“One day at a conference, I asked.

Even then I was scared. Of course. Me and him, he’s a billionaire! Ugh…

But I asked. In person. And Ruben Vardanyan answered me. He told me when my business was a total failure. I was young and stupid, I didn’t know, I was searching. I wanted changes. Otherwise, failure.

He answered very simply, calmly and matter-of-factly. He said: believe (that’s the main thing), be afraid (that’s normal), do (that’s important) and, most importantly, be responsible for your achievements in word and deed (he then jumped with a parachute, having reached another goal, wildly afraid of heights).

It was 2013, the year of changes, the year of faith, the year when I radically changed the direction of my business. Ruben was (and is) able to say things like no one else. He will never criticize. He will never say you’re wrong. He will never be a judge. He will never get in the way. He is just there. He is here. He’s a mentor, he’s something that gets to the root of things. He’s not evil, he’s not kind, he’s just over.

And what is happening now… It’s painful, it’s scary, it’s… Now I’m very scared about what will happen to him. There’s no leverage right now. Right now I just want him to be safe, with his family, and not there.

But there is faith. It’s been that kind of year. Faith is strong. It’s here, it’s with us. And Ruben will be with us. There’s more to come. So be it. Otherwise, what’s it all for?”