The compass needle points to happiness
An entrepreneur is akin to an artist in the realm of business, where each project serves as a canvas requiring inspiration. However, to craft a masterpiece, resilience is essential. As Winston Churchill famously advised, “Never give up.” Yet, the founder of the international construction conglomerate Homefix DSP, Pavel Drigo, emphasises another crucial notion: “Never fight against anything, for you are only battling your perception of the world. The only loser in this struggle will be yourself.” A clear understanding that one's internal state outweighs any external circumstances aids an entrepreneur in achieving the sole success that imbues life with meaning — the success of inner self-realisation.
In my life, I adhere to one important rule: never identify yourself with any company or project. Do not become too entrenched in business, even if you possess considerable expertise in it. This allows you to maintain the stance of an observer, thereby preserving objectivity, continuously improving what you do, and precisely determining where to direct your attention and energy. Such an observer's stance towards your business helps avoid taxing yourself with anxiety and subconscious feelings of inadequacy when external circumstances change, ensuring you remain in a state of creativity — the only effective state for an entrepreneur.
In 2019, I made the decision to relocate to the United Arab Emirates and began preparing actively by learning classical Arabic — fusha. Prior to this, I was familiar with several languages, but this experience initially proved quite challenging. Nevertheless, I did not abandon my idea and soon received my first reward: when writing words from right to left, the brain begins to perceive a different perspective, leading to significant mental expansion, which is invariably followed by an improvement in quality of life. Therefore, my first piece of advice to anyone truly seeking miracles in their life is: learn languages; it enriches you immensely in every sense. Today, I speak, write, and read Arabic fluently, yet I continue my studies three times a week.
My journey in business commenced 12 years ago when I took a leap from the comfort zone of being a top manager at a Russian bank into my own financial venture. I now realise that this decision was one of the most pivotal in my life. In a heated pool, you will always learn to swim, but if you wish to gain true strength, have the courage to dive into the ocean. Our life beyond the familiar is indeed that ocean of opportunities at every moment.
Over twelve years of professional entrepreneurial activity, I have devised a golden rule for myself: venture only where you simultaneously feel an incredible interest in what you are doing and determine how you contribute positively to this planet. Embrace the mindset — why are you doing all this? In my view, this is the most crucial question over the long course of life.
Over the past 12 years, I have ventured into various roles, including being the owner of an airline, a co-owner of a bank, and the proprietor of a construction company. The latter experience was particularly fulfilling as I witnessed the tangible results of our endeavours. We were involved in building communication infrastructure as part of a federal government programme, providing internet access and telephone connectivity to the most remote corners of Russia. I saw hospitals, schools, other socially significant institutions, and most importantly, ordinary people in villages and hamlets gain access to modern communication facilities. This ranged from the ability to make urgent emergency calls to significantly improving academic performance in rural schools. We are inherently driven to strive for betterment; it is our raison d'être.
I relocated to the UAE with the intention of continuing my work in communication infrastructure development. However, I soon realised there was a more pressing need than telephones and the internet, which were already well-established here. I saw an opportunity to assist people by offering professional services for their properties, creating a healthy environment with the help of my team of skilled builders, engineers, and scientists. This led to the birth of Homefix DSP — a company destined to become the largest property maintenance provider in the Middle East. Our initial steps involved assessing the air and water quality in Dubai residences, as these are primary sources of our vital energy. Naturally, after some patent research, our engineers and scientists proposed the best global solutions for proper air filtration. We began installing membrane air filter systems in residences and devised solutions for water purification in bathrooms to prevent hair and skin issues. We identified all potential causes of black mould formation, both in visible areas and behind ceilings in residences, and developed guaranteed solutions for its eradication. We discovered various engineering peculiarities in apartments and houses that sometimes, as they say, "spring a leak" at the most inconvenient times. We addressed issues with air conditioning systems to ensure that climate control provides comfortable airflow distribution throughout an apartment rather than cooling just one spot. We introduced a "healthy light" system, resolved issues with sewage odours and drain flies, tackled the problem of frame overheating in residences and villas — the list goes on. Today, Homefix DSP offers over 100 solutions for property enhancement, and we are determined to continue expanding.
Beyond professional maintenance services, we are also adept at constructing large-scale projects. Our organisation includes a department dedicated to capital construction, ensuring that if we undertake the construction of private residences from scratch, everything is designed from the outset to maximise suitability for comfortable living. During our time operating in the United Arab Emirates, we have completed over 150 projects, including buildings up to 10,000 square metres in size. One of these projects was commissioned by the administration of the UAE's head of state for personal use. In this particular project, my proficiency in Arabic and understanding of business practices were decisive factors in winning the tender.
At times, I feel that the stories from my work could form the basis of a rather amusing sitcom. Each day brings new, occasionally peculiar and entertaining requests. For instance, one night a client phoned, desperately asking for help with a gaping hole in the ceiling of his penthouse, from which water was cascading like a waterfall. The building's security wouldn't allow anyone in for repairs or even inspections at night, so I decided to disguise one of our workers in a classic suit instead of his uniform. I instructed him to pack a ladder and tools into a gift box from a child's cot, take a bouquet with him, and make a swift "visit." In the end, we resolved the issue, stopped the flood (it turned out the swimming pool had burst), and the client became our dear friend for life.
One of the more detective-like cases involved a client who also became a friend. He detected the constant smell of mould in his expensive flat within a new premium tower. Other companies had inspected the ceiling space, air conditioning units, sewage systems, and so forth, but all to no avail. We approached the matter differently: we used a hygrometer to measure humidity, an anemometer to determine incoming airflows, and a thermal imaging camera to identify temperature discrepancies. It turned out that warm air was entering the flat from beneath the ceiling at a speed of 3 m/s (this was on the 38th floor), which, when mixed with cold air, created condensation. Upon opening the ceiling, we discovered several layers of black mould that the family had been breathing in all along. The mould had formed due to the absence of thermal insulation above the windows — there was merely an ordinary heated metal sheet, improperly sealed. Within three days, we rectified the problem, and as a gift, the client received a professional filtration system for his air conditioners.
In Dubai, I found a profound resonance with my personal philosophy. I'm truly impressed by how the country's leaders are working to improve people's lives. They align their needs and desires with the intention of transforming lives and striving to make the city the best place on earth. We're all aware of Dubai's safety and low tax burden, but these are merely consequences of the leadership's efforts and shifts in mindset. I see how they labour daily to enhance people's lives, which evokes immense respect and gratitude in me. We've decided to contribute as well and have identified several areas where we can participate in this process. Observing Dubai's pursuit of perfection makes me realise that true conditions for prosperity are being created here.
I was particularly impressed by the current President of the UAE. His biography, which I discovered after much searching, revealed a person of remarkable kindness who feels at home anywhere in the world. His approach to life resonates deeply with me. Although he rarely speaks about it openly, I am convinced that his true religion is a kind heart. Such individuals always inspire admiration in me. It doesn't matter what you do — whether it's business, creativity, or family life. A kind heart will always find its way.
My internal compass is happiness. It is my greatest motivator. Every world religion speaks to this: "Care for your own path, and the paths of those around you will shine." Therefore, I strive for my own happiness, knowing that when I am content, the world around me brightens as well. My favourite phrase, which I rely on daily, is: "You are not what you have." Hence, I always focus on what truly belongs to me: a head on my shoulders, a kind heart, and free will. This is my recipe for happiness and all my achievements.
Before arriving at this idea, my life experienced various phases, as is the case with everyone. The first step I identified for myself was distinguishing between thoughts and thinking. Thinking is a purposeful process where, in seeking solutions or answers, one feels neither fear nor anxiety. It is a state of creativity, the work of the neocortex, the cerebral cortex. In contrast, thoughts often make us unhappy and anxious because they come unbidden and not always at the right time. I learned to differentiate them and decide whether to transform a random thought into conscious thinking or dismiss it as impractical. By observing my thoughts, I alter reality, separating the necessary from the unnecessary.
The fundamental idea underlying any of my business ventures is caring for the well-being of individuals. Note: not humanity (as no one has ever truly seen 'humanity'), but each individual person. This well-being, in my view, is based on a high level of life energy, which is only possible if our bodies are healthy. This very idea gets me out of bed at 5:30 a.m. and into meditation — breathing with a three-minute pause. And at 8 a.m., this same idea initiates my workday focused on continuously improving each person’s quality of life through caring for the healthy environment of their home.
I have one special place — the Meditation Stone. It is located on Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah. I won't share the exact location because it is incredibly beautiful and secluded. It seems only I know about it. Once a week, in the evening, I go there to enjoy its atmosphere. I sit in meditation and ask myself: what do I want to learn right now? After this, my subconscious raises a deeper question: who am I? From whom am I speaking at this moment? This is already a philosophical layer, but an extremely important one.
Once, while there on Jebel Jais, I realised that our main goal here is self-improvement and the betterment of everything around us. And another path to improving people's lives opened up to me. I recalled that retrospectively — five years ago, to be precise — I had already embarked on this path: my partner and I acquired rights to a unique water source located on the Kola Peninsula, through which all three known glaciations passed: the Likhvinian, Dnieper, and Valdai. This has resulted in minimal anthropogenic factors in this area compared to the rest of the Earth. Simply put, thousands of years ago, a massive glacier carved into the peninsula and began melting. Our deposit is unique not only in its water composition — which I'll elaborate on shortly — but also because the water literally gushes forth, meaning its journey to bottling is minimal. This preserves its molecular structure (it doesn’t "break" passing through pipes), and it is this molecular structure, rather than chemical composition, that significantly impacts human health.
A year ago, we submitted our water for analysis to a company licensed by the Dubai Ministry of Health. The results so astounded the laboratory specialists that in May of this year, an official from the Ministry of Health flew to Russia and spent two days at our facility. During his visit, he consistently drank our water and took a supply back with him. As a result of his visit, we were awarded the Emirates Quality Mark. He remarked that he had seen many water analyses from around the globe but had never encountered anything quite like ours in terms of composition or structure.
We are currently in the process of dispatching the first shipment of our Prana Spring water (meaning "life force" in Sanskrit) to the UAE. Our friends and clients will soon have the opportunity to taste this remarkable water.
Life energy is bestowed upon each of us at birth, but it is crucial to maintain and augment it continually, especially during extreme periods of consciousness. At the age of 16, I suffered a severe spinal injury that threatened paralysis. Three vertebrae were damaged. My family, being medical professionals, candidly informed me that the outcome was fifty-fifty: I might either remain a fully functional person or not. At that age, it is challenging to adopt the mindset that "every difficulty carries within it the seed of opportunity," particularly when immobilised. My psyche entered a state of constant stress due to fear. It was then that I first applied the skill of conscious reflection on the outcome I truly desired. Gradual mental rehearsals of a healthy life lifted me from my bed, and by the age of 17, I had transformed into a different person, free from fear. Feelings of inadequacy and anger surfaced, but I managed to address them. This became a turning point in my life.
Today, I am in perfect health, with four children and a fulfilling lifestyle that includes yachting, martial arts, and swimming. I deeply cherish my life and am grateful to every person who has been, is, or will be part of it.
