What Do You Really Want? / January 10, 2025 by Alexander Lyadov

The central problem in business is this: people don’t know what they want.

Of course, they won’t admit it so easily. First, they’ll say something pretty but meaningless. Then they’ll act surprised. Finally, they’ll snap: “Isn’t it obvious?” At its core, it’s a popular game: “Guess what I mean.”

Everyone’s playing it: contractors and clients, employees and executives, owners and CEOs, the business community and the government.

It’s hard enough in a friendly game, where your family tries to guess the word you’re acting out. Imagine playing it with strangers who are stressed, tired, and in a hurry.

Business is the weaving of a shared pattern from threads of personal interests. And yet, each side sincerely believes it understands the other perfectly. That’s why they’re so outraged when accused of bad intentions.

It’s like a dance where both partners are moving to different music, constantly stepping on each other’s toes.

The result? Every person, company, and society pays a steep price: frequent mistakes, breakdowns, rising costs, lost opportunities, conflicts, and lawsuits.

This happens so often, it’s become part of business culture. People shrug and say, “It’s just the cost of doing business. What else can you do?”

But take any extreme activity where life and death draw a clear line between right and wrong. There, the expression and integration of personal interests into the common goal is the cornerstone of success.

And that’s the clue as to why true unity in business is so rare. Your business interests are the outward expression of your life’s purpose. In other words, they answer the question: “What am I living for?”

Few dare to ask themselves this because the answer might be terrifying. It’s easier to make up excuses. But as we’ve seen, that leads nowhere.

Build a space where people feel accepted and heard and the impossible can happen. Even more, the answer that once frightened you could become the energy source to live and create.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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

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

Business Tree of Life / January 9, 2025 by Alexander Lyadov

Whose interests does the CEO protect? The obvious answer seems to be: “The company’s owners, of course!”

But what if there are several shareholders? What if they’re at odds? Whose side should the CEO take—A’s, B’s, or C’s?

And then come the voices from left and right: “Wait a second, what about customer satisfaction?” “Hey, don’t forget government expectations!” “What about the employees, society, the planet, and so on?”

It’s enough to leave anyone frozen in confusion—or losing their mind.

The way out is to see a business as a living organism. If it dies, would any of these groups actually benefit? No.

When a business goes bankrupt, everyone suffers:

Shareholders lose a valuable asset.
The government misses out on taxes.
Customers are forced to hunt for alternatives.
Employees have to rebuild a foundation of their lives.
The market takes a hit, especially if the product was impactful.
A poorer society cares less about its future or its surroundings.

The bottom line: The CEO's primary goal is to ensure the stable prosperity of the company.

Metaphorically, the CEO is a gardener, and the business is the tree of life. Storms, diseases, pests, and wild animals constantly threaten to destroy it. Whether there’s one beneficiary or dozens, there will be nothing left to divide if the tree dies.

But when the harvest is abundant, there’s more than enough for everyone.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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

Hidden in Plain Sight / January 8, 2025 by Alexander Lyadov

The value of big, clear, and tangible things is obvious. We’ve long known how to use them for good. That’s why we eagerly buy them and take care of them.

Obvious things provide a foundation and peace to an anxious mind.

The anxious mind believes a disaster is just around the corner, so the hand jerks toward the emergency brake. Like someone falling from a tree, desperately grabbing for any branch. The sturdier and thicker the saving branch, the faster instinct commands to seize and hold onto it at any cost.

When time is short and the risk is great, something is always better than nothing.

But actual emergencies are rare, while the mind insists they lurk at every step. Modern society, like a paranoid individual, has elevated its hyper-valuable idea to the status of absolute truth:

The intangible is nothing. Only the obvious exists.

You just want to hug society, calm it down, and give it hope. Because the truth lies on the opposite end of the child’s seesaw.

Watch a video of a seed planted in the soil. After watering, what happens first? Does a ripe orange suddenly appear? No.

For 11 days, the seed grows long roots deep into the ground. Without a clever camera, all we’d see is a green sprout breaking through the soil on day 18. But even then, the fruit won’t appear for another 5 years.

Something valuable already exists, even if it feels like there’s nothing there.

A juicy fruit is hidden inside a dry seed buried in dirty soil. Who believes in this enough to “pointlessly” water the ground? A farmer or gardener who has witnessed the miracle many times.

Does this not feel like a miracle to you? Then imagine the orange is you.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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

Life Is a Paradox / January 7, 2025 by Alexander Lyadov

Maturity is the ability to embrace paradoxes. Why? On the surface, paradoxes look like irreconcilable conflicts.

Polar forces clash like rutting stags, tusks locking, sparks flying, and dirt scattering. A fragile psyche can’t handle it, begging for the chaos to stop.

But here’s the secret: conflict is Life’s way of manifesting itself—a desperate yearning to move forward, held back by something unseen.

Imagine your legs arguing over which one is more important. Words turn to insults, then sabotage—one tries to trip the other, tosses a banana peel, or drops a nail in the path.

The result is obvious: the body collapses, injured and unable to take another step.

Each leg has its own truth because they’re controlled by different CEOs. The left hemisphere of your brain governs the motor and sensory functions of the right side of your body, while the right hemisphere governs the left.

The hemispheres aren’t identical. The left focuses on the known, while the right engages with the new. Just think how radically different their perspectives must be.

And yet, by 10 to 12 months of age, children learn to walk.

Despite their differences, the hemispheres collaborate toward a common goal, enabling the child not just to walk but to dart around like a whirlwind.

Or more accurately—not despite their differences, but because of them. Each side contributes something unique, propelling individuals, groups, and humanity into an exponential future.

Maturity doesn’t fear or avoid conflict. On the contrary, it seeks conflict out, using it as raw material to creatively transform it into paradox. Why? Because true life is always a paradox.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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

Force of Harmony / January 6, 2025 by Alexander Lyadov

James Nolan Gandy crafts functional artworks from wood and metal and creates stunning graphics using drawing machines he built himself.

There’s something hypnotic about watching a complex pattern gradually crystallize out of nothing. The blank canvas in its body nurtures new meaning.

What is this—chaos or order? It’s more like an alchemical union of opposing forces, giving birth to unique beauty.

I marvel at the product made by a mechanical hand, animated by the artist’s imagination. But who breathed the spark of creativity into him?

One thing is clear—a certain force drives us all. When we resist it, we suffer. But when we act with it, we amplify harmony in others and ourselves.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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

Your Natural Triumph / January 5, 2025 by Alexander Lyadov

Imagine you’re given a list of games with a desirable prize at the end. Chances are, you won’t say, “I’ll play the one where I’m clearly terrible.”

If you can sit still for long periods, then hide-and-seek might be your best choice. If you’re a fast runner, tag is probably the way to go.

Everyone has different gifts, which means the odds of winning vary depending on the game.

In judo, this is called “Tokui Waza”, or “signature technique.” It’s the move that aligns perfectly with your body, mind, and spirit. It’s the one you pick up effortlessly, refine with joy, and execute almost instinctively.

In a match, you’re like a hunter closing in on prey, driving your opponent into a tight corridor that leads straight to your trap—your “signature” move. Ideally, even your first grip on his gi is already setting the stage for the final goal.

As long as you’re free to dictate the game, you’ll steer the fight in your favor. Now, let’s say someone comes to you and says, “I want to bet on you. If you win, I’ll make a lot of money and generously share it with you.”

I’m sure you’ll choose the strategy above—the one where triumph comes with the least effort and risk. If you succeed, your client will keep betting on you, over and over.

This is the blueprint for successful partnerships—whether with a client, co-founder, investor, employee, contractor, or anyone else. You use your God-given gift to benefit others, the world, and yourself.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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

Bamboo Growth / January 4, 2025 by Alexander Lyadov

The older a person gets and the more unique his life becomes, the harder it is to find a lifelong business partner. Thinking otherwise often leads to disappointment—for both yourself and others.

Thankfully, that’s not even necessary. Just pick a companion for a section of the journey.

With one person, you can pass the time on a train. With another, you can cross the Atlantic in an exciting adventure. And with someone else, you might share a short elevator ride up three floors.

The key is that the trip should benefit you both—and bring you joy.

Sometimes, you’ll find it hard to part ways with a companion. That’s wonderful! Plan your next expedition with him or her.

Like bamboo sprouting from the ground, let the partnership grow step by step.

Yours sincerely,

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

Let Go to Gain / January 3, 2025 by Alexander Lyadov

For some remarkable professionals, chasing long-term jobs is more harmful than helpful. Yet, because of societal norms and ingrained habits, they persist in seeking "lifetime employment."

And they find it... only to lose it within a year.

You could puzzle over the nature of such a curse. Or, let me offer something better: turning that curse into a gift.

Imagine you deeply desired what you actually despise.

This means that working on short-term projects is your ideal. Here’s why working in 3-9 month cycles might just be perfect:

It’s easier to agree on specific results with a client.
It’s simpler to deliver what you promise (if you’re an expert).
Clients are more likely to pay bonuses since they’re affordable.
Especially when a happy client offers you the next project.

By the way, you’ll face almost no competition. Most specialists are chasing stability through long-term employment.

Unlike them, you make life easier for your clients: “Why should we overcommit in a chaotic market? Let’s nail this one great project, X1. If it works out, we’ll do X2, and so on.”

Long-term relationships can be seen as a continuous series of short-term engagements. Your value isn’t in sticking to one team but in being the expert who’s consistently invited to join new games by different people.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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

Partnering with the Unknown / January 2, 2025 by Alexander Lyadov

Frank Frazetta is often called the "Godfather of Fantasy Art" and one of the most iconic illustrators of the 20th century. Saying he had talent is an understatement.

The artist was creating predictably like a factory machine, right?

Well, not exactly. Here’s a story from his wife and business partner, Ellie Frazetta:

“It was a Sunday night — I’ll never forget it. The cover art had to be in by Monday morning. Not only does Frank not have the faintest idea of what he’s going to paint, he doesn’t have any canvas board in the house. We get into this terrific fight — it’s always like this. Frank runs down to the cellar. We were putting in a masonite floor in the basement so Frank decided to tear up a piece of the floor, put it on the easel and had it done in six hours.”

When it comes to creating, you don’t get to decide the what, where, or when.

And the more honest your work is, the less of your “usual self” you’ll find in it. Developing an idea feels like meeting yourself for the first time: “Wow, so this is who I am! I had no idea. Now I know!”

“Creation” isn’t the right word. A master never works alone. There’s always a partner in the dance. Its name? Co-creation. Because there are always two: the lead and the follow, the sky and the earth, the spirit and the matter.

Want to be more prolific? Learn to co-create with the Other.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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

Paradise Mud / January 1, 2025 by Alexander Lyadov

What do you think of mud? You know, the wet, loose, rich stuff, packed with humus where bacteria and microorganisms thrive in symbiosis.

How about diving into it headfirst? Not just getting your clothes dirty, but getting completely soaked in the mud?

Chances are, you’ll cringe: “Ew, gross! Never!”

But a baobab seed wouldn’t understand you: “Are you crazy? This is paradise!” In fact, the seed would ask you to throw in some manure. It would tell you about the value of organic fertilizers for the soil and list the nutrients they offer: proteins, amino acids, peptides, purines, pyrimidines; carbohydrates; monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides; lignin; lipids; resins; tannins; organic acids; alcohols; aldehydes, and more.

For the baobab seed, mud isn’t hell. It’s heaven.

Fertile soil is essentially the primordial soup, teeming with nutrients plants need to thrive—nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, iron, potassium, and more.

Life needs primordial chaos to begin.

To the tiny baobab, mud is beautiful and desirable precisely because it’s undefined, chaotic, and full of potential. It’s a cornucopia, generously offering everything new life needs right now. How could it not love mud?

No wonder the African baobab grows so enormous and otherworldly as if its roots are reaching for the sky. One in South Africa’s Limpopo province reached 15.9 meters in height and 47 meters in circumference.

No one even knows how old they truly are. Radiocarbon dating suggests baobabs can live up to 5,500 years or more—older than sequoias. It may be the oldest tree on Earth (Wikipedia).

Now, imagine that baobab seed is the future You.

Think: what is your nourishing, strengthening, rejuvenating, stimulating, and inspiring Mud?

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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

The Power In You / December 31, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Modern culture highly values what is obvious: big, solid, reliable, well-formed, and flawless. In short, anything you can lean on confidently—something that predictably grows every day.

People tend to view the less obvious with doubt, suspicion, or even ridicule. They scoff, “What’s the use of something tiny, nascent, and half-transparent? Sure, it’s there—but is it really?”

"Grow up and earn your place under the sun; then we’ll talk."

But every massive thing was once small. The timeframes vary, but this is true for everything: stars, continents, termite colonies, scientific paradigms—even you.

For example, are you the "you" of today? Or of last year? Maybe your teenage self? Or the child you once were? Perhaps the moment you were born? Or when you were conceived? Or could it be when your mother and father first locked eyes?

Clearly, you existed long before you ever realized it.

Your Yin and Yang found each other and began their creative synthesis long before any participants or observers noticed. Moreover, the principle of creation, Dao, brought forth your Yin and Yang. Dao is Logos, Meaning, Truth, Cause, Universal Order, and more.

In the ancient text Tao Te Ching, the Dao is described as unspeakable, empty, invisible, eternal—the origin of all things. The Stoics described the Logos as the ethereal, fiery soul of the cosmos, carrying the potential to shape all forms. Logos is the word of a personal and living God—a word that “calls out” to things and brings them into being (according to Wikipedia).

All explicit forms eventually deplete, wither, decay, or vanish. But not Logos—the eternally living soul of the cosmos, the inexhaustible source of creating Something out of Nothing.

It turns out, within you is a spark of divine power that brought you into the world, helped you grow, understand, love, and be loved, and uncover the hidden meaning of it all.

Logos was, is, and always will be within you. Each of us is free to hinder it, diminish it, or become part of it.

I hope 2025 brings you joyful surprises—and that you surprise it, others, and yourself.

I believe in your power to transform your world.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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

How (Not) to Earn Trust / December 30, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

To help someone, you need to earn their trust. Without trust, your good intentions might feel like violence and harm.

When does trust arise? When a person feels that you truly understand who they are—or at least that you’re sincerely trying to. This means no judgment, no attempts to change them, no desire to erase their identity.

And their initial distrust is entirely justified. Would you jump with a new type of parachute without understanding how it works or how to deploy it? I doubt it.

First, figure out what you’re dealing with. Then decide if anything needs to change. You might discover there’s no problem at all—or that it resolves itself.

Unfortunately, some “saviors” need people to save just to feel fulfilled. If there’s no one left to rescue, they’ll seek out someone in need—or invent problems in their own minds.

Their well-meaning care blinds them, pushing them to act before they understand the person or the issue. Good intentions illuminate an eternal sign:

“Roadwork Ahead. Path to Hell.”

We’ve all experienced such interference at some point. The real question is, which is worse—violence from malice or from overwhelming love? The latter is harder to recognize and nearly impossible to resist. If your nerves can take it, watch the film Misery (1990) sometime.

The good news? Earning someone’s trust is entirely within your power. All it takes is deciding, even as an experiment:

“For the next hour, I will forget myself completely. My focus will be 100% on you.”

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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

Invisible Efforts / December 29, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

The biggest challenge in business is to create the right conditions - necessary and sufficient ones, to be precise.

When the dominoes are lined up just right, a single touch can set off a beautiful chain reaction in an instant.

Of course, that’s not always possible. In lean times, even a bear has to settle for berries or chase prey over long distances.

But it’s a different story during the salmon run. The bear finds the perfect spot by the rapids, and the fish leap into his mouth, just like a fairy tale. There are so many, he couldn’t eat them all.

Creating the right conditions means being in the right place at the right time.

For an entrepreneur, this is an immense yet invisible labor. First, you work hard—with your head, hands, and feet—so that later, people will say you’re just lucky.

This is why entrepreneurship isn’t something you can teach in business school. The magic happens below the surface, far “underwater.”

A better way to learn is through apprenticeship, where the master is Reality itself, and the founder’s task is to seek feedback from it with gratitude.

This kind of collaboration breeds success after success.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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

Why Did the Clock Stop? / December 28, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

“Did the clocks stop?!” we exclaim, checking the time again. It happens when what we’re doing feels dull compared to what we could be doing instead.

So, what are the options here?

Maybe the task is boring or unpleasant, but it has to get done.
We struggle to find meaning in everyday activities.
We ignore the quiet pleading of our souls for something else.

In the first case, discipline, habit, or pairing activities can help. For example, I’ve turned workouts into a ritual. When I clean or wait for something, I listen to my favorite podcast.

Sometimes, I even feel sad when the line moves too quickly.

The second case is different. This person is always rushing, meticulously measuring time, tracking efficiency, and fuming when someone slows him down. In chasing achievements, he risks missing the point—Life itself.

And, by the way, mind-blowing insights often come in moments of stillness. Even monkeys in studies solved problems faster when they stepped back and gazed around for a few minutes.

The third case is the toughest. When you’ve been off your path for too long, there’s no clear alternative—just a vague protest: “This isn’t it!” You might numb yourself with alcohol or binge-watch shows, but the gnawing question inside grows louder: “What am I living for?”

Fortunately, every misstep we make points us toward our goal.

Logic can help here, especially the kind where negation loops back to identity. Using a double negative, we can return to the truth:

not(not-A) = A.

In this way, the process of “thesis → antithesis → synthesis” can lead us to a renewed sense of self. Like a new scientific paradigm, it will include the past but offer a better understanding of the world, people, and ourselves.

Step #1 is what you’re doing right now—turning every mistake into raw material. Learn to value the hidden meaning within them.

Yours sincerely,

-Alexander

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

Hidden Cosmos / December 27, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Someone might scoff: "Why this illustration? There’s nothing here."

But I’ll say: "Don’t rush. Pause. Give your eyes a moment."

Then, you might witness a birth. From the white void, meaning emerges. This tiny being blends into the background, almost invisible.

Why? The snowy environment created it, will feed it, and protect it.

Though small, it’s an agile and fearless predator. It can hunt animals larger than itself. In desperate situations, it might even dare to attack a human.

Legend has it that Duke Alan of Brittany, nicknamed "Twisted Beard," once fled from the Normans. He noticed an ermine, which, like him, was blocked by a river but suddenly turned back, choosing death over the mud. The creature’s courage inspired Alan II and his comrades. Today, an ermine adorns Brittany's coat of arms and flag [Wiki].

Its hunting strategy is fascinating. The ermine rarely hides in ambush when seeking prey, preferring direct attacks. One of its techniques is the so-called "war dance"—instead of chasing its target, the ermine performs acrobatic, seemingly meaningless tricks. Slowly but surely, it closes the distance until it’s close enough to strike [Wiki].

The format of this article doesn’t allow for a deeper dive into the life and habits of this remarkable creature. But perhaps that limitation only highlights the main idea:

Nothing is as it seems. A single drop contains an ocean. The smallest being hides a sleeping giant. A part reflects the infinite cosmos in its fractal design.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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

Reason vs. Intuition / December 26, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

De Sphaera, Giovanni Sacrobosco, circa 1230

Your intuition stubbornly pulls you toward an intriguing unknown. Reason resists because the risks are obvious, and there’s no control.

Inside you, a stalemate forms—a tug-of-war pulling equally in both directions. What are the consequences?

You waste a tremendous amount of resources—your own, your family’s, and, if you’re a founder, your company’s. Your tank runs dry, but there’s no forward progress.

On top of that, you swing between extremes. At times, you’re overly cautious, almost paranoid. Other times, you dive headfirst off a cliff. Naturally, this is a path of disappointments and losses.

The conflict between spirit and reason is unnatural but is, unfortunately, everywhere. Look at Western culture, where science and religion are at each other’s throats.

It’s no wonder that a person hesitates about what to rely on—something tangible they can grasp, or something intangible they cannot command.

Spirit and Reason rule different worlds. So different, in fact, they see each other as alien strangers. This lack of understanding breeds mistrust, and mistrust leads to hostility.

Their conflict is unavoidable—unless there’s someone above them.

Someone who:

Understands not just the parts but the meaning of the entire system.
Knows the strength and vulnerability of both reason and intuition.
Loves the Process of Life, which harmoniously integrates everything.
Acts as a mediator, a guide, and a bridge between worlds.

Dear reader, that someone is You.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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

Value Where It Isn't / December 25, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

If years of therapy taught me anything, it’s that I still don’t know myself. In every session, the real reasons for my actions burst open like popcorn in a microwave.

But an even bigger revelation is the shift in perception. The things I once found unacceptable about myself—the things I hid from, feared, and avoided—turned out to be precious gifts, worthy of admiration and love.

For years, I stubbornly searched the world for what had been within me all along.

Sadly, I stared right at it but didn’t see it. Just like the Australopithecus, who lived surrounded by the same periodic table of elements we know today. Yet, all he saw was dirt, waste, and ash.

For nonsense to turn into meaning, for harm to turn into good, we need a revelation—a dialogue between man and God.

Epiphany (from ancient Greek ἐπιφάνεια, meaning “remarkable appearance”) is the sudden, clear realization that lets you see a problem or situation in a new, broader light.

Even if that knowledge fades later, you can’t unsee it.

When you gather enough examples of turning a “minus” into a “plus,” you can’t help but wonder—does this phenomenon have a limit?

What if all the world’s evil is just raw material for the Creator within each of us?

“Pollution is nothing but resources we're not harvesting. We allow them to disperse because we've been ignorant of their value,” said Richard Buckminster Fuller, the American architect, inventor, philosopher, and poet.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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

Master Your Breath / December 24, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

Looking for a quick mood lift, sharper focus, and an energy boost?

Try this: take 30 deep, intense breaths in and out, followed by a long exhale and a deep inhale. It’s a core technique from Wim "Iceman” Hof.

This man definitely knows something. He nearly climbed Everest wearing nothing but shorts and boots.

As you breathe, your body will experience a cascade of sensations: restlessness, exhilaration, euphoria, and finally, calm. It’s positive stress—a kind that’s good for you. This method increases your energy reserves and jumpstarts your immune system, which is especially handy in winter.

Feeling anxious instead? Try a “physiological sigh.” Breathe in through your nose twice in quick succession (no pause in between) and then exhale fully through your mouth. Repeat this 2–3 times, and you’ll feel as calm as a snake after a big meal.

Want to reduce stress and sleep better? Make the 4-7-8 breathing technique by Dr. Andrew Weil your morning and evening ritual:

Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Relax your shoulders.
Inhale through your nose for a count of
Hold your breath for a count of
Exhale loudly through your mouth for a count of
Repeat the cycle 4 times.

Focusing on exhaling relaxes the body, while emphasizing inhaling energizes it.

The best part? You don’t need doctors, medicine, or fancy gadgets. The most effective tool for self-regulation—your breath—is always with you.

Your body is like a trumpet. It’s just a matter of learning to play.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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

Running from Luck / December 23, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

It’s hard to believe, but sometimes luck stubbornly chases us. And yet, we skillfully run away, hiding and covering our tracks.

What’s more, we even grumble about fate’s hostility. We claim all our energy goes into fighting these battles against “evil.” By evil, we mean change—unwanted, inconvenient, and downright unpleasant.

Years later, we’re shocked to realize we denied the very thing we needed most. The paradox is this: we were running from ourselves. We feared the emptiness of the VIP entrance. We bit the hand extended to us. We demanded perfection.

This is pride—the mind’s arrogance in believing it knows everything ahead of time: the dynamic world, human nature, and our own potential.

The mind relies only on what it already knows. That’s its strength—and its weakness. Everything else it dismisses or, at best, meets with skepticism.

But the unknown surrounds the known, like an ocean around an island. Reality constantly startles the mind, catching it off guard. To the mind, it feels like some ferocious beast is relentlessly hunting vulnerable prey.

But it’s all illusions, hallucinations, and lies.

One day, a person collapses from exhaustion, realizing there’s nowhere left to run. He doesn’t care what happens anymore. He’s even glad it’s all about to end. He turns to face the beast and stares straight into its jaws.

And then, unexpectedly, he feels a wet nose gently touch his face, and a warm tongue lick away his tears. His fingers sink into comforting, soft fur. The vicious wolf has “turned” into a loving dog.

“My God, how wrong I was! It’s the exact opposite of what I thought.” At last, luck has caught up with you. Harness it and charge full speed ahead!

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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

Pattern of Synergy / December 22, 2024 by Alexander Lyadov

The Master said, 'If a man keeps cherishing his old knowledge so as to continually acquire new knowledge, he may be a teacher of others.'

These words were written by Confucius 500 years before our era. You’d think that in all this time, humanity would have taken them to heart. But no, people have split into factions.

Some cling desperately to an idealized past, rejecting any forward motion. Others rush to destroy everything in sight, determined to build a brave new world on the ruins.

Sadly, neither group fares well. The first sinks into the swamp of stagnation. The second squanders opportunities and resources in frantic chaos, only to end up with nothing.

How many more thousands of years will it take for humanity to grow up?

Maturity remains out of reach as long as the two halves of the whole fight each other, ignoring the synergy they could achieve.

What happens if exhaling (or inhaling) tries to dominate the process of breathing? A part, by definition, is not the whole. It can grasp the meaning of unity only later, by looking back.

The secret of synergy reveals itself only to those who take a step in faith.

Wisdom is weaving the threads of past and future into the present pattern.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander

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