“Let it sink…”

My jokes are meaningless and merciless. No one makes fun of me.

Power moves

Life is simple, but not easy.

Simple - because once you figure out what works for you, you just double down on the framework.

Not easy - because it requires effort (a lot), discipline (a lot), and courage (damn it).

You can make it easy and just go with the flow.

But who knows where that will take you?

Therefore my plan is simple (again) - to control my inputs (as always).

Here’re my 3 “simple things” that I do not overthink.

1. I am comfortable to look fool.

No one wants to look like an idiot.

I don’t want to either.

But those unfortunate enough to have met me in real life know - I am the king of embarrassment.

Epic screw-ups. Awkward moments. WTF silence.

I have it all.

Early on, I learned that embarrassment is essential for growth.

We hesitate to act because we fear judgment.

But others likely feel the same.

So, I choose to be judged only by myself.

That realization set me free.

I allow myself to do silly, ridiculous things to learn.

E.g., I was well past 30 when I decided to try hip-hop classes - an unfinished gestalt from my childhood.

So, I joined one in my neighborhood.

I was the only non-teenager there.

My wife wanted to share this “joy” with her friends, so every now and then, they’d sneak a peek through the window to watch me sweating.

I couldn’t have cared less, obviously.

Or…

When I create a presentation, I aim to make it unique - while still keeping it clear and on point (or so I like to believe)

Well… sometimes it doesn’t land that well. A lot of people leave the meeting with a raised eyebrow.

But other times, it’s good enough to warrant an autograph session with my colleagues.

The only way to know for sure is to test-test-test.

Maybe I should pay more attention to my personal brand - be more serious, more adult, more mature.

But I don’t want someone’s made-up understanding of being “normal” to stifle my desire to experiment.

2. I have to try, fail, and try again.

My goal is to minimize the number of regrets about things I didn’t do.

Guess what?

I now own a huge collection of different “projects”.

E.g.:

• House renovation

• Hobbies (e.g. photography, videography)

• Martial arts

• New roles “onboarding”

Almost none of them turned out as expected in the beginning.

But I learned a lot along the way.

How to "move fast and break things." How to fix things.

How to handle things to avoid breaking them.

Theory is great.

But only practice reveals the right process.

Quick example:

A long time ago, I stumbled across Gordon Ramsay’s pork ribs recipe.

It seemed simple:

1. Sear ribs

2. Add liquids and tasty stuff

3. Place in oven uncovered for 1 hour

4. Profit

I followed the steps.

After about an hour and a half, I had a bitter pieces of sole on bones.

First thought - this recipe is trash, move on.

But I wanted my ribs!

I suspected Gordon had left out a ton of nuances.

So, next time, I covered the ribs with a lid in the oven.

It got better.

Still a piece of sole on a bone, but not bitter anymore - it didn’t burn!

Okay, Gordon, I was coming for you.

Next time, I doubled the amount of liquid.

Way better!

No longer a dry and bitter sole - now a delicious rubber eraser on a bone.

Another attempt - I lowered the temperature and nearly doubled the cooking time.

Bingo!

After about 3 hours, I had juicy, tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs.

It took several tries to nail it.

But I'm glad I did - so now you can take this "updated" recipe and enjoy the best ribs you’ll ever have.

3. I have to fight when I’m already injured, bloody, and sore.

This one comes from my martial arts background.

(Side note - I was an outsider for many years until I won my first championship. Childhood trauma.)

In competition, you can’t just quit because it hurts.

A prime example: my old training buddy.

During one fight, he had his front tooth knocked out.

He didn’t even blink - just swallowed the tooth and won the fight.

Later, he told me:

"I instantly realized - what would’ve changed? The tooth was already gone. I’d deal with it later. But right now, I was really mad."

No surprise - he has insane tenacity in other areas of his life too.

I wish I had that mindset from the start.

I’m working on it.

It’s not smooth yet, but I can see progress.

How does this relate to the business world?

Markets shift, priorities change, and setbacks happen.

The ones who thrive aren’t necessarily the strongest or smartest - they’re the ones who adapt the fastest.

My further area for development.

I have to be kind to people who haven’t been cruel (in my understanding) to me.

Here’s my confession - I’m not a forgiving person.

That’s one reason I have a lot of ex-friends.

Some borrowed money and suddenly became too busy to show up. I didn’t bother reminding them.

Some were foolish enough to obey the classic “it’s either me or your friends” demand from their girlfriends. Nice choice… When they broke up, we never reconnected.

Some disrespected my time (me?). I was always waiting - 10-30 minutes, never sure if they’d cancel at the last second. This group took the longest to fade from my life.

Do I regret it? For some, absolutely.

But back then, I was too rigid. I thought trust was a one-shot deal.

Maybe it is. I don’t know.

I have to give more second chances to see if rebuilding is even possible.

Till next time!

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No further comments from me.

A Tweet That Hits

What an interesting way to get decapitated.

When we started dating, my future wife said, “Don’t you dare gift me cookware on any occasion.”

Still alive.

Add this to your shelf

The explains how different parts of a system connect and affect each other, from businesses to nature. It helps you see patterns, solve problems, and make smarter decisions. E.g. "Tragedy of the Commons" explains how shared resources get overused because everyone acts in their own interest.

Unpacking the routines of interesting people

Anna Wintour - a name not as widely recognized outside the fashion industry—is the editor-in-chief of Vogue. She has been an influential presence in fashion for decades and is also well-known for her commitment to philanthropy. Among other achievements, she has raised over $50 million for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.

How does a fashion mogul structure her day?

Interesting facts:

The Inspiration for The Devil Wears Prada
The character Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, is widely believed to be based on Anna Wintour. The book's author, Lauren Weisberger, previously worked as her assistant.

The Privacy Shield
You'll often see Anna wearing her signature dark sunglasses - even on an overcast day or inside the office. She uses them as a privacy shield, allowing her to maintain both discretion and an air of mystery on demand.

Efficiency at Work
Many people wonder how she manages her time so efficiently that leaving the office by 5 PM is never a problem. It comes down to a few key rules: keeping meetings small, responding to team messages quickly so work can progress without her, and getting work done during her commute.

Watch-worthy clips

Of course, I couldn't help myself from sharing a video on one of my favorite topics.

If you’ve been here for a while, you might remember—I don’t set goals; I’m obsessed with systems.

Goals are like New Year’s resolutions; systems are like still going to the gym in February (yes, they are still open in Feb!)… and actually enjoying it

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