200 Kilos
Summary:
- “200 Kilos” by Bojan Leković follows his work life in Holland, where as emigrant he faces challenges of adapting to new work environment and culture during work at KPN company
- Book emphasizes how Leković with much effort, resourcefulness and support managed to advance in career despite initial difficulties, simultaneously recording technology development at beginning of 21st century
- Review’s author stresses book isn’t only story about career but also about personal growth, balancing between culture, work and life, with simple and accessible writing style that facilitates reading
“Action is foundational key to all success” – Pablo Picasso
About four years ago (in that corona time) we hung out with Bojan Leković through his debut “Bears on Road,” where he led us through development of his (now everyone-familiar) business “KupujemProdajem,” from first steps, to challenges and successes, as well as interpersonal relationships, both on private and business level.
Book successfully balanced between inspirational success story, and business book about entrepreneurship and development of one online platform.
Maybe you remember in one part Bojan mentioned how as young lad he headed toward Holland, where in one period he worked for “KPN” (“Royal Dutch Telecom”). Man decided to venture into unknown with his wife, going to another country (and keep in mind we’d then just entered year 2000). What does emigrant know what corporation is?
Because of that he decided to share with us in book “200 Kilos” how his (work) life in Holland went while working for “KPN.”
Now imagine period after year 2000. Some young man (and young wife companion and sufferer) from some there at that moment unloved Serbia (in fact, even today situation isn’t any better), tries to find his happiness in Holland. Technology still isn’t so mature it’s easy to manage like today in unknown land, when you only need mobile and internet (or local wi-fi), so man manages in various ways.
And now that young man, who has no idea about job (logically, because he’s newbie), starts working at “KPN” and soon learns company will go through reorganization so by principle last in – first out, most likely already they’ll thank him for cooperation!?
But, somehow he survived that moment, and spent 10 years at “KPN” in various positions.
However, “200 Kilos” isn’t some that fancy and cool story how Bojan Leković just entered “KPN” and slammed fist and confidently roared “where are girls, Zdravko Čolić arrived” and immediately became director of some branch.
No, this is story about man who found himself in completely unknown environment, completely different people’s mentality with unique approach to work and communication (both internal and external) and tried to manage. A bit with luck’s help, a bit with other people’s support, but most with God’s help and his own effort and resourcefulness and learning on go.
We’ll see how Bojan didn’t exactly meet friendliest environment from start. He had to urgently learn Dutch as best and fast as he could to fit into environment, then tried during his work life at “KPN” to discover what he’s good at.
Bojan changed positions, expanded his knowledge (in a way we can say also “did everything” to better understand how one Dutch corporation functions… and also not to be left without job), and slowly started imposing himself and taking challenging tasks.
Through Bojan’s “adventures” we’ll discover how Dutch think (or thought), what’s their work ethic, business etiquette and what’s their, generally, way of thinking (mindset). We’ll see how those who were his superiors treated Bojan, but also those he was equal with.
But likewise we’ll see (through “KPN” network expansion and Bojan’s different positions) how business is conducted in other countries too (primarily Japanese and Korean companies’ contact was interesting to me).
And through all this, Bojan will lead us through technology development, mostly from mobile phones perspective, where we’ll see first signs of internet surfing and sending mails and pictures (iPhone was then still in development), and we’ll see Bojan participated in some projects that later became standard for today’s technology.
However, author will share how he often made lapses and reckless mistakes too (good part due to cultural difference), then “ironed” them out, but also how to balance between different people.
And we’ll see how author knew to get discouraged too, due to frequent feeling of uncertainty… both regarding job and regarding point of staying in Holland, so far from Serbia and family and friends.
As for his previous book, no technical prior knowledge needed. Author will explain in simple language what certain terms mean and what he dealt with, but your attention will be more directed at people author communicated with, as well as what was happening in technology field at beginning of 21st century.
Keep in mind, during his journey at “KPN,” his “KupujemProdajem” project appeared only in last years of his work life at this corporation, and even then was only interesting hobby project and “outlet” from everyday life.
Also, one interesting fact (and life circumstance). Though Bojan had quite successful career at “KPN,” he didn’t (as we often hear in various businessmen’s biographies) realize he wants to be his own man and entrepreneur. Circumstance brought him to that, I’d say. Because even after 10 years successful career at “KPN” corporation – he got fired. 😅
There’s one sentence that especially resonated with me (and I think will with many others too):
Around me I encounter people who fundamentally don’t believe in me. None of them actively thought about me. Well why would they. That’s my job after all.
There’s quite a lot of (painful) truth in this sentence. People will rarely know to assess you and your potential well (honor to exceptions who besides talent invest decades of their life/suffering to advance this precious skill… which I can understand, because I myself constantly work on perfecting it), and often they’ll tell you some things without deeper delving into that topic (“you’re not for that,” “if you thought you could, you’d already have become that” and similar). But likewise fact is others will rarely push you toward career advancement. We’re often deluded that some our boss or HR or manager or director will recognize our potential and talent and push us further and reward our effort (I believe some in these positions will rebel and say how they invest in recognizing talents. Allow me, without any arrogance, to immediately tell you – you don’t invest enough, neither yourself nor resources, don’t delude yourselves, because I’ve sufficiently studied companies and talked with people to notice how they’re deluded about this). Sometimes (unfortunately, very rarely) this will happen… but primarily we ourselves must invest effort and impose ourselves somewhere, grab… or simply seek happiness somewhere else.
Though it has solid 340 pages, “200 Kilos” reads incredibly easily and lightly, which is contributed (besides larger font) by simple writing style, and everything’s moreover packed into 27 chapters.
All in all, “200 Kilos” is one interesting story of one man about one period of one his career in one country and somehow it was expected he’d one day tell his adventures on one project… and yes, I managed to write “one” seven times in one sentence. 😁
Worth reading.
And you dear reader, do you have your own “200 kilos” story? 😊
