🚇Can I single out three main stages of life and/or three main events? Usually, when looking back on one’s life, people divide events into stages or highlight the main ones. It’s not easy for me to pick the three most important events or stages in my life, especially since I have four children. How can I limit myself to just three events? The birth of each child, my father’s death, my wedding—all these moments are incredibly significant.

But if we’re talking about life stages, I’d highlight three: before age 20, from 20 to 35, and the period after 35.

It’s very important to understand that every person is unique. We often try to compare ourselves to others by age, gender, social status, or professional achievements. But in reality, it’s crucial to realize that our lives are composed of unique events and impressions we experience, and these shape our unique life path.

Before age 20 is a time I hardly remember; it was just the flow of life. From 20 to 35, I pursued many different goals and led an active social life. However, after 35, there was a total change in my perception of life. I began to understand that I live a spiritual life, and everything else is just part of that path. This stage had a significant impact on how I perceive the world, my values, and my attitude toward life.

These stages weren’t clearly delineated. Changes occurred gradually, and it’s hard to pinpoint the exact boundaries when each stage began and ended.

🚇My perception of those times has changed drastically. The way I remember events now is not how I perceived them at the time.

In the first stage, there were many different events that shaped my views: from the birth of my children to my father’s death, moving to Moscow to start my first business, working on numerous projects in a French company, and many others. I participated in a huge number of life situations, each leaving its mark.

Looking back, I begin to recall even more events: acquaintances, trips, practices, expeditions, meetings... There were so many that it’s hard to encompass them all in memories. Each of these events influenced me and helped me become who I am today.

I have always believed that my essence does not lie in individual qualities but rather in their unique combination. Understanding a single quality by itself doesn’t fully represent a person. By developing a certain quality, we may achieve a specific result, but that does not reflect the fullness of my experiences. The events I’ve gone through—my projects, life changes, relationships with family, friends, and acquaintances—are what truly matter.

These relationships are incredibly diverse and extensive. I cannot remember even a tenth of the people I was close to. It’s these interactions, not certain qualities, that shaped me as a person and formed my current worldview. After all, at twenty, I could not have imagined that I would think and perceive the world as I do now.

🚇My communication with those around me, whether parents or children, constantly changed over time. For instance, my relationship with my mother was always good, although the term “good” can be interpreted differently. For some, it may be an unattainable ideal; for others, it’s taken for granted. But I’m convinced that all comparisons and assessments in these matters are subjective and depend on each individual’s experience.

What personal qualities allowed me to focus on such a large number of tasks, events, and various life circumstances?

I am who I am, a unique individual with my own characteristics. There are no clear boundaries in my worldview; it is broad and multifaceted. Over 40+ years of life, I’ve accumulated invaluable experience, taken actions, made decisions that moved me forward. But my life isn’t over yet; it’s just the beginning. The last five years have been more significant to me than the previous 35; each period of life has its own value.

I live with the belief that a person experiences many lives, and each contributes to their essence. My 40 years are not just the time of my current incarnation; it’s the accumulated experience of past lives, exceeding physical time on Earth. My achievements in business, the decisions I make—these are not merely the result of education or upbringing. I cannot explain this solely through management books I’ve read or training sessions I’ve attended. It’s something deeper that comes from within me.

My beliefs and worldview have changed over time. Some of the things I did 15 years ago seem unacceptable to me now. My attitude toward alcohol, my perception of family relationships, my interaction with my wife (whom I’ve known since 1987)—all these have undergone huge changes. We started dating in 1998 and married a decade later. All these years were filled with growth and change, which continue to shape me as a person.

• What advice would I give my younger self?

I believe that mentorship is not about certain principles, but rather infinite knowledge and a great volume of information. It’s not just passing on information but the opportunity to discuss and see situations from different angles every day, revealing new cause-and-effect relationships. For example, my self-awareness has expanded significantly over the last 20 years. This is not the result of specific principles, but rather the internal state I’ve reached.

Modern people often look for simple answers, such as ten steps or five decision-making models. They strive to find something structured and scientifically justified for understanding life. But life itself cannot be fully described or understood. Science constantly evolves, and what seems correct today might turn out to be wrong in 20 years. Therefore, we cannot fully rely on scientific viewpoints as unchanging truths.

I understand that my life cannot be fitted into any specific framework. Life, first and foremost, is spiritual, and spirituality cannot be limited.