Illidan: “My mindset is always the same. Just do everything you can, and if you’re worthy, you’ll win.”

I spoke specifically with Dima [Korb3n] about the move. I understood that if Yarik [Miposhka] left—if he didn’t plan to stay on—then I’d probably be among the top candidates.

Overall, I think I’d been mentally prepared for this conversation—and for this situation in general—for quite some time, but it was still unexpectedly pleasant at a certain point.

From the start, it was a pleasant surprise. But on the other hand, let’s just say I’d already played these conversations over in my head a million times, so I wouldn’t say I felt any major emotions specifically from the move itself. More like a sense of relief, to be honest.

I don’t even think about it, to be honest, because I always have the same mindset. Just do everything you can, and if you’re worthy, you’ll win. If not—then not; it’s very simple.

When I came to this realization early on in my career, I realized that this is the most comfortable—and probably the most effective—mindset for me.

It all depends on the people, really, and on me too, but it seems to me that this works the same way as in psychology. If a person knows for themselves that they need to change something, you can convince them of it so that they truly listen and understand.

But if a person isn’t willing, it won’t work. If they aren’t fully committed. Not just initially, but all the way through. You’ve talked to them, and nothing works. Then you have to work around it.

I could argue for five hours about something, but I know that most people can’t—and they don’t need to. So I just try to adapt to all these situations. At some point, you just have to ask yourself whether you really need to spend that much time on this issue and whether it’s really that important.

You should ask yourself this question every time you’re discussing a particular issue. Otherwise—yes, you just come to a consensus. In other words, the main thing in a debate isn’t to win the argument, but to find the truth. That’s the most important thing. Everything else, really, if people are truly in that mindset, you won’t have any trouble reaching an agreement with anyone.