English is important if you want to make money. You have to speak some language everybody understands. — Islam Makhachev

English is important if you want to make money. You have to speak some language everybody understands.

Author: Islam Makhachev

Insight: There's a practical truth buried here that goes beyond just grabbing a job abroad. When Makhachev talks about English as a money-maker, he's really describing what happens when you can access the largest economic conversation happening right now. English isn't special because it's "better"—it's powerful because so many people speak it, which means your ideas, your skills, your work can reach further. That radius matters enormously when you're trying to build something, sell something, or collaborate across borders. But there's a subtler point worth sitting with: this isn't just about getting rich. It's about not being locked out. If you only speak your local language, entire opportunities—whether that's freelance work, learning from the best educators online, or pitching to investors—become invisible to you. You're operating in a smaller economy by default. The irony is that this cuts both ways. Speaking English well is a multiplier for ambition, but it also reveals something uncomfortable: that advantage isn't equally distributed. Some people grow up with it. Others have to choose to learn it, which takes time and resources many don't have. The real insight is simpler than it sounds: communication tools are power tools. They let you play on bigger fields.