Entrepreneur’s Life
“I’ve long noticed that successful people rarely sit around waiting for things to happen to them. They go out and happen to things” – Leonardo da Vinci
“Vega IT” has been in my field of vision for quite a long time now… not literal, but figurative (because they don’t have office in Belgrade… shame… or not? 😁). [Little review update: is there greater irony than when person who prides themselves on thoroughly researching every company makes oversight, i.e., successfully forgets some information… company has office in Belgrade too, i.e., New Belgrade (and for irony to be greater, I often pass by them… 😅)]
So, joke aside, company was interesting to me because, from this distance (for God’s sake, like I’m observing them from Tokyo, not from New Belgrade…), it seems like firm that, at first glance, didn’t “make waves” much nor expose itself… somehow, they worked, grew and, there, reached level of becoming real corporation opening offices around world.
But here I won’t analyze company nor opinions of employees or external partners.
I’ll deal with its founder, Saša Popović, i.e., his book “Entrepreneur’s Life.”
I wouldn’t deal much with author’s career, for that his LinkedIn profile is at your disposal. Enough to say he’s CEO and one of founders of company “Vega IT” from Novi Sad and company exists for more than 15 years (which isn’t small thing for one company from Serbia) and employs more than 800 people.
Book is, roughly speaking, divided into two parts:
- First part has 15 chapters, where author touches on various topics/thoughts about company, and himself. How author sees happiness, sales, preparation for bad periods, learning from others, leadership, investments, crisis periods, organizational culture, (un)success, business meaning and many other topics…
- Second (smaller) part of book consists of several atypical chapters, where author’s even stronger personal note is felt on topic of his beginning, thoughts about future and similar…
Good thing when IT person writes book is they approach it like programming – however much emotion they put into work, product has some “neutral” energy and note. Bad thing is there’s risk they’ll write book only IT people will understand and will have specific humor (which, again, only IT people will understand). I know, I know, I’m terrible with such statement. 😁
Luckily, Saša Popović didn’t fall into that trap with book “Entrepreneur’s Life.”
What did I mean in previous paragraph?
When people write (auto)biographical stories about their life (and career), there’s big risk book crosses into “subtle” praises of their success or goes into pathos and self-pity à la “me against world” and avoiding writing about failures. Reading various (auto)biographies somehow most effectively written is one where you get impression author does retrospective of their life like watching film and becomes (mildly) objective, then through writing gradually weaves mild warmth/coldness of their emotions and attitudes, just enough to “spice” book and enable reader to more easily connect with author.
In end such style turned out for book “Entrepreneur’s Life.” You have feeling like you sat with Saša at some informal meeting in, e.g., “Lazin salaš” and over, e.g., Laza’s letter, turkey with mlinci or leg in horseradish sauce with kajmak (what did you think, that Belgraders don’t know what good eating is in Novi Sad? 😁), decided to chat in more relaxed atmosphere about various topics, from running business to functioning of certain elements in company itself.
If you didn’t understand anything from previously written… book reads easily and quickly because it’s written in simple language, and you don’t need any IT (prior)knowledge at all to read it, because this isn’t story about some IT person and IT company, but life story of one IT person and one IT company (“Ah how I love when you write thought so poetically, I immediately must drink probiotic” – note from subconscious).
You know how, until you personally meet someone, chat with them and “read” person (and between lines) or spend some time in company, you can’t form precise opinion… except a bit based on insider information. Objectively observing what’s written in this book, you get impression Saša Popović has mature and advanced (though I’d simply say, logical) view when it comes to company and employee development. Whether it’s truly so or not, founder and his employees know best. But it’s undeniable that what’s written in book is how one company and its employees should wisely and gradually develop.
Author will touch on his mistakes he made in running company, as well as learned lessons.
Also, in one part of book couple photographs from company “life” and some events are inserted.
What are very nice details about book “Entrepreneur’s Life”? First, that book is for everyone. If you’re thinking about entrepreneurship or became one or you’re simply interested in what all one entrepreneur must (or at least should) think about, book is for you. Likewise book can pass as nice (business) gift (book is quality done from “physical” aspect, so to speak… moreover you get signed copy). And what’s perhaps most important, entire income from each purchased book goes to “Vega IT Foundation” which provides scholarships to talented youth through studies and on path to first employment, which isn’t small thing.
Way book is written gives space for sequels, i.e., author could deal with many more (untold) topics in future that make up entrepreneur’s life. And can also open blog page and occasionally share his thoughts there… or at least occasionally on LinkedIn profile. 😁
All in all, if you’re looking for bit of inspiration for your future or to get to know better challenges in running one company, “Entrepreneur’s Life” could be interesting reading for you.
So… recommendation. 😊
And if you’re interested how one chapter from book is written, here’s link for you.
And you, dear reader, how familiar are you with entrepreneur’s life? 😊
“Vega IT” company website
Foundation website
Book price: Vega IT Foundation | Delfi | Vulkan
