"Your environment either helps you move forward or pulls you back," — Farrukh Kurbanov on his lifestyle

Farrukh Kurbanov, city — Tashkent, SEO/ASO optimizer, contextual advertising specialist, webmaster, Instagram

About Me

By education, I am an English language teacher. Due to difficulties with low salaries, I retrained in IT. I obtained my first higher education for my parents, and then started doing what I am truly interested in.

After graduating from university, I moved to Moscow, planning to rest, but stayed there thanks to successful networking and interesting work. I actively participated in events and worked at Nuga Best, a company dealing in medical products. At the same time, I studied digital marketing.

Returning to Uzbekistan, I worked as a system administrator at an internet provider, studying servers and interacting with developers.

My first job in IT was at an aquarium center. Then I moved to large aggregators such as Apteka.uz, Prom.uz, and Bank.uz, where I worked as a senior content manager and junior SEO optimizer. Currently, I work on government projects at Uzinfocom. The passing of my father became a powerful stimulus for me to take responsibility for my family.

After working at aggregators, I sought more and moved from company to company, expanding my portfolio. I worked at CGB.ru and Oson Apteka, where I was engaged in large-scale optimization and ASO. Then my colleagues and I opened the Exadot.uz agency, which implemented about 80 projects.

At Uzinfocom, we work on interesting projects; sometimes I take private orders on weekends. I continue to develop in digital marketing and am considering launching my own project, despite my attachment to my current job and family.

Where and How I Learn

After completing SEO courses, I delved deeper into this field and simultaneously studied backend technologies, which gave me a complete understanding of how systems work. Developer support also played its role — often I invited them to discuss questions that interested me.

IT requires constant learning; it is important to keep up with new technologies. Working at a company with projects in the E-com, FinTech, and Gov sectors, I gained valuable experience and interacted with qualified specialists, despite their limited number in Uzbekistan.

Previously, I was engaged in website development and SEO. Currently, I am studying Flutter, as I decided to become a mobile developer. This platform is interesting and allows creating applications for Android and iOS, offering a universal solution.

In my free time, I read literature and watch educational videos on Flutter.

Environment

I realized that environment is important: it either helps you move forward or holds you back. Friends and acquaintances change. When your environment is smarter than you, it promotes growth. However, if you are the most successful and smartest in your circle, it may hinder your progress. Of course, you can help others, but you should not forget about your own development.

My environment consists of professionals in their fields. One friend is an experienced UX/UI designer working with websites and mobile applications. His analytical skills make communication with him beneficial. Another friend is a successful businessman and project manager who is well-versed in legal and accounting matters. His flexibility and respect for other cultures make him an excellent partner.

In 2022 and 2023, I attended forums where our company actively participated, showcasing Uzinfocom products. Networking helps establish connections and promote the company. Such events provide an opportunity to break out of the routine and meet smart, motivating people. Communicating with successful specialists is inspiring and educational. Sometimes I regret not starting earlier — at 34, one could have achieved more. But despite these thoughts, it is important that I now have stability.

Where I Spend My Free Time

In my free time, I spend it with my family, playing with my daughters, but more often I sit at the computer, watch movies, or play Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2. If I finish work at 10:00 PM, I first spend half an hour with my daughter, and then sit at the computer. Once a year, my wife and I travel abroad. When no one is at home, I put on headphones, watch movies, and play.

Life used to be more intense; now I prefer simple pleasures. My hobby is high-quality technology.

Where and What to Buy

I have expensive equipment for my computer. Keyboard, mouse, and headphones — all from well-known brands and equipped with RGB lighting. On my desk stands a Samsung Odyssey G9 monitor for $1700. I assembled the computer myself, using the latest Intel i9 processor — 13900K and an RTX 4090 video card for $2100.

I love hardware and try to keep up with new releases, so I periodically update my equipment.

Many are surprised why I do not choose budget solutions. I prefer to invest in what I like and what brings me joy.

I do not regret spending money on high-quality equipment and feel its power. In contrast, I do not feel the need to spend money on an iPhone, as you can find phones with similar technical specifications for less money. My current phone is an Honor.

I respect Apple products for their innovation and used them for a long time. Apple products are still worthy, but today they are more focused on maximizing revenue rather than revolutionary innovations.

I recommend comparing prices and offers on different platforms. If warranty is important, it might be worth considering purchasing from official dealers. Before buying, I advise conducting market monitoring and analysis to choose the most advantageous offer.