Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like? Did you have any particular experiences/stories that shaped your adult life?

I grew up in Georgia, a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia, which is home to Caucasus Mountain villages and the Black Sea beaches. Georgia is one of the oldest wine-producing countries. I come from a hardworking family. My father is a renowned professor and my mother is a doctor. I’m grateful to them for doing their best in my life. I’m also thankful to other amazing people for making a difference in my life. All experiences shaped me into who I’m today. I’m super ambitious, motivated, full of passion and I move forward.

I was a friendly, persistent, energetic, and light-hearted kid. My parents kept me happy and they encouraged me to perform small acts of kindness for other people in order to build empathy, which built my social skills and made me happier in the long run. They taught me how to look on the bright side of things. Generally, optimists are more successful.

What is something you wish you’d have realized earlier in your life?

Life is a journey of twists and turns, and mountains to climb. I believe material things don’t make our lives better and we can’t make everyone happy. You literally lose yourself if you try to make everyone happy. Our talent comes from when we make a consistent effort. Happiness can be built within ourselves and we shouldn’t seek happiness in the outside world. Life is all about relationships.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession and area of expertise?

Hard work is my secret weapon. I dream big, stay positive, and enjoy my journey. I worked every second in my 20s, which set me up for success in my early 30s. I’ve always shown patience and it paid off. In addition, hard work has always brought me to the top. I know what I need to improve, putting my head down and improving my results. It’s always a great feeling when you achieve it.

Tell me about one of the darkest periods you’ve experienced in life. How did you come out of it and what you learned from it?

It’s always the darkest before dawn and there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Staying positive is the key to dealing with dark periods. No matter how much it’s dark, someday you will look back and realize your struggles changed your life for the better. Every achievement requires some kind of dark period to get there. The continuous effort builds your strengths and character. What we come across becomes the foundation of our greatest success. So we should hang in there, face such a period, and positive action will result in success.

What is one thing that you do feel has been the biggest contributor to your success so far?

Peace, harmony, confidence and you perform at your best. I always think and act in the long term. I rarely try to prove anything to anyone. It’s my passion to put in the long hours because I see better results at the end of a day. I’m extremely honored and proud to have achieved what I set my sights on. I always desire to win, that’s why I wake up with determination and go to bed with satisfaction. I’m lucky to live in an era of marketing champions and to be listed alongside them.

What is your morning routine?

I wake up at 6:00 am and I start with stretching, drinking water, being grateful, enjoying the morning silence, setting priorities for the day, reading something, focusing on a big thing, and pursuing hobbies.

What habit or behavior that you pursued for a few years has most improved your life?

Discipline is my key to success. Without it, success is impossible. In my book, discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments. Take pride in yourself, have a step-by-step plan of action, strive to be consistent, and encourage yourself with quotes to perform better. Identify where you can improve, minimize distractions, and fire on all cylinders.

What are your strategies for being productive and using your time most effectively?

I check out social profiles, news sites, and personal emails early in the morning. I set goals by the hour and get outside for fresh air. I plan 2 days weekly for meetings. I’m self-aware and recognize what makes me tick. I remember why I’m in this game and stay motivated.

What books have influenced your life the most and why?

I’ve always believed that good things happen when we read 200-300 pages a day. My room is full of books. Reading is one the best adventures anyone can experience. We are the winners and champions in every corner of the world when we build a foundation for our lives through constant self-education and reading. Reading books has transformed my life and these are the books that have influenced my life:

1. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is one of my favorite business books, which inspires readers to be in love with their entrepreneurial journeys. Become the expert in one narrow focus. What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve. Take massive action, be persistent, and never give up.
2. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk where he shares hard-won advice on how to connect with customers and beat the competition. It’s a blueprint to social media strategy that really works and its impact has been tremendous.
3. The Leader’s Mindset: How to Win in the Age of Disruption by Terence Mauri. An outstanding book by one of the Top Thought Leaders in leadership Terence Mauri. If you follow his advice, you will be on the right path to maximize your success. He demonstrates how to think big and act even bigger.

Do you have any quotes you live by or think of often?

The quotes I live by have been instrumental in my life and career that motivated me to fire on all cylinders. I grew up supporting Roger Federer. His consistency has always been a constant inspiration to me and his confidence is a shot in the arm. He epitomizes excellence and discipline. I’ve always believed in delivering great results if you remain calm and focus on a big thing at a time.

1. ”You have to believe in the long-term plan you have, but you need the short-term goals to motivate and inspire you.”

Just set up short-term goals and a long-term plan. Hence his quote is advantageous and gives me lots of get-up-and-go.

2.  ”A man who wins is a man who thinks he can.”

Those who succeed are the ones who think they can. When there is a will, there is a way.

3. ”You have to put in a lot of sacrifice and effort for sometimes little reward but you have to know that if you put in the right effort the reward will come.”

Nothing great comes easy. You have to practice a lot and be patient. Constant dropping wears away a stone. Eventually, you are rewarded, because you’ve not stopped trying, kept on believing in yourself, and embraced hard work.