This year, on the recommendation of colleagues from the club of IT company directors, I went to the ABIS business school. It came at just the right time: after all, I’m an expert in IT technologies, because I spent five years studying at KhIRE, and then another three years in graduate school there. But the specifics and culture of our university were such that making money was sort of not the done thing there. Like in the joke: the wife thinks money comes from the nightstand, and a KhIRE scientist thinks it comes from the Ministry of Education’s cash office. So, leaving the university, I didn’t know how to earn even 100 UAH on the free market. It was easier for me to work for free than to force myself, blushing, to tell a potential client the cost of my services.

And at ABIS they have a philosophy of business, a management block, a marketing and sales block, and building a strong personal philosophy. I liked it so much, everything was so timely, that afterward I went to every course they offered: the advanced course “management of transformations and changes,” the master class “management by objectives,” financial training.

And in the fall I went around for a second lap.

— Vova, how are things?
— Well, I went to business school.
— A different one?
— The same one.
— A different course?
— The same one.
— Did the program change?
— No, the same program.
— ???

Nobody understood why I did it. I’ll be honest with you: I don’t understand 100% of what I’m told. I don’t remember everything I was able to understand. I can put into practice nowhere near everything I was able to remember. And I can’t apply correctly everything that I do apply. So the second time was very important for me, to polish up the knowledge I already had.

Also, the courses have very pleasant company, and I found new friends. (Guys, hello to you!)

Today at another lecture we were discussing that the motivation for change can be two things: crisis and inspiration. And I realized something for myself: the first time I was taking the course while going through a crisis, and the second time I was taking the course while going through inspiration. So I saw and heard completely different things.

Self-education is a great thing. I have a feeling I’ll go a third time, too.