Alex Reinhardt has been ranked among the top ten most influential people in the crypto world and the top hundred in Dubai. His bestselling book You Are Number One has helped readers in multiple countries develop leadership skills. Lara Palmer asked him where he finds the energy to keep going.
Lara Palmer: Have you ever had to grit your teeth and push through?
Alex Reinhardt: Of course. I was fifteen when my family relocated to Germany. My German was insufficient for the school I attended, and a teacher told me I would likely end up as a general labourer. I memorised 300 words a day, spoke to everyone I encountered, and within six months had reached the required level. I stayed at that school, then gained entry to an elite high school and eventually university. The goal was clear. That clarity made the difficulty manageable. LP: What do you do with self-doubt? AR: I keep a diary. When the inner critic speaks, I write down what it says — but I use the second person. Not I cannot do this, but You cannot do this. Then I ask: what is next? The inner critic almost never has a good answer. This technique creates enough distance from the voice to assess it calmly rather than feel crushed by it. LP: What motivates you most? AR: Competition. Since childhood I have loved a challenge with something at stake. I once made a bet with my father that I could throw a stone into a narrow garbage can from a long distance. After forty attempts, I finally hit it. I still remember how that felt. That particular rush — the challenge, the pressure, the moment it works — is what drives me. LP: How do you stay grounded? AR: I feel genuine gratitude. My family is healthy. I have never gone hungry. I live in Dubai, one of the most energised cities on earth. Difficult moments will come again — I have no doubt about that. But I have proven to myself that I can handle them. That knowledge is worth more than any achievement.