PinnedMember-onlyMy journey to a sub-3-hour marathonA clarifying note more than two years after I wrote this story. This story remains special not just because it talks about an important milestone in my life’s most beloved hobby — running. After this marathon, I wanted to create a similar experience in my life — develop a new…Running9 min readRunning9 min read
PinnedMember-onlyA decade ago I had the biggest standoff I’ve ever had with my wife. She demanded we leave Russia.I spent most of my teen years away from Russia but Moscow was my home. I was studying abroad — first in the US, then England — but would be back In Moscow for every school break. I missed Moscow during my boarding school years and missed it even more…Life5 min readLife5 min read
PinnedMember-onlyI think I’m largely done with alcohol, and here’s an interesting observation.This is neither a resolution nor a promise. Writing this, I imagine being a reader of this story, scrolling and seeing the “hitting rock bottom” part — you know, a picture of a passed-out drunkard with a glass by his side. I’ve seen several of these stories, so they come…Running4 min readRunning4 min read
23 hours agoMember-onlyI observed my daughter sell braceletsA few weeks ago my twelve-year-old daughter and her friend walked around a neighborhood in Southern Florida selling Rainbow Loom bracelets. I wasn’t in Florida then but heard it was a fun experience for them and they made fifty bucks. We’re in California now and my daughter asked me to…Family3 min readFamily3 min read
3 days agoMember-onlyThis is why I don’t like self-improvement gurus (on Huberman)First, let me lay out a bunch of self-critical disclaimers before I start this story. I am not hating on Huberman in any way. I know that he is highly influential and I personally know the people who adore him. Even though I’m into self-improvement and all things healthy, I…Self Improvement3 min readSelf Improvement3 min read
4 days agoMember-onlyWhat do you think about on your birthday?I’m forty-four today. I don’t celebrate my birthdays, not because I’m ‘dry’ — as my wife likes to scold me — but because celebrating and partying is just not who I am. I’m life-loving, in a quiet way. I profoundly appreciate my existence in this world. The last fifteen years…Life3 min readLife3 min read
Mar 22, 2024Member-onlySome rules I aspire to follow to live a fulfilling lifeThis story is not to say that I’ve mastered the wisdom of life and follow my own rules without hiccups and stumbles. I stumble a lot. But I thought I’d drop down some of my life’s most important principles. Be honest with yourself Don’t look back in anger Love and…Life1 min readLife1 min read
Mar 22, 2024Member-onlyA corporate event… Small talk… For an introvert like me, it’s torture. But…I attended a gathering of investment bankers and various other adjacent experts this evening in Orange County, California. I do most of my work and consulting from home so I can’t complain too much about socializing with others, which I find suffocating as an introvert. But, God, today’s event was…Introvert3 min readIntrovert3 min read
Mar 20, 2024Member-onlyThe videos of animals for slaughter are catching my attentionInstagram’s algorithm is — obviously — very good at identifying your attention and showing you more similar content. This for example. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2iap-4q4mU/?igsh=ZXVrdnJmenBoeWY4 A cow looks scared and sad. I realize this is very anecdotal, but I can no longer ignore the images of animals suffering or on their way to…Vegan3 min readVegan3 min read
Mar 20, 2024Member-onlyI will eventually leave Medium, but not yet, and not for the reasons you might thinkIt’s creeping up on me, this realization that I will need to move on. But this is not a Medium-bashing story. I’ve enjoyed the platform even though the changes introduced in August 2023 caused a collapse in the growth of my followers and earnings. So, the reason for the looming…Writing2 min readWriting2 min read