Dmitry
From following his father’s path to earning his first income on his own
How it began
Dmitry showed almost no initiative. Nothing in his life moved unless his father set it in motion. His father made the major decisions for him even though Dmitry was already 20.
From the outside, everything looked fine: he was in his third year at a top university abroad. But he had no career strategy and no idea where he wanted to grow. He applied for internships, was rejected, and did not seem particularly affected by it.
From the outside, everything looked fine: he was in his third year at a top university abroad. But he had no career strategy and no idea where he wanted to grow. He applied for internships, was rejected, and did not seem particularly affected by it.
What the assessment revealed
It is important for parents to understand the mechanism at work. When other people make a person’s decisions for years, that person never develops an internal compass for what is theirs and what is not. They do not know what they want, so there is nothing to commit to and no reason to try. An internship rejection does not sting because the internship was never truly their choice.
The purpose of the individual assessment was to help Dmitry find that internal compass. We compare test results, psychological profiles, personality type, emotional intelligence, barriers, motivators, values, and the person’s own words: this drives me, this feels like mine, and this does not fit me at all.
Only when all of these elements come together does a young adult truly begin to understand themselves. And, often, the parent begins to understand their child for the first time as well.
Only when all of these elements come together does a young adult truly begin to understand themselves. And, often, the parent begins to understand their child for the first time as well.
The main obstacle
Dmitry did not lack motivation; he lacked ownership. As long as his father mapped out the route, Dmitry remained a passenger. No amount of persuasion could change that.
That is why the work was based not on pressure, but on exposure: giving him an inside view of several fields that might suit his personality and helping him understand the lifestyle behind each one. Every two weeks brought a new immersion and meetings with mentors, business owners, and senior executives. This was not theory about careers; it was a firsthand look at an actual working day in each field.
That is why the work was based not on pressure, but on exposure: giving him an inside view of several fields that might suit his personality and helping him understand the lifestyle behind each one. Every two weeks brought a new immersion and meetings with mentors, business owners, and senior executives. This was not theory about careers; it was a firsthand look at an actual working day in each field.
The turning point
The moment Dmitry developed an interest of his own became the turning point. From then on, internships stopped being his parents’ project and became his.
Where Dmitry is today
One year into the program, the picture is entirely different. Dmitry approaches companies himself and secures internships. He has earned his first income independently and has a clear strategic view of where he is heading next.
His father no longer needs to be the engine of his life.
His father no longer needs to be the engine of his life.
