In an age-old Scandinavian epic there is a legend about a hero Kvasire. Created by the most esteemed gods, he became famous for his deeds of courage and his wisdom. His life was not easy, nor long. He died from enemies’ hands in his prime. But his deed is still alive. His blood was mixed with mead and became a source of knowledge for the next generations. And whoever tries this drink becomes more courageous and wiser. Thus a Poetry Mead appeared on the earth.
Three years ago my life and my career improved greatly as they were sure to do. I had a high position in a large American corporation, working with West European countries and life with my family right in the centre of London was standard and possessed all the natural attributes of my living. Good relationships with my business partners and colleagues’ respect meant that I had a peaceful and regular life. Everything changed in 2003. Then I had to leave the company, which I had given 6 years of work to, and come back to Russia. Trying to find the sense of things that had happened and what would fill the future filled my thirty third year.
I will not speak of my troubles over the past two years. It is more interesting that in an intense search of an application for my knowledge and energy, I found Russian honey-making enthusiasts. In the spring of 2003 mead cultural history entered my life. It was in this way I came to know the legend of Poetry Mead.
After I had spent one and a half of a year as an independent business consultant I had overcome many difficulties in adapting to Russian reality. However, I could not find an answer to the painful question “Who is guilty”. However, by that time it was no longer relevant. It was more necessary to answer the question: “What to do?” And it came to me then that lots of SSE Russia graduates successfully found atypical solutions in similar situations. «It would not be wrong to say in SSE Russia there are many people who have had personal victories who weren’t afraid of changes in their professional life, and could prove that in new conditions they were still real managers and masters of their own fate. A task materialized on its own. “It would bring an award for a hero – a cup full of symbolic Poetry Mead!” So an idea of Courage & Wisdom contest was born.
Our contest is noble like Kvasire was. C&W was born in the centre of St.Petersburg not far from the Kazan cathedral, which is a glorious place to Russian people. It didn’t appear for money or for vainglory. It was born by a request to mark those who could override external difficulties and changes and come out victor from the difficult situation.
For the last months C&W has evolved little by little from an idea into words and images. It is no doubt that when I firstly spoke to Yury Voskresensky Courage was first who visit us, Wisdom jointed us lot later. Courage seduced us by its energy and convinced us that an idea to support our colleagues was a good one and a right one, and it was worth doing. Courage gave us a power and led to Wisdom. Even if we are at the beginning of our way, we believe a good affair will certainly find its followers. We thank everybody who sent their stories to the journal publishing house! Your support means a lot, not only for the organisers, but also for those who need to make important decisions about their lives. Your courage and wisdom are today helping people who will be able to share them tomorrow. And new stories will come to the U-Journal publishing house and new heroes will inspire SSE Russia students. So a tradition will be certainly born.
Meanwhile we are getting ready for the First Ceremony of Courage & Wisdom award. September 10, 2005. It is then that we will discover the opinion of the Advisory Committee and the voice of the School, and we’ll see the masterpieces of gold and silver with our own eyes. It is happening soon! | 
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