When I opened my first office, I thought I made it. I had a team. I had a business address. I had a car — okay, it was on credit, but still. And for the first time in my life, I flew abroad. It felt like success. It looked like success. And I believed it was success. But it wasn’t.

I’m a visual thinker. Maybe it comes from starting out as a designer, but visual and spatial thinking is second nature to me. I process diagrams, charts, and maps way faster than text. Even when my wife asks how a dress looks on her, I tell her honestly: *“I’ll let you know when I see it.”* (Of course, she looks great in everything.) But the point is — visuals work faster. That’s not an opinion. It’s science.

If you’re a painter, sculptor, or writer — maybe that’s true. Talent is personal. Though let’s be honest, even writers have ghostwriters. But if you’re a business owner, that mantra is lethal.

When I started my business, I didn’t even think I was starting a business. I just didn’t want to work for morons — and I needed to support my family. All I really wanted was a comfortable space where I could do something meaningful, surrounded by interesting people. I was always ready to work hard — especially on things that lit me up.

When I started my business, I didn’t even think I was starting a business. I just didn’t want to work for morons — and I needed to support my family. All I really wanted was a comfortable space where I could do something meaningful, surrounded by interesting people. I was always ready to work hard — especially on things that lit me up.

One of the most valuable skills I’ve gained throughout my entrepreneurial journey is the ability to look at a business from a distance — to zoom out and see the big picture.

This is the final letter in my series on the power of setting the right goals as an entrepreneur. Initially, I planned to fit it all into a single message. But as I got deeper into the topic, I realized: goals are too important, too layered, too foundational for a quick overview. They determine everything.

What is a business empire? It’s a massive, high-impact machine. One that shapes markets, influences industries, and sometimes steers entire economies. Think public companies, powerful family-owned firms, investment giants.

Everything in life has a beginning and an end. We’re born, we live, we leave. Just a brief moment in the grand eternity. And how we spend it - that’s on us. Will we aim for something meaningful - raising kids, growing as humans, helping others? Or will we drown in endless pleasure-seeking, only to realize (if we ever do) that we wasted that moment on nothing?

Ever catch yourself overcomplicating things? For no reason. Out of thin air. Yeah, same here. Regularly. Maybe it’s because I love building things. Maybe it’s the inner tech nerd. Maybe it’s curiosity. Or maybe… it’s just procrastination in disguise.

Eugene, I see that you’re a System Guy. Everything you do is organized and structured. But what exactly are you talking about when you say ‘systems’? Are we talking tools? Software? Automation? And who is this even for?