When There’s No Savior but Yourself: Turning Adversity into Ambition

Very soon, I gained more confidence, and in the same autumn of 2009, I began working more and more as a freelancer, later collaborating with one of Lithuania’s advertising agencies. Yes, it is one of those agencies that do everything clients request related to advertising and marketing, including websites.

At that company, I was the entire IT guru department. I did it all – consulted on internet matters, managed Google AdWords advertising, advised on SEO, monitored campaigns, programmed, and even configured network routers.

The primary work involved various web applications and creating simple CMS websites. Some of my fondest memories include sitting in high school, in the 12th grade, getting calls from work about projects, and stepping out of class to answer them.

I still remember how (and I can proudly say this because I attended one of Lithuania’s best schools, Ąžuolynas Gymnasium) my math teacher would complain multiple times about how I dared to stand up and leave the class to take a phone call. But even back then, I was confident and happy to be working on something meaningful.

I would spend weeks, sometimes a month, working on a single website. My pay was a few hundred litas in hand under freelance contracts. Today, I couldn’t even tell you where I spent that money – likely on domain names or self-improvement. But it’s important to note that our family was never wealthy or well-off.

Although my parents still scold me today for sharing my experiences too openly, this series of posts is about recognizing where the hunger comes from—the hunger to strive, ambition, drive to work hard, and willingness to do the dirty work—where the dream of owning an Escalade came from, and not something else. Sometimes in life, you don’t have the luxury of someone saving you—there’s no one but yourself.

As a child, around six or eight years old, I thought it was a fun game when my mom would say we needed to buy everything for just 10 litas a day. It was like a challenge to fit within that budget. I completely understand my parents, who did everything to ensure we had the essentials.

Still, I must admit I never had blinking sneakers, jeans were reserved for special occasions, I didn’t own a Tetris or Yo-Yo toy, we didn’t go to cafes or restaurants, and we didn’t travel because those things didn’t fit within the 10 litas-a-day budget for a family of three. However, I was always dressed neatly, fed, and cared for. For that, I’m genuinely grateful.

The job and salary at my first company shaped my perspective, which I now apply to my employees. Back then, during Christmas or New Year’s, my employer gifted me tickets to a DOMINO theater performance. I vividly remember two tickets, each worth fifty litas. That amount seemed huge back then—sometimes even a third of what I’d earn for a website.

Wow! It was incredible! I had never been to a modern theater before – my first time. And it was Šapranauskas performing! I dressed up and went with my girlfriend. That first impression and the experience of being somewhere I had never been. I can recall every moment of that evening, even today.

That’s why now, on special occasions, I gift my employees tickets and experiences like massages, theater, or something they might have never tried before. I want to give them that chance to experience something new, just like when I was 17, shy and inexperienced, yet given an opportunity that left a lasting impression.

My goal is for my employees to grow in their competencies and as individuals. To try things they’d never dare to. I have an incredible story about our first HR manager. During one team-building event, we were near some amusement park rides.

Only some people dare to try the Booster, the highest ride, but I managed to convince our HR manager and a few other colleagues to overcome their fear of heights and give it a go. I was thrilled because I received several thank-yous later saying, “I would’ve never dared to try it if it weren’t for that small nudge.” Experiences like this strengthen the team and, as I’ve said, help shape individuals into successful team members.

Even now, I follow the advice illustrated by Jordan Peterson: when you’re afraid of something, stand as close to your fear as you can. Even if it’s a kilometer away, take one step forward. —another, and another. It’s a great way to push through and transform yourself.

This transformation of my personality has been my key to success. Driven by hunger and a dream of an Escalade, I’ve reinvented myself probably ten times to grow from a modest, underprivileged, and fearful teenager dreaming of a Cadillac Escalade into a confident, sometimes even arrogant, company leader.

At one point, I was afraid to register my first domain. Oddly enough, I wasn’t scared to learn and join the most significant blog in Lithuania, but I feared taking on my first project, client, and phone call. And today?

Today, I dare to ask Tomas Ramanauskas ‘s question at the 2020 LOGIN conference: “What proves that you are the same person today as you were ten years ago? Your body? Your traits? Your values? Personal integrity? Others’ opinions? Self-awareness?”

This thought resonates deeply with me.