Rules of Space – Rules of Success

“Why are you so lucky?” I asked myself that question in 2013, when I found myself one of the youngest professionals on the ISS. Behind me was a short training period—just over six years against an average of nine years. Our crew was the first to fly the new fast-rendezvous profile to the ISS. On that expedition I was to perform three spacewalks, one of which—7 hours 29 minutes—became a record at the time for Russian cosmonauts.

The program of the first flight turned out to be packed with tasks that were complex and interesting to me and that, unlike routine work, were both challenges and sources of energy at once. I was simply thrilled, and later I realized that there had been too many coincidences for it all to be mere chance.

When you begin to analyze your own path, you often discover that behind the apparent randomness of success lie quite specific principles of behavior. The ones you followed without even being aware of it. As if space itself were prompting the rules, and following them opens the path to the impossible.

What do preparing for a spaceflight and achieving any ambitious goal have in common? What unspoken laws determine success in space and in life? How do you turn “impossible” into “done”? I invite you to discover the universal rules that help turn dreams into reality—whether it is a flight into space or any other goal that seems unattainable.

Storytelling. The lecture is built on the following pattern: stating the problem—a story from Alexander’s own professional experience or that of his colleagues—analysis of the situation—conclusions. The lecture is accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation with integrated photo and video material and by an ongoing dialogue with the audience.

The lecture “Rules of Space – Rules of Success” will be of interest to:

1. leaders who aim for ambitious goals;
2. entrepreneurs at the stage of growing a business;
3. specialists planning serious career growth;
4. managers of development projects;
5. professionals set on achieving high results;
6. everyone who wants to turn their dreams into concrete goals.

1. The limits of the possible exist only in our minds.
2. Everyone is able to push their horizons as wide as they are ready to.
3. Ambitious goals call for a systematic approach.
4. Behind every success stand specific principles.
5. Achieving big goals requires the ability to manage your own energy.

INTRODUCTION (for in-person events): to create a sense of what human spaceflight is like, an eight-minute video about Alexander’s spaceflights will be shown, accompanied by his own voice commentary.

THE FOUNDATION OF SUCCESS:

1. goal-setting (the story behind the plan “how to become a cosmonaut”);
2. the ability to follow your strong line in education and in your profession;
3. working with maximum dedication (the experience of training for the first flight).

PRINCIPLES FOR ACHIEVING GOALS:

1. the ability to accept risk and responsibility (the experience of growing into the profession);
2. the search for non-standard solutions (examples from the experience of spaceflights);
3. the link between trust and responsibility (an analysis of the path to the first flight).

MANAGING YOUR OWN ENERGY (the experience of adapting during a spaceflight):

1. energy efficiency in working with people;
2. building relationships with the world around you.

1. become familiar with principles for achieving difficult goals, proven by space experience;
2. learn how to uncover and use your strengths on the way to a goal;
3. gain a fresh perspective on managing your own energy and resources;
4. hear real stories of turning “the impossible” into reality.

45–60 minutes, including Q&A.