I had the opportunity to interview Hakan as part of a university project, and I’d like to share a few honest thoughts here because the conversation—and everything that followed—meant a great deal to me.
Before our first contact, like probably many others, I had this nagging feeling in the back of my mind whenever I reached out to someone who had already achieved so much: Will this really be on equal footing? Do I even have enough substance to be worth his time? And ultimately: Isn’t there a sales pitch waiting somewhere down the line?
None of that turned out to be true. On the contrary.
From the very first minute, Hakan was open, honest, and present in a way you rarely experience these days. It wasn’t about self-promotion, not about a pitch, not about “here’s my offer.” It was about real experiences and honest answers, even on topics that are uncomfortable: rejection at the start, perseverance, the journey from nothing to the first client, what transformation actually does to you. Nothing felt rehearsed, nothing felt like a show. Just a conversation on equal footing, in which I felt at ease from the very first second.
But what touched me almost even more was what came afterward. Even in retrospect, Hakan takes the time to respond to messages, share thoughts, and offer advice, completely free of any expectation of personal gain. To me, that is genuine, honest help—and truly special in this form. In my view, that is exactly what distinguishes someone who wants to “appear successful” from someone who truly passes something on.
That is precisely why I’m writing this post. I am grateful for the conversation, for the openness, and for how naturally Hakan shares something he has worked so hard to achieve himself.
Thank you, Hakan, for your time, your openness, and for exemplifying what it means to engage with others as equals.
Highly recommended. Especially for people like me—who work in the agency or service sector and are on the path to entrepreneurship—the exchange with Hakan is well worth it. That’s exactly where his experience lies, and that’s exactly where it makes a difference.
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