Ask the Author: Zeev Gilkis
Answered Questions (8)
Zeev Gilkis
My life path surprised anybody who knows me, and in particular myself.
Originally I was a mathematician. My PhD was in AI.
I haven't intended to serve many years in the army, but I stayed for 20 years.
Despite being a mathematician, I was appointed as a project manager of a very technologically advanced project. The project was a huge success and I was awarded by the highest award for a defense project by the President of Israel. Then I was appointed as the first military attache in Poland.
After retiring from the army I managed R&D in a large company, but the next surprise was a high position in the venture capital industry. Then, even a bigger surprise was moving to biotech & leading an Institute for Biomedical Development. Then, I started writing books... And the last surprise, at least for now, was the new career in sports, mainly triathlons and long runs. Sometimes I think maybe all this was a dream...
Originally I was a mathematician. My PhD was in AI.
I haven't intended to serve many years in the army, but I stayed for 20 years.
Despite being a mathematician, I was appointed as a project manager of a very technologically advanced project. The project was a huge success and I was awarded by the highest award for a defense project by the President of Israel. Then I was appointed as the first military attache in Poland.
After retiring from the army I managed R&D in a large company, but the next surprise was a high position in the venture capital industry. Then, even a bigger surprise was moving to biotech & leading an Institute for Biomedical Development. Then, I started writing books... And the last surprise, at least for now, was the new career in sports, mainly triathlons and long runs. Sometimes I think maybe all this was a dream...
Zeev Gilkis
Hi Preethi, thanks for asking:)
Actually, I started with quite a moderate physical activity, like one hour, three times a week, the main motivation being to strenghten my immune system.
Then, someone asked me: "if you swim, run and ride a bike, why wouldn't you try a triathlon?" it was supposed to be a joke, but I thought, that's a good idea - I like challenges. It was a long way, I progressed slowly, with injuries holding me back. On the way I learned a lot: techniques for good running & swimming, physiology, sport nutrition, how to cope with injuries & especially how to avoid them. I loved the process! I'm enjoying very much the mornings like today: one hour swimming in the ocean and then two hour running - then I feel really young:)
Actually, I started with quite a moderate physical activity, like one hour, three times a week, the main motivation being to strenghten my immune system.
Then, someone asked me: "if you swim, run and ride a bike, why wouldn't you try a triathlon?" it was supposed to be a joke, but I thought, that's a good idea - I like challenges. It was a long way, I progressed slowly, with injuries holding me back. On the way I learned a lot: techniques for good running & swimming, physiology, sport nutrition, how to cope with injuries & especially how to avoid them. I loved the process! I'm enjoying very much the mornings like today: one hour swimming in the ocean and then two hour running - then I feel really young:)
Zeev Gilkis
Mr. A received a package, opened it and sent a message to his friends B. & C. "I saw it".
In the package was a human hand, and there is a really horror story explaining what happened...
In the package was a human hand, and there is a really horror story explaining what happened...
Zeev Gilkis
I don’t read much. Still don’t have enough free time😊
I usually read only books, which I believe can teach me something.
I believe we all are in an ongoing process of a personal evolution. We can continue improve in all aspects (“get better each day”…), but for that we need to learn and implement what we learned.
It’s worth the investment.
When I read, it’s more like studying. I love to learn; neuroscience, physiology, psychology and more. Learning a new thing causes me joy and elation.
I would mention a few books, which made a major influence on me & my life:
BORN TO RUN, Christopher McDougall
HOW TO STOP WORRYING AND START LIVING, Dale Carnegie
ZEN & THE ART OF MOTOCYCLE MAINTENANCE, Robert Pirsig
SIDDHARTHA, Herman Hesse
THE PILGRIMAGE, Paulo Coelho. I loved it even more than “The Alchemist”. In this book he demonstrates beautifully that the journey toward a goal is much more important than achieving the goal!
I usually read only books, which I believe can teach me something.
I believe we all are in an ongoing process of a personal evolution. We can continue improve in all aspects (“get better each day”…), but for that we need to learn and implement what we learned.
It’s worth the investment.
When I read, it’s more like studying. I love to learn; neuroscience, physiology, psychology and more. Learning a new thing causes me joy and elation.
I would mention a few books, which made a major influence on me & my life:
BORN TO RUN, Christopher McDougall
HOW TO STOP WORRYING AND START LIVING, Dale Carnegie
ZEN & THE ART OF MOTOCYCLE MAINTENANCE, Robert Pirsig
SIDDHARTHA, Herman Hesse
THE PILGRIMAGE, Paulo Coelho. I loved it even more than “The Alchemist”. In this book he demonstrates beautifully that the journey toward a goal is much more important than achieving the goal!
Zeev Gilkis
The opportunity to share with others.
And even better, when I receive a feedback from a reader.
And even better, when I receive a feedback from a reader.
Zeev Gilkis
Sometimes writing may be frustrating. But it’s worth the effort!
Zeev Gilkis
Once I attended a lecture about happiness.
The lecturer talked about how a happy person can become even happier.
Someone from the audience asked: “what will he do with so much happiness?”
The answer also came from the audience: “in Cabbala there is a saying that the happier a person is, the more he or she wants to share with others”.
Since my recovery from cancer, I am healthy and happy, even happier than before, and have decided that now it’s my duty to share.
Throughout the years I have shared all which I have learned with others, the understandings of life as well as some original ideas. At first it was mainly with my family and a few close friends. Later, it was with my coworkers and employees, many of whom became friends.
The warm feedback encouraged me to also share with strangers. Their reaction strengthened even more my decision to share with those who might be interested and beginnwriting books.
The lecturer talked about how a happy person can become even happier.
Someone from the audience asked: “what will he do with so much happiness?”
The answer also came from the audience: “in Cabbala there is a saying that the happier a person is, the more he or she wants to share with others”.
Since my recovery from cancer, I am healthy and happy, even happier than before, and have decided that now it’s my duty to share.
Throughout the years I have shared all which I have learned with others, the understandings of life as well as some original ideas. At first it was mainly with my family and a few close friends. Later, it was with my coworkers and employees, many of whom became friends.
The warm feedback encouraged me to also share with strangers. Their reaction strengthened even more my decision to share with those who might be interested and beginnwriting books.
Zeev Gilkis
On my 68th birthday I set for myself the goal to run a full marathon on my 70th birthday, and took the courage to announce it (!) so I had to do it…
I strongly believed that I’ll make it, despite I was just recovering from my second serious knee injury, and was told by two orthopedists to stop running. But it was also very clear to me, that it will not be straightforward and I’ll have to overcome many obstacles.
I thought that sharing these experiences may inspire others to set ambitious goals and go for it. Setting a goal is motivating and causes us to take out from ourselves the best!
I strongly believed that I’ll make it, despite I was just recovering from my second serious knee injury, and was told by two orthopedists to stop running. But it was also very clear to me, that it will not be straightforward and I’ll have to overcome many obstacles.
I thought that sharing these experiences may inspire others to set ambitious goals and go for it. Setting a goal is motivating and causes us to take out from ourselves the best!
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