Though I sometimes like to think I am self-made, the truth is, I would have never made it this far without these individuals:
Parents (obviously): They never doubted in my abilities and always compared me to the best in the field. They demanded the highest levels of work ethic and persistence. Though we were well off, I have yet to meet a person that was brought up in more frugal conditions.
Positive impact: I developed self-confidence, frugality, persistence, hard work.
Jan Podbevšek: we were schoolmates in high school. We hit it off even better once I started working and started thinking about the deeper questions. As a philosophy graduate he's well read and open to experimentation.
Positive impact: I can discuss anything with him, without feeling judged. He provided valuable guidance in hard questions of life (love, meaning etc.).
Miha Babič: we met in law school (3rd year) and quickly hit it up. The fact that he wanted to study at USAFA and me at USMA certainly played a role. He was the first person that I looked up to. In contrast to other students, he was the first person, who didn’t just have a plan to finish law school. He knew why he was studying.
Positive impact: I developed goal setting and focus, strategic decision making.
Gregor Lisjak: we met while I was at law school (1st year), but we really connected about five years later. We have yet to make a talk shorter than 4 hours that only ended because it was looong past midnight. He is one of the three brightest minds that I know and the most rational decision maker.
Positive impact: makes me re-think my grand plans or at least the ways I want to achieve them.
MP: my ex-girlfriend. We met when I was 24. She was the first person, who really believed in me. Though I always believed in myself, it was much easier to fight an uphill battler, when another person believed in me as well.
Positive impact: I developed much stronger self-confidence.
Kristian Ilijevski: we met through Maja when I was 25. He is a person, who introduced me to altered states of consciousness. After about a year into exploring deep psyche I got a feeling like I was reborn. Which actually enabled me to truly connect with the next person on this list, who was already at that level.
Positive impact: introduction to altered states of consciousness, total acceptance.
Ana Škerjanc: my sister. We truly connected only once I was 28. She was on a much higher mental level than I was, which might be the reason why we haven’t connected that well before. I am so happy I can speak to somebody about about quantum mechanics, consciousness and business on a regular basis. As entrepreneur, she knows business well. Not only that. I have yet to meet a person, who'd be willing to endure such a frugal life for so long only to see her business project succeed.
Positive impact: numerous deep discussions, she is the person, with whom I run all important business decisions.
Tadej Hiti: we met when I was 25 and we really hit it up when I was 27. He's a developer and a true allrounder (video editor, marketer, entrepreneur). He gets business and I know less than 5 people with whom I can have business discussions at such a high level. The thing I especially like about him is that even if I give insufficient instructions, he completes the product the way he deems best, without burdening me with minor details.
Positive impact: he's enabler of all my knowledge sharing ideas (123pdi, markos.blog, rubberprint.eu).
Alenka Hočevar Gorenc: a business partner (my ex-boss) and a friend. We've met when I started working for Pivovarna Laško Union (Heineken's subsidiary in Slovenia). The things that set her apart from other leaders is her ability to protect her subordinates from various pressures and ability to always act and appear calm. She is the best listener that I know of and our discussions stretch far beyond legal and business.
Positive impact: she enabled me to use all my talents and knowledge to the fullest extent by becoming independent (founding my law firm).
The list is surely not final. However, that does not diminish the contribution of each person on this list. Each of them helped me reach the stage that I’m currently at for what I will always remain grateful. They are my mentors and I can only hope to be such a positive force in their life as they were in mine.