my calendar that is convenient for you to meet with me. We'll clarify your request and discuss options for how you can help.

The value of joroganism /  by Alexander Lyadov

Did you know that Spotify podcasts are finally available in Ukraine? I downloaded a bunch of episodes of the Joe Rogan Experience out of joy. I hadn’t listened to the show for two years because of the mega-deal that Joe got $200M in exchange for a Spotify exclusive. Now I’m enjoying an episode with Gavin De Becker, a security specialist for governments, large corporations, and celebrities. Also, Gavin is the author of my favorite book, The Gift of Fear, which I’ve been quoting in my articles for years.

During the interview, Gavin and Joe argued heatedly about the usefulness of self-defense courses for ordinary people. Joe was concerned about the short courses, after which people have the illusion of security. But then, as often happens in arguments, it turned out that they were, first, talking about different aspects, and second, Gavin explained important nuances. For example, there are two types of predators that attack women, the persuasion predator and the power predator. There are disproportionately more cases of the former (98%). That’s why it’s so important to teach women, teenagers, children and everyone else to pay attention and trust their intuition signals as early as possible. Courses like Model Mugging that Gavin talked about introduce real-world scenarios and actions that are important to take at different stages of a dangerous encounter to save yourself.

And then Gavin said: “You just did something, Joe, that is something interesting example of “joeroganism”, which is you went from your opinion, which is very well informed because you have a lot of experience and then you heard some new information and then you said: “You know, maybe I don’t know enough about of those classes.” Very few people do what you just did. And I see you do that all the time. And this is a kind of hallmark of this show.” Gavin is right. It is for the thrust of truth that I have always appreciated the Joe Rogan Experience more than any other show.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

You can help Ukraine defend itself and the World from Russian aggression here.

”Who are you and what do you do?"
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.

"I have an extremely important business decision to make. Can you help me?
Reserve a time on my calendar that is convenient for you to meet with me. We'll clarify your request and discuss options for how you can help.