Would I do it again? Probably not.

Now when I really look at all what is listed here, it seems that I literally went through all these phases! I didn't skip any of them! It would be easier for me if at least one of these points has bypassed me ...

So, I've been working on chemistry, technology ... in science in general for so long now ...so I'm free to look at it (science) as if it's a person. I approached her as a kid, then still inexperienced, and she, as an old, experienced and cunning one, recognized me as one more in a line who wanted to "play" with her. At first, everything looked like a game. She was open, giving directions, laughing and showing what she has to offer, but as she hypnotized me more and more and dragged me deeper and deeper, each subsequent round was getting harder and more challenging. More and more discussions, more and more quarrels, a new labyrinth all over again. Just when I thought that I am close to the finish line, she would open another door and said, "and you didn't consider this option, did you?" How much we just talked, how much discussions we had between the two of us, convincing each other that the other one is wrong, how many quarrels and arguments. How many times I lost my head and exploded, and she was completely cool, and then after a while when I calm down and try again from the other side, she talks to me again just so that could I run into her wall again! She acted like a girl who would never give up. She knew how to correct me, flirted with me, drove me crazy...gave me false hopes, only to immediately slam the "door in front of my nose"...constantly playing hot & cold with me...putting me to the endurance test and just waiting for the moment when I would break and give all up. Because of her, I slept countless nights at the lab, in some half-sleep, waiting for each of her answers to appear on the computer monitor. How many sacrifices, and when you cannot go back...And now after so many years and so much work and effort, we are now the best of friends!

And working with people ... about this I remember the words of French Nobel Prize Laureate Charles Riche who said:

“When a new idea enters into science, it is like when a stone falls into a toadstool. The pernicious silence which arises and muffles every new discovery, there is no weapon with which you can oppose.”

And that is the story of my life, but now it is much easier, because what science has taught me and the "kung fu" science gave me, is something that will make others to harmonize with me now, I don't have to harmonize with them anymore, that time has passed…Now comes a time when others will work harder and harder to get to work with me, because now they know that if they work with me it will be a reference for them so that they could say that they worked with Ivan Smajlovi?, the guy who really made a difference in solving critical problems for the industry.