Unchained: Break Free from False Beliefs /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

No one knows what you're capable of, and that includes you. The macrocosm outside of you is infinite and unknowable. But the microcosm within you is also limitless and inexhaustible. At any moment, each of us is capable of surprising others and ourselves.

This often happens under the pressure of circumstances, less often by a conscious decision to test ourselves. If there are any limitations, they exist only in the form of false beliefs that prevent us from seeing what already is or could potentially be. The peculiarity of any false belief is that we don't perceive it as such. On the contrary, we hold dear what we have long believed in. We see our chains as golden bracelets and the noose around our neck as an original tie that makes us stand out from the grey crowd.

It's no wonder that changing our belief, and therefore our business, and especially our life, can be so difficult. Even if our minds understand that change is necessary, our subconscious resists with all its might, evading and slipping away. Any system seeks to preserve itself at any cost. Therefore, the system will never voluntarily renew itself (read: kill itself). Radical change requires an external catalyst. Either an experienced person will gently but persistently fulfill this function, or reality like a steamroller will brutally roll over us.

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 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.

Why is the Business a Reflection of the Founder? /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

If a founders complains about their team, what does it say?

Essentially, they are looking in the mirror and describing themselves. Similarly, a tennis player angrily hits the racket on the court due to an awkward serve. It's no wonder that the samurai Miyamoto Musashi considered the sword an extension of the hand. The product of creativity may be worse than its creator, but it's never better. Company is built by people, but someone, after all, invited them, trained them, set goals, and gave them the necessary power and resources. Or they were not taught anything, were unaware of the company goals, were loaded with responsibility, but almost all the power was kept by someone else.

If inexperienced talented people end up in such an environment, what will happen? After a few unsuccessful attempts to change something, they will catapult out of there very soon. In other words, it's not easy to find the best people, it's hard to hire them, but it's absolutely impossible to retain them against their will. The founders are the origin, epicentre and centre of attraction of a business. In their micro-universe, they are God. Everything good and bad in the company happens at their will and desire, even if they don't admit it to themselves. Following the formation of vision, the study of customer needs, and the search for a business model, choosing the first employees is a decisive step.

Dan Rose held leadership positions at Amazon and Facebook for 20 years and now heads Coatue Ventures. He  said  that when he was considering leaving Amazon, he asked for advice from investor Peter Thiel: "Peter, I'm interviewing at these six companies. And by the way, four of them are companies you invested in. What do you think I should do?" And he replied, "You should go to Facebook." And I asked, "Why?" And he said, "Simply put, they have the best people. And companies with the best people ultimately win." Therefore, Dan concludes, "The best founders are able to attract the best people, period."

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 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.

Why Tech Genius Must Learn to Sell /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

Do the founders need to be able to sell their service or product themselves?

After all, there are sales departments, CMOs, and partnership channels for that.

This is a common problem among some talented engineers and creators. Subconsciously, they crave solving exciting problems that someone else regularly brings to them. As a result, they tend to delegate demand creation, lead generation, and the sales process to anyone who expresses a willingness to do so.

As a result, either there is no stable flow of customers, or there is a flow, but no profit, as it is taken by the person who brings them in. In addition, the founders develop a legitimate paranoia that they have become dangerously dependent on a "benefactor" and could lose the business they have built up over many years at any time.

In the 90s, the "father of advertising" David Ogilvy wrote: "In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create." Today, this is even more true. If a creative or technical genius learns to generate and satisfy market demand himself, he will essentially acquire a superpower.

The key question is why some founders have an almost organic aversion to the idea of making sales themselves. I have encountered various reasons, one of which is a misconception about what it takes to make successful sales. They believe that they will need to develop qualities that are foreign to them - deceitfulness, hypocrisy, Machiavellianism, and cynicism. However, in reality, on the contrary, all that is needed is to focus their natural inventive and creative power in a different direction. This involves collaborating with customers to identify the root of their problems and unlock the hidden potential of solutions.

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 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.

Does Your Business Have Tokui-Waza? /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

A young athlete and an entrepreneur I know asked me almost simultaneously: "My head is spinning. What should be my focus as an athlete (CEO)?". I gave them both similar advice. In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, there are thousands of techniques that can make an opponent submit under threat of suffocation, fracture, or pain. A novice athlete is struggling with a dilemma: "Should I try to learn all techniques a little bit, or focus on one thing?"

Fortunately, there is a simple solution that no one talks about. Firstly, you need to learn various techniques, but only to the extent that you can recognize and neutralize them when your opponent tries to use them. You don't need to be able to set up all possible traps - it is enough to notice and avoid them in time. Secondly, the athlete needs to actively invest in the development of the so-called "tokui waza." This is a judo term that means the crown technique. It is the one that you can perform particularly easily and almost always leads to a successful outcome.

Why this technique is right for you doesn't matter. Most likely, you are predisposed to it due to the unique anatomy of your body or your specifics of mind. The key thing is that in a scramble, you can't help but try to apply this technique. More precisely, it will manifest itself at the right moment. You will enjoy practicing during training. And your crown technique will attract your attention like a magnet, inspiring you to study every possible nuance.

How do you know which technique will become your "tokui waza"? You need to observe yourself closely during scrambles. Sooner or later, you will notice that one of the techniques has come out of you almost by itself. That's it, now it is the zone of your attention and effort investment. Collect information about this technique and experiment with it.

Very soon all your training partners will know that you are no joke. Meanwhile, you should continue to diligently water what grows on its own. Typically, one crown technique leads to a second and a third. As a result, a whole bush of them grows, allowing a beginner athlete to win more often at competitions. This approach helped me to win two gold medals at the European Championships in 2018 and 2019, just three years after starting to practice Jiu-Jitsu.

Business and Jiu-Jitsu are similar. Your customers have certain hygienic factors that must be met, without which your company will not be allowed to play. As client requirements and market conditions change, you must constantly check and update this hygienic checklist. But for your company to win the "gold medal" against the competition, it must have its own "tokui waza". CEOs should see their companies like a coach sees a promising athlete — carefully studying their characteristics to determine what the athlete does best. And having discovered this organic advantage, they should strive to strengthen and develop it to the fullest extent.

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 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 Unseen Value Of Imperfect Opportunity /  by Alexander Lyadov

Do you know what a new opportunity is similar to? It's like a bouquet of flowers. As soon as it appears in front of us, it immediately starts to become obsolete. Like an isotope with a half-life, the lifespan of an opportunity is very short. But many people are convinced that fortune will always be waiting for them. However, seeing such disrespect towards itself, fortune leaves them with nothing.

Yes, often an opportunity doesn't quite match our expectations of it. "It's not quite right. If only..." we grumble to it. But just like breast milk is only suitable for a helpless infant, an adult must find, prepare, and chew his (or her) own food. Imperfect opportunities are not a defect or insignificance on their part. On the contrary, they acknowledge our ability to evaluate and develop them.

The more experienced entrepreneurs are, the more grateful they are to fate. A dirty, strange, and ugly opportunity doesn't repel or scare them. And the fewer other applicants, the higher their status as a chosen one. In essence, the scale of success depends on the reaction to the wildest opportunity. And the speed of reaction depends on experience, knowledge, and the belief "I can do that."

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 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 Myth of Scarce Opportunities /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

Do you have an abundance of favorable opportunities in your business, or are you facing a deficit? Many believe that some people just get lucky and end up in the right place at the right time, while others are doomed to watch the train leave the station, or worse, not even realize that there's a station. In other words, opportunity is seen as something that's intrinsic to the environment. A person can either stumble upon a gold nugget (the lucky one) or forcibly seize a gold mine for themselves (the oppressor). There's no third option.

My jiu-jitsu experience has convinced me that it's not like that - opportunities have always been, are and will always be there. But as a novice, I was preoccupied with survival and couldn't see anything else. With a blue belt, the number of favorable positions for rest, control, or submission increased. At the purple belt level, even if I can't always take advantage of them, I can see that opportunities are abundant all around me. Is the open lapel a mere form element or a rope that can easily strangle your opponent? Is the opponent who's grabbing your throat a dangerous predator or a naive prey that fell into your trap?

Living through sparring matches, analyzing mistakes, and methodical training for seven years has invisibly transformed me. Once I learned how profitable it is to upset the opponent's balance (kazushi), for instance, I can no longer unsee this insight. Now, if my success in jiu-jitsu is hampered by anything, it's only my impulsiveness, tiredness, or laziness.

Do you think it's any different in business? My own experience and working closely with entrepreneurs has convinced me that it's all the same - it's all about mindset.

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 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 Forgotten Foundation of Advertising, Marketing and Sales /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

Some people disdain advertising, marketing, and sales.

They perceive it as a hellish concoction of violence, manipulation, and NLP.

They believe that a super service will sell itself.

But since there are no queues of eager customers, they get angry.

Fools allegedly surround them, unable to appreciate the service's genius.

This is a warm bath of narcissism, and one can soak in it for years.

Unfortunately, they have forgotten the foundation of advertising and sales.

For a customer to buy something, they must know about you and trust you.

To begin with, the founder should explicitly state the service.

After all, customers are immersed in routine and surrounded by noise.

But without the fertile soil of trust, the seed of information will not sprout.

How does trust arise? The sources of distrust provide a clue.

These are unfamiliarity, complexity, unpredictability, and confusion.

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 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.

What is Your Life's Pattern? /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

Your life is a unique pattern of complexity and beauty.

At first, someone or something else moves the needle, not you.

Parents, friends, or circumstances mold you like clay.

But sooner or later, the creator within awakens.

True, for some, only a catastrophe can provide the push.

However it is, potentially the Demiurge exists in everyone.

His function is to create a pattern that is impossible to replicate.

It's important to note that this is an inner dictate, not self-indulgence or folly.

In other words, it's the growing of personal meaning from the inside out.

The mistake is to compare the scope of influence on the planet and people.

How can one assess a mother's love for her children or the advice of a wiseman?

Everyone has their own purpose, which is sometimes unclear even in hindsight.

But it's absolutely clear when your pattern is real, honest, and alive.

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 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.

How to Outrace Age? /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

As one ages, their energy inevitably decreases.

A 50-year-old wrestler doesn't have the explosiveness and stamina he had at 20.

But it's not brute force that wins, it's a well-directed impulse.

A joke elicits laughter if delivered precisely at the right moment.

The power of the car's engine is important, but the software is even more critical.

It allows for quick energy replenishment and optimal performance.

A seasoned comedian doesn't rush, ramble, or flit about the stage.

He holds long pauses and with a single grimace breaks the audience's guts.

It's impossible, nor necessary, to stop the natural course of things.

However, nature is capable of giving something back while taking away much.

Provided that one continuously updates his or her software.

The ideal is when increasing wisdom exceeds decreasing strength.

Essentially, someone who gets close to the ideal doesn't age.

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 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.

How Do You Break Through a Ceiling That Doesn't Exist? /  by Alexander Lyadov

I've changed several industries in 25 years, but each time it wasn't my thing.

I usually achieved success quickly and then went into the unknown.

I felt like I was hitting an invisible, impenetrable ceiling.

Physics, psychology, philosophy, and religion didn't provide any answers.

Once I was so fiercely cornered that I squeezed out of myself: 'Help!'"

But no one came to my aid because it wasn't a scream, it was a whisper.

Another time I was wiser and sent a very clear signal to the world.

A strong man inspired me that I could handle everything myself.

A wise woman finally explained to me the nature of my superpower.

Instead of conforming to others, I created my own Thing.

Thus was born the Analytically Oriented Business Therapy.

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 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.

Creativity in Negotiation: Best negotiations are those that never take place /  by Alexander Lyadov

Meditating alien man by Moebius

Moebius

 

There are many simple and sophisticated techniques for persuasion and negotiation that can help you more effectively get what you need from the other side. But the best strategy is when there are no negotiations at all, yet the desired result is achieved. One of my longtime business partners didn't like bargaining with people. He wasn't afraid of anyone and could be very tough when necessary, but emotions were not his forte. So his brilliant intellect found a systematic way out of this problem.

For any significant negotiations, he prepared meticulously, evaluated various scenarios, and built models in Excel. But most importantly, he did all this not only for himself but also for the other side. As a result, he had a clear understanding of the opponent's current position and the cost of their alternatives. At the negotiating table, my partner made only one proposal and calmly explained on numbers and facts why the opponent simply could not have a better offer.

Notably, his proposal was not super-aggressive. Each time, I even had a feeling that my partner was leaving value on the table. He explained, "I don't need any extra." But then he stood his ground unwaveringly. Disarmed by his insightful analysis, opponents desperately tried to emotionally pressure him. He would calmly reveal his next alternative, which, combined with the reasonableness of his original proposal, usually convinced everyone.

His approach echoes what experts on hostage release and extreme negotiations Christopher Voss and Derek Gaunt say: "It's not about you!" In other words, for successful negotiations, paradoxically, you need to forget about yourself and show "tactical empathy." You don't have to love your opponents, you just need to understand them. You need to focus on what's important and valuable to the other side. The clearer you understand what drives them and their ways of retreating, the easier it is to make an offer in the spirit of Don Corleone, which cannot be refused.

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 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.

Freeride Entrepreneurship: Danger or Fun /  by Alexander Lyadov

Unknown artist

Freeride snowboarding in untouched snow is an exhilarating experience: a sunny day, the ringing silence, and the beauty of wild nature. However, one mistake can turn  turn paradise into hell into hell. Being trapped upside down in a snowdrift is a death sentence by suffocation if no one is nearby to help.

In the city, there is almost always some service that will either come to help in time or provide a warning sign or fence to prevent danger. However, in the wilderness, people tend to act as if there are safety ropes everywhere. Nature does not care about individuals; it only stimulates natural selection. Its especially bad if a snowboarder decides that he can deal with any problems himself and goes snowboarding alone.This is pride, which is considered the cause of all other sins in both Islam and Orthodoxy. In ancient tradition, hubris (arrogance, boldness, insolence) is perceived by the gods as a challenge thrown at them, and they punish it with sudden disappearance of luck.

In the business world, most people spend their time on ski resorts, using lifts and skiing along prepared slopes. However, it is on untouched snow that the full potential of both the snowboard and the rider is unleashed. Thus, entrepreneurs venture into places where no one has ever set foot in search of achievement, adrenaline, and meaning. Many eventually find what they are looking for, but only if, first and foremost, they remember the treacherous nature of the environment that can both reward and destroy them in an instant. Secondly, even the strongest of them are alien to pride. They consciously seek support, whether it be a community of entrepreneurs, a board of directors, a business partner, a coach, or a psychotherapist.

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 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.

Creativity in Negotiation: the Mindset of a Chooser /  by Alexander Lyadov

Theo. R. Davis

"Beggars should be no choosers." This powerful proverb was published in English writer John Heywood's collection in 1562. One can think of it in a positive light, feeling gratitude for any gift of fate, especially when you are stuck.

Of course, no one is immune to tragic blows of fate. Yesterday, someone was featured on the cover of Forbes, and today he or she is forced to hide in Asia from creditors. However, no one willingly and in his or her right mind wants to be in the position of a beggar. Nonetheless, in negotiations, we often corner ourselves, depriving ourselves of any freedom to choose.

The proverb suggests how it all happens. The stronger our obsession with a specific result in negotiations, the stronger our claws get stuck in the trap. Desperately wanting what we don't have but our opponent does, we turn into beggars who can be pushed around. In addition, the extreme degree of desperation awakens base instincts in a person cornered, which he will come to regret.

The opposite is also true — any reduction in our fixation on a specific form automatically enriches us. That is why true entrepreneurs are willing to do anything to increase the number of their degrees of freedom. They intuitively and consciously use different techniques to avoid falling into the trap of their obsession.

The simplest and most effective way is to find the next best alternative to what is so desired at the negotiating table. The better your alternative is worked out, the more unshakable you become. Note that you don't need to be naturally bold and cool-headed. You also don't need to squeeze or bluff anyone. It's enough to be ready to stand up and leave at any moment. Your world is richer than this deal.

As we can see, the choice of whether we are a beggar or a chooser largely depends on our knowledge of our nature and our ability to control ourselves.

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 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.

From Victim to Predator: Unleashing Your Inner Power /  by Alexander Lyadov

buffalo attacks the lion back

Unknown artist

An entrepreneur can be in a resourceful state, but upon receiving stunning news about his (or her) business, family, or health, he may fall into a long period of abeyance. Or he may understand the impending danger but somehow feel unable to take action. In the arena of struggle, I regularly observe how difficult it is to overcome a strange apathy and activate the "combat mode," even though it may seem like one has slept, eaten, and have the strength. And sometimes the mode is activated spontaneously, and then the consciousness becomes clearer, and the energy increases exponentially. The question is where inside of us this "button" is located and how to keep it at hand.

Rory Miller spent 17 years in maximum-security prisons and psychiatric hospitals. In his book "Meditations on Violence," he writes: "Self-defense is never a choice. The attacker is in the predator mindset, not the victim. The victim will have to deal with shock and total surprise, the predator won’t. The essence of self-defense is breaking out of the frozen mindset you have been shocked into. If you can access the predator mindset a few seconds into the attack, you can turn the attack into something else. That’s powerful but takes great experience."

Rory's words are encouraging because switching from a victim to a predator mindset is a skill that can and should be trained. The goal is to defrost yourself as quickly as possible, make rational decisions, and start attacking the source of danger in response. When a criminal attacks, it's a matter of seconds, and when disaster strikes a business, usually the countdown is measured in months, weeks, or days. Personally, I find different methods helpful in flipping the switch: for jiu-jitsu — warming up with sparring partners, in business — advice from a more experienced person, in life — a therapist.

And what method do you use to ignite the fire within yourself?

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 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.

Want a Guarantee of Exciting Growth? Respect the Game /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

What's worse than losing in a wrestling match, not counting injuries?

Your opponent lets you know that it's so easy for him that it's boring. Or worse, he starts visibly giving in to you with a contemptuous smirk on his face. In street language, this means he's showing you "disrespect."

The problem is that now the Game has lost all meaning. Your opponent hasn't realized it yet, but with his disrespect, he's not just scratching your ego or tarnishing his own reputation, he's destroying the very essence of why both of you came to the mat.

Jiu-jitsu, like tango or business, is a social game that cannot be played transactionally, much less alone. All the most engaging games involve many rounds over many years, not only for the enjoyment but also for growing in skills alongside increasing complexity.

Therefore, if you want to achieve heights in business, dance, or sport, then Task No. 1 is to carefully choose, and then motivate, each of your partners to fully engage in the game. In other words, it's your responsibility too, to keep your partner's interest in the Game alive.

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 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.

Unlocking the Secrets of Your Transformation /  by Alexander Lyadov

Imagine yourself as an experienced gardener. One day, you come across the seeds of an unfamiliar plant. Perhaps a recent typhoon brought them to your island. Out of curiosity, you decide to plant these strange seeds. You are not sure what will grow from them, but you do understand the general process that applies to all plants.

You probably don't know specifically what this type of plant needs. You have to be extremely attentive not to accidentally kill it. You create conditions favorable for it to develop - planting the seeds in black soil, providing water, putting up a fence to protect them from wild animals, etc. Finally, the first sprouts appear. Gradually, the delicate plant transforms into a luxurious tree. Its appearance alone already adorns your garden. Every day, you observe some progress. However, you still do not understand when the strange tree will start bearing fruit or what its fruit will look like. Therefore, you continue to carefully care for it and patiently wait for the culmination of the process.

With an anomalous plant, anything is possible. It can surprise you tomorrow or, conversely, keep the intrigue for several years. Once it happens, you will know the entire cycle from sowing to harvesting. And, if you like the collected fruits, you can repeat this cycle again. Instead of uncertainty, there will be knowledge.

Most of us spend a significant part of our lives studying the features of growing known plant species, figuratively speaking. And we become exceptionally good at it, achieving universal recognition, prosperity, and self-respect. But one day, we wake up with a vague longing that this is not all. It's as if we're missing something important, without which our life is not a life. Over time, the vague feeling grows, turning into a physically palpable need - an existential hunger, a metaphysical void.

If you approach this unusual state with respect and attention, an exciting and rewarding experiment awaits you. You just have to refrain from running away, hiding, or plugging the emptiness inside you with artificial substitutes. One day, the wind of change will inevitably throw strange seeds into your garden. More precisely, it regularly threw them there; you just didn't notice them before.

Metamorphosis (from ancient Greek μεταμόρφωσις, meaning "transformation") is a mysterious process that unfortunately is not taught anywhere today. Everyone has to rediscover it for themselves. Fortunately, the process of transformation is one, eternal and universal. And it doesn't matter in which area it will start for you. For some, radical changes will occur in their business, for others in creativity, for the third in their family, and for the fourth in sports.

Just remember that you are not just a confused and intrigued gardener. You are also fertile soil, seeds of an unknown plant, warm sun, and the water of life.

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 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.

A Sacrifice to Nature and to Business /  by Alexander Lyadov

As soon as we step into nature and take a deep breath of fresh air, we exclaim, "Why don't I come to the forest more often?" But before the trip, we have different thoughts: "Why bother going somewhere? The city is so cozy. And in nature, there are burns, mosquitoes, and ticks." The only way to truly understand the meaning and joy of certain activities is to dive into them headfirst. Sometimes literally, like when you catch yourself thinking in the pool, "Swimming is so cool! And I didn't even want to go." Every time, I am struck by the contrast between the trembling body before the icy water and the enthusiasm of the energized mind afterward.

Entrepreneurship and cold showers are similar in that they require an initial investment in order to earn income. Something valuable must be sacrificed - energy, time, and/or capital. This barrier effectively divides people into those who are willing to part with something dear today and those who are not. Fairy tales and parables often require the contender to try not once, not twice, but three times to prove his or her seriousness of intent.

The price itself is not important, whether it's one cent or one hundred million dollars. The value is determined by the benefit the individual expects to derive. Society often engages in too many discussions and debates about price, saying that $XXX is ridiculously high or low. It is much more productive to ask oneself, "What desired state do I intend to achieve with $XXX?"

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 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 ROI of Failure /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

Do you want each of your analysis, decision, and step to be wise?

I really want to, but unfortunately, I regularly stumble and fall face down in the mud. Working with entrepreneurs, I observe how often they also make mistakes despite their business success and the image of being fate's favorites. The only way to eliminate a misstep is to close the system. When all parameters are under control, perfection is achievable. However, the world changes chaotically like the rainbow spots of gasoline in a puddle. Furthermore, our actions themselves have the effect of a billiard ball breaking the environment (Hello, ChatGPT).

Locking ourselves in an ivory tower, our mind is simply unable to predict what the ricochet will be - there are too many balls. Naive people flee to a land of fantasy from this fact. Psychopaths try to forcibly bend the world and people to their ideal. Only a mature person accepts mistakes as a given, taming them just as our ancestor turned a wolf into a dog 15,000 years ago.

Wise founders act paradoxically - they make mistakes hundreds of times more often. But firstly, they do so consciously, secondly, on their own terms, and thirdly, they minimize the negative effect. For them, a mistake is an affordable investment with a fantastically high ROI. And even if there is a threat of catastrophe, they react instantly, mitigating the harmful consequences, or even turning poison into medicine. As the British Prime Minister said to Queen Elizabeth II in the series "The Crown": "We do what we have to do as leaders. Our job is to calm more crises than we create."

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 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 Paradox of Importance /  by Alexander Lyadov

Unknown photographer

 

It is believed that a goal can only be achieved if one desires it strongly enough. And immediately there is an explanation for failure: 'You just didn't want it enough.'

But, for example, in negotiations the opposite is true - the one who is least attached to the outcome wins. After all, it is impossible to seduce or intimidate someone who can easily get up from the table and walk away without any regrets.

Sometimes entrepreneurs harm themselves by attaching too much importance to a big contract with a new client or getting investment from a PE or VC fund. Their excessive anxiety and despair make the other side tense up, increase the distance, and eventually wave their hand goodbye.

On the contrary, the deal is closed more easily and quickly when the founder exudes a cool, lazy interest in any outcome. Therefore, experienced entrepreneurs do their homework before the deal to achieve a paradoxical state where the important goal exists but the importance of it doesn't.

As the heroine of the novel Shantaram wisely said: "The real trick in life is to want nothing, and to succeed in getting it."

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 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.

Aggression in Business Partnerships /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

Do you feel increasingly irritated by your co-founder's actions?

But you remain silent, even though anger is building up inside you.

"It's OK. Things will work out somehow," you whisper to yourself.

Remember: Aggression is the energy of defending your boundaries.

If it can't find a target, it will attack you, like a domesticated wolf.

Ultimately, everyone will suffer, including your health, family, and kids.

All because you are strictly forbidden to "bite" your business partner.

What is it? Why? Where did their sacred status come from?

You may have unknowingly created a halo over your partner's head.

Something about this person or partnership is very valuable to you.

For example, you're convinced your business won't survive without him or her.

There may be many reasons, but the outcome is the same: you are backed into a corner.

That's why typical solutions like "just talk it out" are not very helpful.

Increasing your degrees of freedom should be your top priority now.

Only when you are both strong can you have a constructive dialogue.

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 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.