Engineer, Artist, and 3 More Facts About Me That Usually Stay Off-Camera

Many of us have passions and skills that even close acquaintances are unaware of. In this article, I will share five non-obvious facts from my biography that have shaped me as a person and continue to influence my life and work.

Technical Literacy

I am an aerospace engineer by training, and this leaves its mark. I can easily solve many technical problems on my own. For example, I can reflash and set up a home internet system, lay a network cable, or install and configure a router without resorting to specialists. For me, this is quite simple. The same applies to other equipment: I can replace a car battery myself or perform a motorcycle diagnostic.

This technical experience has instilled in me the habit of understanding the workings of any complex system. In my work, this helps me quickly find the logic of what is happening, separate cause from effect, and make decisions structurally rather than intuitively.

Programming Experience

Not everyone knows that I was a pretty good programmer. My specialization was writing drivers for interfacing complex equipment, such as thermal imagers and radar stations, with computers for reading and processing information.

This part of my biography developed my respect for precision. In programming, a one-symbol error can ruin everything, and I transferred this principle of precision to management: if you want a result, formulate the task clearly, without ambiguity.

Dislike for Social Networks

Perhaps it seems non-obvious, but I dislike social networks. I don't like their short format because I believe it contains more marketing than substance. It is practically impossible to convey a profound thought or change someone's viewpoint in a small amount of text or video. The only thing you can do is grab a person's attention or communicate a single fact. Therefore, the short format seems like a rather strange story to me.

I always prefer a thorough conversation where one can explain cause-and-effect relationships, unveil an idea, and communicate the essence. Perhaps this is why I pay so much attention to structure, logic, and processes.

A Passion for Karaoke

I enjoy singing karaoke. Sometimes friends don't even want to take me along because, in their words, I sing too well, and it makes them uncomfortable.

Singing is a kind of spiritual practice for me. Control over my own voice gives me confidence in my ability to convey my ideas and manage my life. I feel inspired by it. I took lessons from a famous opera singer and underwent training with Maria Struve, who shows many non-obvious things, but otherwise, I do it for my own pleasure.

This hobby definitely helps me in public speaking. Engaging in music, vocal, or fine arts is only possible when a person has an inner conviction in the value of what they are creating. It doesn't matter how the viewpoint is expressed—in books, articles, or singing. To do it well, one needs deep confidence that they are worthy of it. All these activities boost self-confidence and the ability to convey ideas.

At the same time, I believe that not only the voice is important for a good performance. A rich vocabulary, which can only be developed through reading books, is equally important. These are two different but equally essential components.

Interestingly, as a child, I was not accepted into music school, being told I lacked an ear for music. I believe everyone has an ear for music; it is just a matter of practice. I started singing back in school, playing the guitar with friends. Then there was a long break during my time at the military academy. I returned to this hobby only 5–6 years ago, meeting a very knowledgeable teacher who helped me discover my voice. Before that moment, it never occurred to me that I could sing well. Now I have a karaoke machine at home, and my wife and I sing for ourselves and for friends.

Art School Instead of Music School

After I was not accepted into music school, I went to art school. It happened by chance because an art department had just opened in my school building. I had always liked drawing, so I went to my parents and said I wanted to study there. They always supported my choices, whether it was karting or judo, and never insisted on anything specific.

I studied at the art school for four years under a program that included classes three times a week. We studied graphics, painting, and decorative and applied arts, such as working with clay.

These skills help me a lot even today. I immediately see when something is done poorly. The word for "ugly" (in Russian/Ukrainian it literally means "without image") signifies when elements do not correspond to each other. Thanks to my education, I can not just state this, but explain exactly what is wrong: the rhythm, shape, texture, or color combination. This helps in managing processes and making meaningful changes, rather than acting by trial and error.

Sometimes I feel the urge to draw, but there is a complication here. In fine art, there are two components: craft and meaning. The craft part is a skill that requires constant practice. During my four years at art school, I drew for several hours three times a week, and my hands got used to the tool. After a long break, this skill is lost. To restore it, dozens, if not hundreds, of hours will be needed. I don't have that opportunity yet, but perhaps I will return to it in retirement.

All these hobbies shape my thinking. They help me work with complex tasks, understand people, make decisions, and see what is often invisible to others. These are different facets of one experience that continue to influence me daily.