Freeing Your White Pencil /  by Alexander Lyadov

What's the use of a white pencil? For beginners - none. They need contrast on paper. But for an artist, a white pencil is a valuable tool. You can't create intricate images with charcoal alone. You need the whole range of colors for nuances. A true artist draws what didn't exist before them. They share their unique perspective and essence with the world. An artist won't say, "This color is bad. I don't need it." Everything has its place and time.

In life, many people reject what they have. They see something in themselves as evil, so they suppress or push it away. Many times, this comes from someone important in their life - a father, mother, grandfather, aunt, or someone else. This person had a strong impact on the child, but their image within the family was negative. The child absorbed everything but locked unwanted traits in a dungeon.

As you grow older, you'll find something missing in you. You'll want to express yourself fully, but something will persistently hold you back. What is it? It's what has always been and still is within you, but it's currently inaccessible. That dreaded trait is your white pencil. You need to study this instrument with curiosity to understand its limits and purpose. When you grasp it, you free yourself from more chains. As a result, your personality grows.

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.

A Healthy Person's Norm /  by Alexander Lyadov

A healthy person should be able to do 1,000 squats in 19 minutes wall sit for 15 minutes," said the rehab specialist from FC "Dynamo," and it made me gasp. So far, my "record" with trembling legs is just 500 squats and 8 minutes of wall sit. Being a "healthy person" seems like an impossible feat. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have reached that level even before my knee surgery. And yet, every day, I practiced jiu-jitsu, lifted weights, or swung kettlebells.

Some might object to such high standards, saying that it's hard to find such people even in a sports club. But for me, it illustrates how low the demands are for our bodies in city life. Smooth roads, elevators, scooters, cars, and delivery services have virtually eliminated physical effort and labor. Someone might brush it off, saying, "There are no situations where you need to do 1,000 squats. Having such strength reserves is excessive."

In times of war, that argument is laughable. Life can exponentially complicate at any moment because chaos knows no limits. There are countless real scenarios where we might pray for any extra strength. But even in a peaceful oasis of stability and quiet (where?), there's a reason to challenge our bodies much more.

Biochemist and science communicator Rhonda Patrick talked about how being in great physical shape in midlife delayed the onset of dementia in women by 9.5 years. Larger brain volumes have also been linked to increased physical activity [​​1​]. Recent research suggests that grip strength is a biomarker of biological age [​​2​​]. Another study showed that higher levels of physical activity may be causally linked to a reduced risk of depression. Moreover, physical exercises ease depression symptoms, aid recovery from depressive disorders, and prevent relapses [​​3​].

It seems to me that systematically increasing physical activity is a win-win for everything.

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.

Extra weight /  by Alexander Lyadov

War showed us how little we really need things. My wife and daughter in England and I in Ukraine rely on a simple list every day. Turns out, about 80% of the stuff in our Kyiv apartment is filled with things we wouldn't even miss if they disappeared.

As long as life goes smoothly on its tracks, it feels like carrying the extra burden isn't that hard. The true cost became clear when we moved from one apartment to another a few years ago. Paying the movers and arranging the items in the new place, I started to question the wisdom of possessing all this "treasure."

Owning anything is not just the privilege of using it. But also it is the burden of preserving it from decay, damage, theft, and so on. Additionally, purchasing freezes financial resources and limits mobility. However, even a high price isn't a problem if we have a clear answer to "What for?".

In other words, what purpose does this thing serve? Either you use it often, so it helps the pulse of life, whether it's business, family, education, hobbies, sports, coziness, or art. Or you keep the thing for protection from sudden blows of fate. Everything else is extravagance, laziness to think, and nonsense. At the very least, let decisions be intentional.

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.

Focus and Vulnerability /  by Alexander Lyadov

In sparring, the biggest danger isn't your opponent. It's the neighboring pairs fighting around you. When all your attention is focused on the problem in front of you, you become vulnerable from the sides and the back. I'll never forget how a neighbor crushed my comrade's knee when he stepped back in the heat of the fight.

Being able to focus on something makes you effective. But at the same time, it works against you. For instance, self-defense experts warn about the danger of wearing headphones on the street. By getting rid of the distracting noise, you risk missing an important signal to save yourself.

This dilemma is typical for some founders. You need to "keep your finger on the pulse," meaning immerse yourself in the operations. But it's also essential to rise above the business to feel the context and not miss threats or favorable trends. So, what to do?

My favorite coach, John Danaher, advises training the skill of following your neighboring conversations on the mats. In other words, allocate a part of your attention to being aware of what's happening around you. Think of the Chinese symbol of Yin and Yang. During the phase of rapid company growth, it's crucial to keep the chaos under control. So, founders should catapult themselves from the operations, at least quarterly or, even better, once a week.

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 Energy to Start /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

People believe that procrastination is putting off important but unpleasant tasks. But sometimes I find it difficult to start what excites, inspires, and gives meaning to me. Does it sound like a paradox?

For instance, after one-day diagnostic sessions, I prepare an analytical report for the client. In it, I delve into the core business problem, strategic priorities, decisions made, and recommendations. It's not just mechanically processing session notes; it's a genuine creative act. From ten hours of content, I must extract the essence. I need to describe the phenomenon as it is, not as we wish to see it. The process is so captivating that I become absorbed in it. So why is it so hard to begin?

The process demands immense focus. I must shut out any thoughts about myself, family, friends, and the world. However, entering this focused state is not easy. It's like starting a chemical reaction; it requires activation energy. You'd think, there it is, the desired activity, but no – at first, you have to overcome the energy barrier. So, I end up going in circles, gathering my strength. This is how a future entrepreneur raises funds for the capital stock. Then a thought pierces me. What if I were to delve into something my heart does not embrace? Then the undertaking would demand a sacrifice beyond all measure.

Conclusion: Be selective in what you dedicate yourself to.

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.

Transference /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

"If there is an excess of emotions, then there is a transfer," the therapist's words shed light on our group's dead-end discussion. Once, we argued with each other, only to later admit that we hadn't grasped the essence of the debate.

In psychology, 'transference' refers to the patient unconsciously projecting their past emotions onto someone unrelated to them. It appears as if the person is arguing with you, but in reality, you're not present there. It's an imaginary persona they've endowed with qualities important to them. It's like choosing a desired character in a video game and then customizing their weapons, armor, and so on. Unlike a game, it's not the interlocutor, but his (or her) subconscious that selects your avatar. He is unaware of it, hence the emotional tsunami catching him off guard. Without clear reason, he suddenly insults, devalues, shames, or accuses you of all sorts of sins. In those moments, it makes sense to ask, "What just happened here?"

The thing is, continuing the discussion is futile. Inside the person, a drama unfolds, and you're merely the trigger for it to start. Of course, there's a temptation to try helping him get rid of his illusions. But for that, you need the knowledge, skills, and experience of a psychotherapist. Also, you must have a clear reason why this matters to you. Finally, your interlocutor must strongly desire it himself. In any society, such individuals are rare. So, at the first signs of boiling emotions, your best strategy is to put the "dramatist" on ignore. Let this be a reminder for both you and me.

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.

Your Balance /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

Imagine you're walking along a mountain trail near a cliff. Suddenly, you stumble and lose your balance. You can't just continue walking like nothing happened. Now, all your focus and strength go into regaining your balance. But why?

Falling means losing control over yourself. You become entirely at the mercy of gravity and chance. The active subject has turned into a passive object. Instead of a free individual, a slave. In essence, you cease to exist.

It is important to maintain balance - physically, intellectually, and spiritually. Many forces from the outside and within constantly try to shake and push us into the abyss. The bad news is that it's an endless struggle. The good news is that your priority is clear.

As John Danaher, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach, put it: "If you can disrupt your opponent's balance, everything else becomes easier. If you can't do that, even the simplest actions will always be difficult. The major part of this game is the battle to break the opponent's balance while keeping your own. Everything else follows from 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.

Non-trivial Problem? Work Hard /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

Recently, I had a 10.5-hour session with an entrepreneur. Throughout, my focus was solely on the client. But such intensity comes at a cost. The following day, I feel off, like I'm unwell. The natural question arises, "Is this really necessary?"

I remember a book by Mircea Eliade, the historian of religions and ethnographer. He observed that when a shaman finishes a shamanic ritual, he is completely exhausted. It's no easy task searching for a lost soul in the afterlife. I also recall the shamans undergoing ayahuasca ceremonies in the jungles of Peru. Every night, they toiled like peasants in harvest-time.

For me, it's easier because I offer help in the real world. At the intersection of business and personal matters, as one client put it. Still, the problems that founders come to me with are far from ordinary. There's no ready-made template that can help here. Instead, several methods should be used simultaneously. Thus it becomes possible to see the contours of the problem and then describe its essence.

As the philosopher Eugene Gendlin wrote, "In order to ask our questions of the concretely experienced trouble itself we must go to it. We must pause and let it come in more. We must sense it clearly. We must touch it, tap at it, and wait for it to open and answer our questions." Like solving a Buddhist koan, in the moment of enlightenment (satori), everything becomes crystal clear. But first, we must become one with the question, and that's a colossal work.

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.

Your Career Boost /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

Smart people don't fight for power within a company. It makes them show their worst qualities, and that's just too basic.

It's more interesting when other people beg you to take that power. They see your value, and you're not dependent on anyone. The choice is yours – accept it or do something else.

How do you achieve that? Take on more responsibility.

But for what? For the things everyone avoids – managers, leaders, and owners.

Here's the algorithm:

  1. Look at your company from an outsider's perspective.

  2. Make a list of all its problems, considering the consequences.

  3. Identify chronic issues that have been around for a while.

  4. Try to find the few that give rise to the others.

  5. Tackle the ones that intrigue you the most.

The advantage of this approach:

  • You have no competition in this territory.

  • People will appreciate any progress you make.

  • By solving the problem here, you can replicate the success anywhere.

  • Shareholders and CEOs will see you as a rare person who does care.

  • And congrats, you're now an intrapreneur.

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.

Momentum in Entrepreneurship /  by Alexander Lyadov

The hardest part is starting something from scratch. You need activation energy. For example, it's the willpower to hit the gym, the effort to start a campfire, or the strike to hit the pool ball.

But once the process gets going, it rolls on its own momentum for a while. Now the task is to keep the process from dying out. Luckily, this requires much less effort.

Note that every joule of energy beyond that point will push the process forward. This way, your return on investment keeps growing. Optimal strategy, right? Yet some people harm themselves (I do it too). They start a new project and put a lot of effort into the initial phase. But then, as the process gains momentum, they switch to something else. But when they realize it, the first project has withered. So, it takes extra effort to bring it back to life.

There are many reasons for such destructive behavior. We need to identify a specific one to turn the harm into a benefit. Imagine a founder who excels at launching new business ideas. But when it comes to expanding corporate structures, he (or she) starts suffocating. Not knowing himself leads to depression due to a series of false starts. Another matter is when the founder embraces his nature. This allows him to plan for an early sale of the company. Or prepare for a smooth transition of responsibilities to a younger partner or a hired CEO.

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.

Total Focus /  by Alexander Lyadov

Some entrepreneurs ruin their own businesses.

Though they are convinced they are doing everything well.

This happens when a tempting business opportunity arises. The founder decides, “No worries, I can give it 20% of my attention.” From that moment, the main business is compromised.

The mistake isn’t in assessing whether 20% attention is enough for the new project. In practice, it may demand 30% or even 50%. The misconception is that the main business only needs 80% attention. But that’s rare. Only if there are:

  • a strong team,

  • a stable market,

  • supportive shareholders, and

  • a well-established business model.

Any weakness in these aspects invites disaster. Just like an injured predator in the wild unable to hunt at full strength. The big question is whether it will survive or not.

The main business demands not 100% attention from the founder, but a full 200%. Yet, even that doesn’t guarantee success. Saying this doesn’t mean the entrepreneur can’t focus on anything else. We’ll talk about that next time.

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 Thorny Path of the Entrepreneur /  by Alexander Lyadov

Few want or can be entrepreneurs.

There are at least three reasons for that:

First, you have to manage intangible things. An accountant enters checks into a ready-made system following established rules. A top manager scales a model set up by someone else. Yet, a founder weaves a see-through cocoon of unseen threads for a butterfly yet to come.

Second, you must endure uncertainty. Started a coworking network? Get hit by Covid. Built a factory for your own cosmetics brand? Here comes a war. Your SaaS business doubled every year? Unfortunately, after the stock market correction, investors care about profits, not growth. The founder can't say, "I'm tired" and quit. He must create an island of stability, even when the whole world seems to be falling apart.

Third, you'll have to wait a long time to see results. The greater the time lag between action and consequence, the more the mind drowns in anxiety. It is hard to orient, learn, and adapt oneself. How to find motivation to conquer hardships before the breakthrough arrives in year 5, 10, or 15?

Not everyone needs to become an entrepreneur. But you will achieve more in business and life if you make progress in these three aspects.

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.

Key Question /  by Alexander Lyadov

Louis Zansky

 

Why do so many people struggle to get into good shape?

They lack a clear answer to why.

Gym memberships, gear, community, and trainers won't help. After a week or a year, people will still give up on workouts. External pressure isn't enough for progress. You need inner drive.

The pull comes from the gap between what people crave and what they have now. So an archer's arrow isn't going anywhere; it's going to a specific target. In this realm of personal meaning, one cannot copy it from others or fake it.

For the same reason, people get stuck in their business or career. You can achieve mastery and become an expert only if a powerful force propels you forward. Its name is "I can't NOT do this thing."

It took me several decades to figure this out. Yes, that long. I had to navigate through many intellectual temptations and psychological traps. But this experience of mistakes and revelations wasn't in vain. Now it saves time and energy for my clients - entrepreneurs and CEOs.

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.

Surgery vs. Rehabilitation /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

A rehabilitation specialist saves a surgeon's reputation. Interesting thought, right?

Imagine a patient undergoing knee surgery. Upon discharge, the surgeon advises a course of physiotherapy. But, deep down, the patient believes the main work is already done. So, he or she dives into their daily activities, ignoring the doctor's advice. Six months later, the patient complains the operation didn't work.

Five days after my release, I went to see a ​rehabilitation specialist​. He surprised me: "You could start the procedures and exercises as early as the next day." Inside the knee, there are no blood vessels. Instead, the cartilage gets its nourishment from synovial fluid. Under load, fluid seeps from the depths of the cartilage to lubricate. Otherwise, the fluid goes back in. By leading a sedentary lifestyle after the surgery, the patients are harming themselves. It's also crucial to strengthen the muscles and ligaments above and below the knee. This speeds up its recovery and protects the knee from new injuries.

For two weeks now, I've been training with the rehabilitation specialist. I'm doing unfamiliar exercises—from balancing and lunges to electrostimulation and self-massage. After the check-up, the surgeon felt content. And I must admit, I'm amazed by the results. Even in my youth, my muscles were never this strong and well-developed. A single thought haunts my peace. If I had loaded my legs like this before, I probably would not have needed the surgery in the first place.

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.

Crystallization of Meaning /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

"Describe inquiry to me," is usually how I kickstart the initial business therapy session.

The entrepreneur opens up about what brought him (or her) to me. I listen without interruption. After twenty minutes, he admits that his story comes across as vague. I reassure him, "That's perfectly normal. Happens quite often."

The situation appears clear as long as it stays within us. The solution might not be present yet, but we're already acquainted with the problem, right? It's as though all we need to do is pinpoint a specific tool, approach, or method. This is where time and resources frequently go to waste, akin to searching for a black cat in a dark room. Thanks to Confucius, we know it wasn't there in the first place.

We truly grasp our own thoughts only when someone lends an ear. Even better if the listener mirrors back the essence of what we hinted at. The ideal scenario is when this cycle repeats multiple times. Consequently, the genuine inquiry takes shape. How do I know this?

At that instant, your mood lifts, energy surges, and you experience some relief. Why? Because your intuition senses progress. Now, you're on the hunt for the key in the exact spot where you lost 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.

Why Being Paranoid? /  by Alexander Lyadov

Unknown photographer

 

What do you do when crossing the road at a complex intersection?

I look the oncoming drivers straight in the face.

You'd think I should be calm, as the traffic light is green for me, and the driver is obliged to let me go first according to the rules. Other pedestrians have enough of this knowledge, and they walk undisturbed without turning their heads. For me, however, the danger only passes when the pedestrian crossing ends, even if there are no passing cars.

Strangely enough, this behavior of mine is a result of riding a motorcycle. The thing is, a pedestrian and a motorcyclist are very similar in their vulnerability towards those steel machines ready to crush them at any moment. It's just that statistically, a motorcyclist feels their helplessness more often like a cheetah finding itself among a herd of elephants. To the one who got trampled, it doesn't matter who was right. Such asymmetry in the consequences of a collision makes the motorcyclist default to the assumption that everyone around is trying to kill him. That's why at the intersection, I look the drivers in the eyes to make sure they really see me.

Andy Grove, the founder and CEO of Intel, cleverly titled his book "Only the Paranoid Survive." Like a motorcyclist on the road, an entrepreneur also operates in an extremely aggressive environment. And the earlier stage the company is in, the more forces there are in the market, capable of crushing it by intention or by accident. Thus, the fundamental qualities for founders are:

1) recognizing their vulnerability,

2) being paranoidly vigilant, and

3) making difficult decisions quickly.

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.

Creating In Desert /  by Alexander Lyadov

Sometimes I have no idea what to write.

Looking inside, I see an endless desert.

There's no sign of life, so even straining my vocal cords seems pointless. The desert remains deaf to both curses and pleas. The quiet rustling of sand induces drowsiness.

In such moments, self-awareness becomes crucial. Sometimes, it's better to stop resisting and take a "power nap. Thankfully, the ​NSDR protocol​ by Andrew Huberman is always available. After 15-20 minutes of this reboot, clarity dawns, and energy, ideas, and words appear out of nowhere.

Other times, it's just about observing drowsiness as it washes over and gradually recedes. It reminds me of the ten-day Vipassana meditation retreats in India. The voice of S.N. Goenka patiently explained that even the most tormenting sensations and thoughts inevitably lose their power. It turned out that absolutely everything happening within and around us can become an object of observation. All I had to do was accurately describe what I saw.

Now it's funny to remember that there was nothing to write about, right?

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.

Conquering the Current /  by Alexander Lyadov

A rip current - the deadliest coastal current. It emerges during low tide as the water retreats into the sea.

What's the typical mistake beginners make? In fear, they paddle against the current. As a result, they remain in the same place but quickly exhaust themselves. To survive, it's crucial not to resist the current but rather swim perpendicular to it, meaning parallel to the shore. After 20-50 meters the current dies down and you can easily reach solid ground.

Our resource is nothing compared to the power of the ocean. It is undoubtedly stronger than us, but we can act wisely. Instead of making a foolish choice - arguing with the elements or surrendering to them - it is better to choose a third option - explore them. Currents, epidemics, or market crises have a direction beyond which they are harmless or weak. By the way, the best jiu-jitsu trainers advise attacking opponents not head-on but from the flank or, even better, from behind.

Remember this the next time a serious problem overwhelms you. When our resources are limited, finding a point of leverage becomes paramount.

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.

Don't Be There /  by Alexander Lyadov

 

How to protect yourself better from danger in business and life?

Don't be there.

That's the advice given by Rory Miller and Lawrence A. Kane in their book Scaling Force: Dynamic Decision Making Under Threat of Violence. The authors explain: "If you are not there you cannot get hit."

When I was learning to ride a motorcycle, I dedicated a lot of time to studying ​motorcycle accidents​ on YouTube. The helmet camera videos created the illusion that I was the one experiencing the mishaps. And even though there were no physical consequences, the unpleasant experiences left a significant mark on me.

Subsequently, while riding in the city, I would have a premonition in my body, thinking, "Oh, A, B, or C might happen now." Vigilance would awaken 2-4 seconds earlier than usual. It was enough time to maneuver or brake.

Essentially, safety directly depends on the distance between you and what (or who) is trying to harm or kill you. When a man tries to grab a shark with his bare hands, he closes the distance and loses his ​pinky finger​. Jumping from the roof of a tall building into a pool, this time the guy successfully ​lands in the water​, but with each stunt, statistically, he brings his demise closer.

On the other hand, by excluding people with suspected schizophrenia and psychopathy from your circle of communication, you eliminate unnecessary tragedies and dramas. Similarly, an experienced investor is primarily concerned with the guarantee of preserving investments, and only then the promised returns. During strategic sessions with founders, we deliberately explore negative scenarios to recognize their approach in a timely manner.

Conclusion: Learn where danger resides to avoid being there.

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.

Managing Growth /  by Alexander Lyadov

Unknown photographer

 

"The definition of cancer is cell growth out of control," said ​Dr. Peter Attia​, a world-renowned longevity expert.

Such a perspective is sobering, especially when everyone around is obsessed with growth in various aspects - muscles, followers, or business assets.

Undoubtedly, the absence of development is suspicious. At best, it's a pause or a break, and at worst, it's a state of stagnation or death.

However, it doesn't mean that all growth is beneficial. The medical example above provides a criterion for when a malfunction occurs and why.

As long as growth serves its intended purpose, it's okay. For instance, increasing explosive strength is valuable for a wrestler to win matches. Similarly, it's gratifying when a retail network rapidly scales a proven format.

The problems begin when there is explosive growth, but it lacks an owner or regulator. This occurs during market booms, whether it was the tulip bulbs in the 17th century or the modern-day Bitcoin. Experts predict a wave of bankruptcies and restructurings for "successful" startups this year, which managed to attract massive investments based on a growing but economically unstable model.

It doesn't matter why control over the system was lost, whether it was due to fixation on surface-level metrics, lack of skills, or laziness. However, from that moment on, the system is doomed, like an ascending plane with a pilot who has ejected.

Conclusion: every time you witness rapid growth, don't rush to rejoice; instead, ask yourself, "Did I lose control or do I still retain 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.