Looking back, there are many differences between my past and present. If I analyze my life, I’d say I’ve experienced three distinct phases so far.
I’ve been joking with my friends lately, saying, “We’ve reached the halfway point of life.” There’s a well-known poem in Türkiye called “35,” written by Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı, who was born in 1910. This poem is famous not just because it’s beautifully written, but because it’s a meaningful work that helps us realize—like all living beings—our time on Earth is limited. (You can read it here
http://siir.gen.tr/siir/c/cahit_sitki_taranci/otuz_bes_yas_siiri.htm)
Of course, a lot has changed since this poem was written in the first half of the 20th century. Back then, harsh living conditions, poor nutrition, widespread diseases, lack of medical solutions, and two world wars all shortened life expectancy. Today, in the first half of the 21st century, we’ve seen improvements in living standards around the world (with the exception of Africa), food technology (like soil-free greenhouses), medical advances that treat once-deadly diseases, and no major world wars (although wars continue in some countries). As a result, life expectancy has increased, and the number of people living past 90 continues to rise.
In short, unless you die in an accident, 35 is no longer “halfway.” It might only be a quarter of the way there.
As for my own life, I’d say I’ve lived through three phases so far. I plan to write more detailed articles about each of these later, because I believe the experiences I’ve had may benefit others. Briefly, the first phase was the most relaxed, enjoyable, and carefree period of my life.
A photo of 9-year-old Serhan
As part of the third generation of the Süzer family, my twin brother Baran and I had a happy childhood. We grew up in large families both in Istanbul and Gaziantep (in addition to my parents, we were surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles—everyone).
Later came my elementary, high school, and college years—each of which had its own beauty.
While studying in Canada, we often went skiing with my college friends.
Going to school was truly enjoyable. But, of course, that rosy life came to an end eventually.
Graduation photo from McGill University
When I was working at Generali Insurance in the U.S., my dad kept urging me, “Son, come back home.” So, I returned to Türkiye, and that’s when my second phase began.
Wanting to finish my military service before fully entering professional life, I went straight into the army after returning. I served for eight months in Denizli, and it wasn’t easy. Still, my military service played a big role in my personal development—it helped me truly understand our country and people.
My family didn’t leave me alone at my military swearing in ceremony. From right to left: my grandfather, grandmother, mother, me, father, and sister.
On the final day of my military service, our family’s bank was seized by the government. That’s when I realized, with full clarity, that my rosy life was officially over. I’ll write about that in detail later, but for now, I’ll just say that entering the business world felt like this:
“It was like someone who doesn’t know how to swim getting shoved from a dock into rough waters.” Here’s what I was facing in my second phase: The government had seized Kentbank, our prestige was shattered, all our bank accounts were frozen, and we were just two critical months away from opening a globally renowned hotel chain—The Ritz-Carlton.
We went through many painful and difficult events during that time.
Thank God, we eventually overcame all of it. But it wasn’t easy—we worked day and night, with patience, for years to resolve everything.
We ended up winning every legal case regarding the bank, both in the Turkish Council of State and the European Court of Human Rights.
A photo of me from 2007.
In the thick of the most challenging times in my professional life.
The third phase of my life began last year. When I first started my career in the family business, I made myself a promise: “If the business stabilizes in ten years, I’ll open a new chapter and pursue things that genuinely excite me.” So, last November, I resigned as CEO of KFC and Pizza Hut Türkiye and entered the solar energy sector.
Now, in this third phase, things are quite different for me. I largely set the rules. I try to only spend time with friends I enjoy, eat my favorite foods at my favorite restaurants on a regular basis, listen to the music I love, read books I find interesting, and watch documentaries.
Of course, all this takes a lot of effort. We’re all living fast-paced lives, and most of the time we can’t keep up.
Maybe the biggest difference between my past and present is this: life used to be calmer. Even exciting moments were planned. Today, every day brings new excitement. Sometimes that’s fun—but sometimes it creates serious stress. I even lose sleep at night.
There are many other differences, for example:
- In the past, I couldn’t eat anything besides Turkish food. I remember my French friends taking me to try sushi for the first time in college in 1995. I nearly threw up. Today, I crave sushi almost every week, and I enjoy foods from many different cuisines—especially Peruvian, Thai, and Italian. (Though Turkish food is still my favorite.)
- I used to overthink before acting. Now, like Nike’s motto says, Just Do It. Even if you make mistakes, you can fix them. It’s better to act and err than to never act at all.
- In the past, Türkiye’s cultural diversity was a source of joy and learning. Today, societal divisions are deepening. Unfortunately, more people see others as either “one of us” or “not one of us.” That is a dangerous trend.
- I was obsessed with Turkish pop stars like Ajda Pekkan, Sezen Aksu, and Aşkın Nur Yengi. Now, I enjoy a wide range of genres like bossa nova, jazz, rock, salsa, reggae, and hip-hop. (Sadly, Turkish pop music hasn’t evolved much—it needs originality and creativity.)
- We used to only watch American movies. Now, I also watch more Turkish films, along with movies from across Asia and Europe, which reflect their cultures beautifully.
- I used to stick to the same social circles. Now I love visiting new places in Türkiye (Mardin, Manisa, Balıkesir, Van) and around the world (Costa Rica, India, Argentina, Kazakhstan). I enjoy discovering new cultures.
- The internet has changed our lives forever. Work moves faster. Emails need prompt replies. Thanks to social media, I’m constantly in touch with friends from Türkiye and all over the world. Sharing what I do with them is incredible.
All of this stems from growing and maturing. People also change physically. I’m lucky in that department—I haven’t changed much (old school friends still recognize me). But I know it won’t stay this way forever.
Still, what matters isn’t looks, but maintaining your core spirit.
So I want to share the things about me that haven’t changed—and never will:
- My love and devotion to my family
- Making every decision based on my conscience
- My thirst for learning and curiosity
- My respect for different cultures
- My ability to empathize
- My pride in being a citizen of the Republic of Türkiye, while also being a global citizen
- My belief in Atatürk’s principles
- And my drive for constant self-improvement
In my view, a person can grow at any age. That’s why I constantly read, stay up to date with technology, and take courses when I can. For example, I learned Spanish in weekend courses after age 30. Now I’m learning sign language. I read dozens of articles every week on solar energy and follow new technologies in areas I’m passionate about.
In conclusion, I’ve seen and experienced a lot in my 35 years. I can confidently say I have experienced more than most of my peers. Going forward, I will continue developing myself, doing my best to support those around me, and working to help humanity progress.
I’m 35 years old. I don’t know where exactly I am on life’s journey—but what I do know is this:
From here on, I will contribute more to humanity with each passing day. And while doing so, I won’t forget to enjoy life.
Tags: memoir
