Alexei Orlov and The Point of Distinction
Within the winding, convoluted, and often overwhelming paths people traverse throughout the course of their lives, individuals are, in their own ways, simultaneously unique and unremarkable. Within the mundane lies the extraordinary; within the extraordinary lies the mundane. And at the end of the day, people are just trying to survive, find their own version of contentment, and perhaps manage to make a difference in the world around them—should effort, circumstance, and possibly a bit of luck allow for it.
Recognized or still yet undiscovered, each and every individual harbors within them one or more novelties. Whether that novelty is business acumen, writing prowess, or ethereal vocals, there are always gifts to be found; and within each gift lies a point of distinction. A point of distinction is something of the unique, something which makes a person’s particular gift salient and admirable in its own right. It’s that one extra step above which separates the good from great and the proficient from the excellent.
Alexei Orlov’s Personal Journey
Alexei Orlov has spent the majority of his adult life exploring, expanding, and pushing the boundaries of his gift for entrepreneurship. Those outside the realm of entrepreneurship’s day-to-day, inner workings might perceive such ventures as heavily relying on the skills of logic and analysis; and while it is true that such skills are absolutely advantageous, succeeding within the world of business also requires a profound amount of courage and creativity.
Throughout Alexei Orlov’s career, he has demonstrated he has both. In his early days, he intended on pursuing a leadership role within the church. He began working towards his goal of becoming a priest by enrolling in seminary; however, an unexpected family emergency necessitated his return home. This period of time, while initially fraught with uncertainty, ultimately proved to be transitional as it allowed him to reassess his aspirations and unearth his true calling: entrepreneurship.
Alexei Orlov’s Point of Distinction
After this moment of realization, he jumped in headfirst. He quickly found he thrived in leadership roles, a rather rare trait in general, and was able to offer a degree of unconventionality and ingenuity to his work which contributed to his rise to the top. However, if one were to ask Alexei Orlov how he perceives himself, he wouldn’t necessarily say has a God-given gift for business. He believes the key to his success is his unwavering intentionality—making every moment count—and his humble and sincere willingness to learn from those around him. This approach is what has ultimately become his point of distinction.
The Power of Others
Success, particularly financial success, has a tendency to bring out the worst characteristics in people: greed, hubris, haughtiness, short-sightedness, and more. Those who have attained success often attribute their accomplishments entirely to themselves, consciously or unconsciously failing to recognize the power of teamwork and collaboration, and overvalue their own individual roles within their various entrepreneurial ventures.
That doesn’t mean such individuals haven’t achieved their goals without their own hard work and effort, or their roles aren’t crucial or inherently valuable. It means, for many, the air is thinner at the top; and when you’re breathing in a bit too much of your own carbon dioxide, it can be difficult to see the value in the oxygen of those beneath you without looking down.
In other words, once a person loses sight of the worthiness of listening to and learning from others, not just from superiors and colleagues but from subordinates as well, they become ever more vulnerable to their own inevitable folly. As such, intentionality and humility can go a very long way. For Alexei Orlov, these very qualities were the point of distinction which brought him all the way to the top.
About Alexei Orlov
With experience spanning 30 years, 40 countries, and 50 brands, Alexei Orlov has made life his business and business his life as a seasoned leader in Global Marketing. Alexei’s passionate and dynamic leadership has been a driving force throughout his career, a proven specialist in global brand strategy, marketing deployment, and operational change management.
Alexei Orlov is the Founder and Global CEO of MTM choice, a boutique network of skilled practitioners specializing in high-precision brand activation and media optimization. Bolstered by market-enabling technologies, MTM agencies seek to help brands excel at the “moments that matter” for their customers and consumers.