Interview with Igor Fostenko, Author of The WAY from Street Kid to Millionaire

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

This book was inspired by my own journey—from a difficult childhood, homelessness, and life in an orphanage to building a successful business and becoming a husband and father of four daughters. For many years, people saw only the result: a businessman, a founder, a family man. But few knew the road behind it—the fear, poverty, mistakes, hard physical work, moments of hopelessness, and the people who helped me believe that my life could be different.

I wrote this book because I wanted to share the real story, not a polished version of success. I wanted to show that where you start does not have to determine where you end up. Faith in God, persistence, responsibility, learning from failure, and the decision to never give up changed the direction of my life. My hope is that this story gives readers—especially those facing difficult circumstances—the courage to take action, believe in their own potential, and keep moving forward.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

“Believer” by Imagine Dragons.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Personally, my favorite genre to read is nonfiction, specifically books on business strategy, leadership, and personal growth.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The “Trial and Error” with the first laser machine (The Birth of a Brand): It was fun and nostalgic to write about our first Chinese laser machine. It arrived with a manual entirely in Chinese, so we had no idea how to use it! It sat in my in-laws’ sauna for months. I described the process of pressing random buttons and writing down what happened next. This scene is a favorite because it captures the true essence of entrepreneurship: you don’t need to know everything to start; you just need the courage to press the first button and learn along the way.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

It doesn’t matter where you start; what matters is where you finish.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

If I had to choose just one thing, it would be this: Your current circumstances are not your final destination. I want readers to walk away knowing that no matter how deep the pit they find themselves in—be it poverty, addiction, or a sense of total hopelessness—there is always a way out. Transformation is possible for anyone who is willing to take responsibility for their life and put their trust in something greater than themselves. I was a “street kid” that society had written off, yet I became a millionaire and a happy father because I refused to accept that the street was my only future.