How to maintain business productivity with the GMG mindset.

As part of our People in Business series, we speak to Dmytro Makarov, a 24 year old marketing entrepreneur who now employs over 100 people and has delivered over 500 marketing campaigns. We find out how he remains productive when juggling so much workflow.

That philosophy reflects the personal framework Dmitriy Makarov calls GMG: Grind. Mastery. Growth. GMG remains central to how he solves marketing challenges. The grind, he says, comes from the willingness to put in consistent effort; mastery is about learning from both wins and failures; and growth is the result of combining those lessons into strategies that adapt to changing conditions.

Most marketing execs wave around their MBA diplomas. Dmytro Makarov dropped out after eighth grade. Born in Kyiv in 2001, he completely bypassed the traditional path. Universities weren’t going to teach him what he actually needed — figuring stuff out in real situations and learning by doing.

Now he’s 24 and runs a marketing operation that works across multiple continents. Over a hundred people on payroll. More than 500 campaigns were delivered. Clients? BMW, Intel, Durex, Hugo, NIVEA, Domino’s Pizza, Kyivstar. But getting bigger isn’t what worries him. It’s keeping his head straight and maintaining clarity when everything moves fast. Not getting swallowed by the growth.

How does he pull it off without falling apart?

Mornings Set Everything

Makarov wishes for one thing: discipline. He is sure morning time matters because its implementation determines the rest of the day. At waking time, it is necessary to sit quietly, away from your phone, and have your black coffee. It is recommended to spend at least twenty minutes in quiet time. In this minute, Dmytro tries to spend time thinking, considering priorities, and future projects.

His day looks like this:

• He gets up at 7:30. First, coffee, then checks what’s happening in Ukraine.
• He spends the next hour and a half alone. Strategic work. Analysing numbers. Making decisions that can’t wait.
• From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.—nonstop. Team discussions, client calls, and monitoring active campaigns.

Without such a well-organized workflow, the workload would be very difficult. In this regard, Dmytro Makarov remains honest with himself. According to him, the brain is much more productive when the body is moving and there’s a clear plan.

Results Matter More Than Vanity Numbers

His agency’s campaigns have reached millions. But Dmytro has his own unique perspective on the matter. He says:

“Obsessing on metrics is a waste of time unless they’re linked to real results.”

And why is this so important? Cultural context plays a role. For example, the launch of the Intel NUC required close collaboration with technology developers.

The principles of GMG deserve special attention. This unique mindset has helped Dmytro achieve such success in his work. GMG requires constant self-improvement, as well as the development of one’s skills and business. Makarov places particular emphasis on biohacking as the foundation for developing this discipline. In a nutshell, biohacking means total control over your time. It’s the creation of a unique internal ecosystem for life and work.

Reading Shapes How He Thinks

Makarov reads like a utilitarian, not as a form of entertainment. “What I read changes the way I think, the way I lead, the way I make decisions.”

Five books he goes back to again and again:

• Ray Dalio’s “Principles: Life & Work”.
• Eric Jorgenson’s “The Almanack of Naval Ravikant”.
• James Clear’s “Atomic Habits”.
• Daniel Kahneman’s “Thinking, Fast and Slow”.
• Peter Thiel’s “Zero to One”.

Heavy books don’t just feed you ideas. They hardware how you react when pressure mounts.

The Numbers Don’t Capture It

Yes, 524 campaigns and 2.6 billion digital impressions look great on paper. Makarov insists that success isn’t really about that.

Outside of work, he’s inspired by Ukraine’s defenders. Teachers and volunteers, too. And small things—the ability to walk without his phone vibrating, heartfelt conversations with friends who support him.