What Are You Capable Of? / October 13, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

I didn't go to the gym today, but I crawled out.

My rehab specialist suggested I do 300 squats with a 30-kilogram barbell. And that was just the beginning of a series of 9 leg exercises.

Before my meniscus surgery, I regularly did squats at home with a kettlebell. Usually, I did 30, 40, or a maximum of 50 repetitions. Then my muscles would get sore, letting me know I was approaching my limit.

I never thought about doing 300 squats with weight. But the trainer set the challenge, I trusted him, and, to my surprise, I did it.

In life, it's crucial to encounter someone who sees your true potential. They will gently but firmly push you to places you'd never venture on your own. In business, it could be a mentor; in life, a therapist; and in sports, a coach.

How can you recognize such a master?

High professionalism to avoid causing harm.
Life experience to put substance before form.
A connection with you as an individual, not just a client.

When such an alliance exists, you'll constantly amaze yourself.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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Something from Nothing / October 12, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

Harvard Business School, Private Equity and Venture Capital Program, 2012

In 2008, I became a co-founder of a $50 million investment fund. But not because it was my ultimate goal. An opportunity found me at the right time. I simply followed my curiosity. That's it.

But there was a period of emptiness, confusion, and boredom before that. It began after leaving my previous job at a company that managed wealthy people's assets. I couldn't figure out what I truly wanted. I remember spending entire days sitting on the windowsill, watching the bustling street below. Everyone was in a rush, chasing something, striving for their goals. But inside me was an empty Mongolian steppe.

The only thing that occasionally piqued my interest was startups. I was fascinated by the phenomenon of creating something incredibly valuable from nothing. I started studying it.

Without a plan, I created an Excel catalog. I entered information about interesting technology projects and labeled them. The term "venture capital" began to pop up more and more. I had studied it in business school, but now I suddenly felt the urge to explore it further.

I reached out to venture capitalists on my LinkedIn network and asked them about how the VC industry worked. When they asked me, "Why do you want to know?" I honestly replied, "I don't quite understand yet, but I'm curious to find out." Surprisingly, many were willing to help.

When a successful entrepreneur suggested to me that I set up an investment fund, he took me by surprise. I even considered declining. With no hidden agenda, I simply shared my thoughts on the prospects of venture investing, and he said, "Do it!"

So began a new chapter in my career, a whirlwind seven years.

From this and other stories, I draw a conclusion about the optimal path to growth:

Follow your curiosity, even if it's not clear where it's leading you.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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Through the Walls / October 11, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

Sometimes your problem seems like an infinite wall.

Paradoxically, the worse the situation, the closer the solution.

The strength of the wall is also its weakness. How is that?

This obstacle is an illusion, a play of the imagination, a mind game.

The cement of unspoken beliefs is what holds the bricks together.

The mind sees them as axioms, unquestionable truths.

That's why only the master of the mind can challenge these beliefs.

Who is this master?

It's your creative spirit, capable of creating and destroying anything.

Unlike the mind, it cares for meaning, not form.

So this spirit can pass through walls like a knife through butter.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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Life's Self-Organization / October 10, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

The mind prefers linear processes to maintain control.

But in real life, complex order arises spontaneously from chaos. Every time such a surprise catches the mind off guard.

A vivid example is the winding path of creative individuals.

In this sense, artists and entrepreneurs are alike. They rely not on a plan, but on a deep insight of what needs to be done here and now.

Their curiosity constantly scans the changing context. As soon as a favorable opportunity arises, they firmly grasp it. And a threat forces them to step back or sideways.

As a result, their journey is full of sudden loops and zigzags. On short stretches, it may look like confusion and disorder.

You need to take a look at decades. That's when every "strange" turn becomes clear. Everything was not in vain. Meaning shines through the chaos. Life has optimally organized itself.

If only I knew this earlier, I wouldn't have felt any doubts or worries.

I would have just pursued what I cannot help but do.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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Eliminating Self-Sabotage / October 9, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

To help yourself better, you need to think like an adversary.

Imagine you want to cause maximum harm to yourself. What will you do?

You can restrict your movements, for instance, by tying yourself up. However, whenever you get the chance, the prisoner will try to escape and cause problems.

It's better to hit in a way that incapacitates the body for a long time. But this won't hinder your ability to make plans. In fact, it might increase your effectiveness since there are no distractions.

Clearly, the best target is your head, or more precisely, your mental clarity. If you get disoriented, paralyzed, or mad, sooner or later, you'll ruin yourself.

The thing is, the surrounding context changes and flows. Did you gape? Endure discomfort. Are you late? Suffer pain. Are you hopelessly behind? The resulting vulnerability is incompatible with life.

So, the primary battle is for the clarity of your mind. A smart enemy strikes this point first. But far more dangerous than an external enemy is the internal one: the destructive part of your personality.

In light of what's been said, it makes sense to find and eliminate self-sabotage:

Excessive use of mind-altering substances (like alcohol).
Obsessive consumption of disturbing news;
Intellectual, physical, and social isolation;
Ignoring internal contradictions;
Ideological narrow-mindedness;
A vacuum of meaning;

And sleep deprivation. Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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What Did You Learn? / October 8, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

An entrepreneur reaches a crucial milestone and...

...immediately shifts to the next goal.

That's an unforgivable mistake.

A poor hunter is one who leaves the deer in the woods, taking only the antlers.

Victories (and defeats) hold treasures, much like an archived file.

This is a unique algorithm, a way to scale your success.

But many underestimate themselves, saying:

"It was luck."
"Nothing special."
"I don't have time. There are bigger problems ahead."

Do you really enjoy reinventing the wheel over and over again? If not, then:

Take a break.
Describe the steps that got you from point A to point B.
Extract the key lesson.

For the next problem, you might already have a template. Sincerely yours,

-Alexander P.S. Do you find it hard to see the hidden meaning of your past victories and defeats? Book in my calendar a convenient time for you to meet. We will clarify your request and discuss options to help you: Book a call >>

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Accepting Yourself / October 7, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

Your potential will remain untapped until...

...you accept yourself for who you are.

But what should you accept?

Everything that makes you feel uncomfortable, annoyed, or scared.

In short, it's what you'd rather no one knew about.

Trying to forget these aspects is a fatal mistake.

You risk throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Prejudices prevent you from spotting nuggets in the mud.

Take anger, for instance; it's a boundary protector.

The problem is that anger can suddenly possess a person.

Yet, if you tame that watchdog, you won't have to worry about the sheep.

But first, the beast must acknowledge its owner. How?

The person takes the initiative.

He carefully studies the animal, treat it kindly, and speak gently to it.

The owner has patience, and skills and the answer to the question, "Why?".

And most importantly, he doesn't consider the watchdog a creature from hell.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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Risk & Reward / October 6, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

The most dangerous thing in business is choosing average risk. Why? "All profit comes from taking risks" (Peter Drucker). The mediocre challenge won't produce a champion. Darwinian selection only leaves those in the final who are willing to go all-in.

So why do some entrepreneurs play it halfway? It's simple - their back is exposed. This creates self-doubt. The subconscious tries to protect, but leads one to failure. There are many examples of such vulnerability:

A weak team that requires constant help and supervision,
Lack of a predictable flow of incoming leads,
Chronic shareholder conflict,
An outdated business model,
A shortage of cash reserves,
Founder's paralysis.

Do you want your business to grow faster and earn more? First, fix the vulnerability.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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Change of Power / October 5, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

Sometimes a hostile takeover of a company comes from within.

The true owners of the business become its employees.

From this point forward, the company is doomed to stagnation and demise. Why, you ask? To grow quickly and successfully, a business must continually reinvent itself. Unfortunately, collectives are incapable of making revolutionary decisions.

As the philosopher and writer G. K. Chesterton once said, "I’ve searched all the parks in all the cities and found no statues of committees." Whether in real life or in fairy tales, the hero is always an individual.

A change in power occurs unnoticed. It may seem to the market that, as before, the founder is at the helm. But, in reality, it's the 'power behind the scenes' that calls the shots: HRD, COO, CSO, CTO, and the like.

A struggle for power with the formation of temporary alliances takes place among these "feudal lords." The organisation's original purpose is forgotten in favour of local interests.

Yet, there's no need to blame the employees. They simply fill the void. Who created it? That's right, the founder.

There are many reasons for this. One entrepreneur burns out. Another is seduced by utopian ideology. A third hits the "glass ceiling" and loses interest in the company. That's how the owner disappears.

Luckily, everything can be a fix. The key is the founders' willingness to understand why they themselves are destroying what they've built for so long.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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Don't Tell This to Anyone / October 4, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

The photographer is unknown, this image was found via BacklitView

Want to achieve your personal goals more reliably?

Don't spill your plans to others. Why?

Symbolically, the event you want has already happened.

Your brain rushes to reward itself with feel-good hormones.

The effect is stronger the more they praise you: "You're amazing!"

In my experience, a vivid imagination only adds fuel to the fire.

Andrew Huberman calls it the "Don't tell the world rule."

"But a CEO can't hide plans from the team!" someone exclaims.

Here, the benefit of syncing the group's efforts outweighs the harm from premature rewards.

Otherwise, keep your plans to yourself.

Or share them with someone who will accelerate your progress by X times.

For instance, a trusted partner, coach, or therapist.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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Are You in the Flow? / October 3, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

My sparring partner confessed, 'During training, I completely forget about the outside world.' I affirmed that I, too, disconnect from all problems and worries.

This is the nature of jiu-jitsu - the dangerous game pushes everything else aside.

Today, everyone knows about Flow, but not everyone regularly experiences it.

Flow occurs when the level of skill matches the complexity of the task. Otherwise, a person is overwhelmed either by anxiety or boredom.

Apart from jiu-jitsu, I often enter the state of Flow:

When I write an article,
Conduct a session with a client,
Interview an interesting person.

In those moments, I vanish - only my attention remains. Time becomes flexible. The external world freezes, while I soar. Like an arrow released, I am the process of approaching the goal.

It's a delightful state, as it reaches the peak of meaning. Thanks to this, I can reconcile with the imperfections of the world.

Moreover, I make my microscopic contribution to organizing this chaos towards a slightly greater ideal.

My dream is to stay in this state non-stop all day.

And you, in what moments and how often are you in Flow?

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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Double Trouble / October 2, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

In jiu-jitsu, it's not enough to get a good position and make a submission.

A novice, gripped by fear, will surrender, but a master will nullify the threat.

For an unstoppable victory, you must create a "double trouble".

There are two ways out of a trap, but danger awaits both.

"Double trouble" is an illusion of choice, as any option is fine with you.

There is an insight when you turn the situation 180 degrees.

You must avoid getting stuck in "double trouble" at any cost.

The cunning adversary knows this and will push you towards it.

This could be a competitor, an enemy, or fate.

But how do you escape the horns of the dilemma?

Study yourself.

If you analyze a series of your problems, a pattern will emerge.

Conditions may change, but one meta-dilemma always resurfaces.

Every superhero must know his kryptonite, no?

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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How to Cultivate Gratitude? / October 1, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

"I'm curious, what helps you cultivate gratitude?"

The reader's question resonated with me, as I had been thinking about it recently. First and foremost, I know why it's important.

Along with free will, gratitude forms the foundation of a healthy "self."

I've also found that gratitude helps reduce suffering and allows me to embrace reality faster as it is.

This acceptance opens up new possibilities. Otherwise, they are hidden by despair, like wild strawberries in the grass.

Once we've answered the "why" question, we can move on to "how."

Three things are key: practice, practice, practice.

Whenever people give the slightest reason, I say, "Thank you." Or rather, I'm learning to say it because sometimes there's a silly barrier inside.

When I achieve something significant, I mentally address the one who gave me the necessary insight, patience or strength.

It's more challenging when something negative discourages or knocks me down. Here, to nurture the seeds of gratitude, I need reliable teachers – time and a therapist.

Throughout the day, I try to notice ordinary moments worth being thankful for. For instance, a heartfelt conversation, a great workout, the light of a rising sun, the scent of autumn, and so on.

Every morning I begin and every evening I end with the words: 'I am thankful for..."

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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A Source of Confidence / September 30, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

Ballet instructor Marianna Claire, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, 1976

How to replace helplessness with confidence? There are several ways:

Madness.
Foolishness.
Relying on others.
Knowledge and skills.
Faith in a higher power.

The madman lacks a device that assesses danger.

The fool is self-assured because in their world, there is no uncertainty.

Other people are family, friends, the community, or the state. They can assist, but certainly not in everything. Their resources have limits.

In contrast, in faith, there is neither bottom nor ceiling. It's boundless. The only complexity is that you can't grasp it with your intellect alone.

Knowledge turns the unknown territory into a map, and skills help you survive and thrive. Only apathy and idleness hinder our progress. Otherwise, you can build confidence every day.

All that's needed are:

Gratitude,
Curiosity, and
Discipline (habit, ritual).

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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In Search of Beauty / September 29, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

“What a beautiful picture. How do you search for these?”

There is a technical answer to the reader’s technical question:

You need to feel in your body the gist of what you want to say.
Immerse yourself in a stream of various illustrations.
Wait for a response inside you to the promising candidates.
As you go, save the unsuitable illustrations that impressed you.
Follow the artist’s, photographer’s, or aggregator’s account.

In this way, each iteration of your search rewards you threefold:

Firstly, a good illustration helps convey the meaning more precisely.
Secondly, your collection grows organically for future articles.
Thirdly, your symbol-making muscles are also getting stronger.

But apart from the technical answer, there’s also a fundamental one.

If you’re interested, let me know, and I’ll share it.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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Embrace the Tear / September 28, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

I'm glad my meniscus tore.

I know it sounds strange, but don't rush to think I've lost my mind.

Today, my coach marveled at my pressure during a jiu-jitsu match. It's not a fluke - my legs are stronger now than they were 20 years ago.

It's been 12 weeks since my knee surgery. The sports rehab specialist pushed me to do a massive amount of work. Some exercises I would have been too embarrassed to do, and others I wouldn't even dare to do.

I squat with two 16 kg weights 300 times, wall sit for 15 minutes, balance like a circus performer on one leg, jump on a trampoline, and endure maximum quad stimulation with electrical currents.

As a result, even my gait has changed. I stand stronger on my legs, not symbolically, but literally. Progress had to show in my jiu-jitsu.

Renowned coach John Danaher explains that the strongest part of the body is the thighs. Even if you're smaller and weaker than your opponent, your legs are likely stronger than his arms. So, in jiu-jitsu, your arms are only needed for contact with the opponent. The main power should come from your thighs and hips. Now I have a proof.

A torn meniscus is lousy news. It took a while, but I accepted this fact. Only then did the question arise: "How to get back to normal faster?" In search of an answer, I found a ton of insights. And most importantly, this process changed me.

It would be cool to transform any bad news the same way. That way circumstances lose their power over us.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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Small Things' Nonlinearity / September 27, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

Today I had my first fall from a scooter, going headfirst. It happened because:

I had a bad night's sleep,
I was running late for practice,
I chose an uncomfortable scooter model,
I zoomed downhill,
I hopped onto the curb at a sharp angle.

None of these factors were a big deal on their own. If I had just four of them, I could have slowed down or walked over the curb.

Unfortunately, each factor demanded a piece of my attention. The task's difficulty exceeded my available resources to handle it.

The same thing happens in business, sports, and life's other aspects. We tell ourselves, "no problem. It's just a little thing." Unfortunately, we often overlook how all those small things add up.

Our minds poorly predict non-linear effects. That's why they regularly take us by surprise.

Conclusion: Keep an eye on the overall strength of your system. It could be your business, your body or your family. In this sense, there are no small things at all.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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The Birthplace of Ideas / September 26, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

The CEO should be able to set priorities. Here's a small example.

When I moved to a new office, I didn't hesitate to spend money on a few things:

A round table for 8 people in the meeting room.
Comfortable chairs from Steelcase.
A huge wallboard, framed like a museum painting.

Why this choice? I wanted our advertising agency to be the most creative one in the country.

The essence of this business isn't just about clients, pricing, or branding. It's about systematically generating Wow-ideas.

Sure, talented people come up with ideas, but the environment can either boost or hinder them.

A crucial step in our process was group brainstorming. Sometimes, a multidisciplinary team would sit around one table for many hours. Twenty years ago, clients wanted everything yesterday )

Through experience, I've come up with a few simple rules:

Participants should feel that they are all equal.
When the body is comfortable, the brain works at its best.
Visualizing vague ideas helps them grow faster.

I have fond memories of our brainstorming sessions. Especially the moment when the darkness of despair suddenly lit up with a flash of ideas. It became clear to me that investing in building a team and creating the right conditions made sense.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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Life and Conflict / September 25, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

No one likes conflict (except psychopaths). But, in reality, life is a conflict.

Let's say your current state satisfies you 100%. No feelings of hunger, anxiety, or fatigue. Instead, you feel warm, cozy, and comfortable, as if you're asleep in your mother's womb.

Will you rush somewhere and fight for something? No. You already have everything you need. Blissful contentment will stretch on forever. You seem to exist, but you don't.

Suddenly, you start feeling pain, suffocation, or confinement. Discomfort grows. An impulse to take action arises inside you.

Now you have the conflict. The old state is unbearable, but familiar. The new state beckons, but terrifies with its novelty. You're stuck between two worlds.

Sooner or later, on your own or with someone's help, you'll find a way out. The conflict will disappear. You'll enthusiastically explore uncharted territory and weave a new nest until...

... until the cycle repeats itself once more. And again. And again.

Conclusion: life is overcoming conflicts sequentially, one by one.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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The Game-Changing Question / September 24, 2023 by Alexander Lyadov

One question radically improved my life.

Imagine this: someone claims, "Capitalism is bad."

You ask, "Compared to what?"

In response, they often stumble or fantasize about socialism.

You see, at the time of the USSR's collapse, I was 19 years old.

So, with my own eyes, I saw:

Any initiative crushed,
Independent thinking persecuted,
People's creative potential squandered.

Despite its obvious flaws, capitalism's a lot better.

Another example: you think, 'I'm such a failure (klutz, fool)!'

Ask yourself, "Compared to whom?"

The thing is, after 30-40 years, your path is like no one else's.

Your past version is out of date, as the world has transformed.

And in the future, you'll have no idea what you can achieve.

So, who are you? You are the Process of Change.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

P.S. Got your super-question? Share it!

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