Lev Dolgatsjov

Could you share your journey with us? First, imagine you have amnesia and have forgotten all aspects of your life. To remember who you are and the type of person you've become, please reflect on key moments, realizations, and milestones that have shaped your evolution from the earliest memories you can recall until the present day.

I’m free. I do what I find enjoyable, and may not know what will bring me joy tomorrow. It's just the way I am. That probably defines me as a person. I have a family and a four-year-old daughter I have to care for. It would be crucial to know this in case I suffered from amnesia. As for everything else, I'd figure it out as I go along. It’s difficult for me to categorize myself. I've pursued various passions in life, making it challenging for me to find a certain label or badge. I’ve always been a bit of a “renaissance man” type, easily switching my passion from one “craft” to the other and wearing many hats at the same time.

What was behind the fact that you did a lot of things in your life?

I constantly find myself drawn to new activities and pursue them with interest. While I enjoy it, I continue, but when I become bored or do it out of habit only, I would assess my obligations within this specific field and determine whether or not to continue. In most cases I would as fast as possible deliver whatever I already promised to the others, if any, and then move on to something else that would make me feel excitement and passion. Sometimes, I found it helpful to take a break or step back to regain a sense of enjoyment or perspective. Occasionally, new interests would arise, and I would explore them in parallel to my current pursuits before switching to new interests fully.

What is behind your interest?

If we delve deeper into the topic and utilize psychological terminology, it may be interpreted as an aspiration toward self-realization within the confines of my personal interests or passions. Whenever I develop a fondness or enthusiasm for something, I try to immerse myself in it to achieve personal fulfillment fully. I devote a significant amount of time and energy to the activities that pique my interest, and the outcome of these pursuits. Whether this outcome is significant or not in the external world, is philosophical. Generally speaking, I will approach something with diligence and dedication if I find something appealing.

How do you decide which activity is right for you?

It’s right if I am experiencing a sense of curiosity. To illustrate, let us imagine that we are walking in an unfamiliar city in an unknown country or a familiar one. We are not in a hurry, the weather is nice, and we have some free time. Essentially, it is a pleasant day. While walking, we come across something that catches our attention to the right, left, or in front of us, prompting us to turn toward it to investigate, just out of curiosity. If it seems promising, we might spend some time there, and perhaps we might even decide to extend our stay.

I believe that this has always been the case with me, as I have been fascinated with various interests and have delved into them since my school days. As new hobbies and interests arose, I carried the experiences and knowledge gained from past pursuits along with me. I also was lucky enough to make friends with a lot of interesting people from very different fields.

It is not a simple matter of liking or disliking something upon initial assessment. Although that certainly can happen. But usually there’s something deeper than just liking. Generally, this has been my approach since my teenage years.

Have you ever felt pressure from society or parents on what you must do?

Society or my parents did not pressure me to play games, to try building a computer myself, to play punk rock, to start my businesses, to race cars or to invest in startups. Neither of these was related to any societal expectations of me. Sometimes, I guess, it was the opposite - not being what society expects. And have some fun along the way. When someone tries to apply pressure on me, I tend to gently or not so gently give them my middle finger, one way or another.

We can assume that when making decisions, you are more guided by some inner voice than your mind.

I would like to believe that they are in some reasonable balance. I am definitely a very emotional person and I am definitely susceptible. If I don't like something, I won't do it for any amount of money, even if it would make rational sense. There are people who are able to work like crazy doing things they would rather not, for a few years or even many-many years, knowing that it will pay off later and then they will enjoy their lives. That's not me, maybe unfortunately, or maybe fortunately. People are just different. Of course, under certain conditions, I can be forced to do something I don’t like doing. Say, if I'd be forced into a nazi concentration camp, I would not have much choice there but “behave” and try to dig my way out somehow. But by my own will, I won't do anything I don't like. Freedom is the most important value for me.

Sometimes my emotions probably prevail over the rational first, but I can't say that I'm not rational. In most cases emotions have deeper reasons than it can seem, then when you dig deeper you discover there’s actually a lot of rationality behind emotions. I also have a habit of constantly checking myself against the outside world. If I feel unsure about my emotions or something else, I'll reflect on it with someone, usually more than one person. And what these people say somehow influences me. But overall I’m quite an intuitive person and my emotional decisions in many cases prove themselves later as the most rational things to do. Not always, but mostly.

Are you a proactive or reactive person?

If something completely unexpected happens I become super-reactive, trying to react with as massive an action as possible, to the extent of overreacting. But by default I am proactive, sometimes to the point of paranoia. I try to consider all possible scenarios and prepare for each one in advance. However, things never go exactly as I anticipate, and I cannot claim to be some sort of a planning master like, say, Professor Moriarty, who could predict and plan everything in advance.

Generally speaking, I am a control freak. Perhaps "paranoia" is too strong a word, but "control freak" definitely applies. I need to analyze and plan for the three or four most likely scenarios, know my reactions and further steps, and so on. Otherwise, it’s hard for me to move on from the issue at hand. To progress with my thoughts, I calculate multiple scenarios and potential reactions to unresolved questions. I’m also always imagining the worst possible outcome, asking myself if I will still be alive and well, and usually the answer is yes. This approach allows me to let go of the situation if I’m stuck in it, but I still need to plan for it. Being more zen would probably be better for my nervous system, but it is the way it is.

Are you saying that scenarios don't always come true, right?

It’s hardly ever possible for anyone to make scenarios come true 100% as initially planned, but that's life. If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans. But at least I have a general idea and direction with my scenarios. Of course, people always surprise you along the way, but you can’t control other people. You can only control what you do and try to predict how others will react, to some extent.

I envy those completely calm people who say, "we'll see what tomorrow brings", and try to be a little bit more carefree and relaxed myself. But it’s hard to be carefree when you really care. And when I’m passionate about something, I really care. But I’m very relaxed and cool with things and people I don’t care about much. Like “oh well, whatever, nevermind”.

Do you have an attachment to the results?

I have a strong competitive element in me. Achieving some measurable results is important to me. It doesn't have to be measurable in numbers, but achieving some kind of real result is important. If I'm passionate about something, achieving results makes me very happy. After I achieve them, this achievement is in the past and I’m not focused on it anymore. That doesn't mean that I completely lose interest, it just means that I develop a very calm attitude towards the results, and follow the 20/80 Pareto principle.

In other words, when I'm passionate about a process, I always need some kind of a good result. When I was passionately driving cars on the racetrack for several years, I was constantly measuring seconds and milliseconds of lap times, and it was extremely important to me. Now, when I’m on a racetrack, I’m not measuring anything, I just ride for my own pleasure. But that's different, because while I still like doing it sometimes, my passion is gone. Racing will always stay with me as an occasional hobby activity and as a part of my past life, but I’m not focused on it any more.

Did you experience some agony in getting the needed outcomes?

Like making all-in bets or pawning your wife's jewelry in a casino or something like this instead of accepting the loss? That kind of thing has never happened. Usually, when you listen to yourself, you feel that moment when you need to accept a loss or come to terms with the fact that you fail. It can be hard to accept, but there's nothing wrong with that. It’s ok to lose. Unless you think you're better than everyone else in the world. I’m trying to not be too serious about myself.

Everyone can get to the top, but it doesn’t mean the person is supreme to the others. You know, if I decide right now that I want to self-destruct to the extent of competing at Iron Man for some reason, I know for a fact that in my age category, hypothetically speaking, I could theoretically get awarded as the best in the world if I'm very lucky. If I put in all the effort, then the top hundred people who are better than me will get on the same plane and crash the day before, then some other “lucky” factors will help stars align - it’s achievable. The lucky card of the fate of me being in the right place at the right time, the lucky hand of fate could throw me somewhere much higher in rankings than my honestly earned place. If something like this happens with a person, it's easy to get delusional, but it’s important always to remember that you're not perfect. And the longer you live, the more you realize that most people around you are not perfect either.

There's even a psychological term called the impostor syndrome, where people suffer because they feel like they don't deserve their positions, wealth, etc. Here, I'll quote the writer Linor Goralik, who once said it very well, “it's not scary that we're already adults, it's scary that we are the adults”. But it just happens with every generation. We are now the ones in charge. “We” are now parents and bosses and top politicians.We are the ones who are responsible for ourselves and for others. There’s nothing to be afraid about here. It's just our turn.

What is more important the process and the result?

In the end, the process is what matters for me most. For example, I was deeply involved (on amateur level) in car racing for several years with great enthusiasm, and every trophy that I still keep on my shelf was once very important to me. I only found peace of mind after I won a first-place championship trophy. By that time, I had become psychologically and even physically exhausted from the stress of constantly pushing myself to improve and beat the clock, striving to move from third place to second next year, then sliding back to third year after that, and then, year later, finally to first place. I was very focused on achieving that. However, what I want to emphasize now is that the trophies themselves, which are still on my shelf, don't bring me much joy now. Whether they're there or not doesn't matter to me. Perhaps someday my daughter will grow up, see them, and be inspired to think that her dad is or at least once was pretty good at something, which might help her feel more confident in life.

The real value lies in the process itself and in all of the experiences that were a part of it. Those experiences warmed my heart tremendously, especially the people I met and befriended through the process. That's what really matters and what still gives me a feeling of sensation and excitement. Therefore, in retrospect, the process is unequivocally more important than the outcome. During the process, the outcome is just as important as the process and can even feel more important. But at the end of day it’s rather a process that stays with me as a part of my identity than the outcome as such. Outcome is what others see, but process is what you experience yourself.

What you will do if you will lose all your business?

Well, I've always said that I can work as a postman as a last resort. Or will mentor startups. It could probably save me from starving to death if it would be necessary. But, jokes aside, most likely if I’ll be in need, I'll have to build some kind of business - that’s the easiest way to make money. The world won't end because I could lose money or business any day. Life, health, family - these are the things that matter most. Everything else is a renewable resource. If a person is losing a comfortable level of life, they have to come up with something, do something. Also we've been moving towards such socialism lately that maybe soon just doing nothing will be enough to survive and live a comfortable life, as everything we earn will be taken away and redistributed by our genius politicians anyway. Anyway, at the end of the day, life is just dancing, fun and games, then we die. As Tyler Durden once said, on a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero. So the older I am, the less I think about “what if”s.

How do you feel about the people in general?

People are good sometimes and people are bad sometimes. And they mostly don’t care about my existence at all. They have their own lives to care about. By default, I treat people with kindness. I believe that if someone treats others poorly, they will receive the same treatment in return. Then, as I get to know some people better, I develop more personal opinions about who they are. I have been blessed with a good memory, allowing me to recall certain events and interactions. Both good and bad. I’m lucky with people so I mostly met good people in my life. But if I have difficulty getting along with someone, I try to limit my communication with them as much as possible and tend to stop caring about them. I’m not trying to change or teach people I don’t care about. But again, people are mostly good and I mostly care about them. If I have unintentionally or even intentionally offended someone and I regret it, I will apologize to them, even if it happened years ago. I don't go out of my way to seek them out, but if we cross paths, I will apologize, preferably in a public setting. It makes me feel better and hopefully also makes them feel better. If they care. Maybe they don’t.

Do you store negative feelings about some people?

I try to get rid of them as quickly as possible, because otherwise... It's like a Buddhist parable where you carry it all with you instead of leaving it behind. There was a lovely parable about two monks and a woman who wanted to cross a river. One of the monks carried her across, and they continued on their journey for the rest of the day. Later, the other monk said, "We're not supposed to touch women. You carried that woman across the river. Maybe that was wrong." The first monk laughed and said, "I left her at the river. You're still carrying her with you." That's why I try to get rid of these things as quickly as possible. It's not always easy when you have to interact with someone regularly, but if you can isolate yourself from the situation, it's easier to let go. If you can't, it takes a bit longer.

But then again, I have been blessed but also cursed with a very good memory. I should admit I'm a “forgive but never forget” type of person. I'd like to believe that with time, I've learned to let go faster and put myself in the other person's shoes more often. It's always helpful to see things from their perspective, especially when you're in a conflict. You may still end up being the bad guy for them, but at least you can understand the situation better.

Is it common for you to wear other people's shoes to understand their perspective?

Unfortunately, I don't always do this, but I have been trying to do it more often lately. It's not that I encounter a lot of situations or conflicts with others, but I'm a pretty straightforward and honest person, which can lead to some rough patches at times. I also have zero tolerance for manipulative people, and when I see manipulation I tend to say it right away. Some don’t like it.

What makes you happy?

Rest and sleep. A lengthy sleep. I have a restless mind, so good sleep has a real value for me.

Another thing is what makes everyone happy. When your children are happy you’re happy. When your loved ones are happy you’re happy.

When things go as planned, it brings a sense of happiness. It's a universal feeling. Nice weather makes me happy, as it’s rather rare where we live. Being around pleasant people always makes me happy. My favorite music or food can also make me happy. Basic things.

How do you understand the term "call of the soul"?

In my opinion, the concept of the "call of the soul" can be understood through feelings and emotions. If you experience positive emotions about something, then this is a way to go for you. If you really want something and get it, it usually brings you happiness and a sense of fulfillment. Of course, sometimes you may start doing something you wanted and then realize that you don't actually like it. This is not a big deal, though, because the fact that you wanted it in the first place is still a positive thing. Having desires and dreams makes our lives meaningful and delightful. So doing whatever makes you happy is following the call of your soul.

Can you share with us your internal wins?

Perhaps the biggest internal victory was realizing that I don't need to conquer myself internally but instead accept myself for who I am. Being a perfectionist, I am very demanding, particularly towards myself. As a result, I am demanding towards others, especially those closest to me. Accepting that I am not perfect and never will be, and neither are my loved ones, friends, or colleagues, was a significant win for me. But I’m still very demanding and still a perfectionist to some extent.

At the same time, with all other people but myself and my closest ones, I accept the people I interact with as they are, with all their imperfections, quirks, or idiosyncrasies. I would never want any of these traits for myself, as I already have my own imperfections to deal with. Nonetheless, I have learned to understand and accept people for who they are. This helps me to understand their character and traits better, enabling me to anticipate how they might interact with others and what dynamics might arise.

However, I still have a very low tolerance for people who do not fulfill their normal work duties or do not respect others. In other words, I cannot say I tolerate everything. As I mentioned before, I still demand a lot, but that's just the way it is.

Any other wins?

Well, who will you defeat if you’ll win a fight with yourself? The biggest win is to stop internal fights. But it’s not easy and I’m not fully there yet.

What are your fundamental principles?

I have my internal compass, much like any other person, that governs my actions, conduct, and so forth. This compass exhibits a certain amount of adaptability depending on the situation and circumstances at hand. The principles that guide me are likely similar to those of any reasonable individual - I try to avoid offending or passing judgment on others, and try to treat them as I myself would like to be treated. I’m trying to be really good at things I decide to do. I’m being honest with people. I never lie to anyone in order to derive some benefit from the situation. In instances where I, for example, sell a car or make any other offer, I make sure to disclose every minor problem or disadvantage, as well as any potential risks or downsides.

In essence, I strive to be honest and to maintain a sense of integrity. I keep my promises. I never intentionally hurt anyone for the sake of hurting. I don’t steal. I’m not manipulating others for my own advantage. Of course, we all use others in some way or another to our own benefit when we ask for something or attempt to engage them in a given activity. However, exploiting other individuals in a calculated manner is beyond my moral code.

Do you have someone who influenced you a lot?

All people, I guess. All of my friends. All the people who leave a positive impression on me. Some unique characteristics or achievements they possess can inspire and motivate me. I believe that subconsciously, I am constantly modeling other people and taking something from everyone I like, even if it's a fictional character or person who died ages before I was born.

How do you self-express yourselves?

Everything I do, everything I manage is self-realization and self-expression. There is no separate activity where I express myself. I express myself throughout my entire life, one way or another.

How do you take care of your physical body? Are there any activities that you do on a regular basis?

It’s mostly physical activities and body weight control. When I’m stressed, I tend to overeat. I guess it’s a natural instinct. So less stress means a better body. I regularly engage in physical activity, such as going to the gym or participating in hobbies that require physical exertion, like cycling, golf or whatever else grabs my attention for a season or two. I try to keep the calories I consume under control, as I personally prefer to be fit rather than overweight, but that's a matter of personal preference.

How do you recharge your batteries?

Getting enough sleep and taking rest is crucial for recharging. For me, rest means doing nothing mentally and physically at all. Like sleeping, eating, reading or watching or listening to music and relaxing. I’m rather a “beach” than “mountains” type of person when it comes to recharging.

Are you disconnecting your mind from business and other work activities when you are with your family or when you are resting?

When something requires my attention it’s hard for me to disconnect until I’m sure I’ve done everything possible to have it under control. And when everything is stable, I can easily disconnect and relax without any problems. I don’t need the outside world much for my peace of mind. When the quarantine hit, and people complained about being stuck at home, I did not feel any different. It’s natural for me to stay at home for a week without going anywhere but my own backyard. I put extremely low yearly mileage from everyday commuting on the odometers of my cars. I don’t feel the urge to go somewhere or do something if there’s no real need for it. I was never a “party animal”. But I have a restless mind, so once I am refreshed enough I naturally become engaged in some new activity I find enjoyable or feel curious about.

Do you read books?

I must admit, recently, I haven't been reading as much as I would like, probably because people, including myself, started to consume much more visual components and digital content. We've replaced fiction with TV series and youtube, and books with podcasts and audiobooks, for the most part. I used to read a lot of business books for some years, but not anymore. Most of the books I read nowadays are rather biographical or historical.

There are some books that I have reread many times, and I plan to reread them many more times. Both business and fiction.

I wish I’d read as many books now as when I was younger. I read books a lot as a child, a lot as a young person, and then as an adult until visual and digital content became a natural part of our life and cannibalized paper books. On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with that, the amount of new information I consume is the same, it's just that the medium has changed.