No one is born with a business card that says ‘entrepreneur’. Most start somewhere else: in a classroom, an office, a bank, or a construction site. For a long time, people think they know where the limits of their path lie: between the first and second paycheck, annual leave, and Christmas bonuses. And then a turning point occurs that makes the idea of working for oneself no longer seem like madness, but rather the only logical option. At that moment, security ceases to be measured by income levels and begins to be gauged by how well someone manages their own life with quality, courage, and ingenuity.
The director of Argus Group and Famax Boris Sruk, who worked in corporations and government institutions before venturing into entrepreneurship, admits that security, working in large teams, and a sense of belonging are key advantages of such organizations.
– The security provided by large systems and working in large teams, along with a sense of belonging, is a key benefit. On the other hand, there is a limited degree of decision-making. In large systems, everyone is part of the organization, like a part of a mechanism. Entrepreneurship brings the freedom to make decisions, creativity, but also greater responsibility, uncertainty, and risk – claims Sruk.
For Sruk, this moment came without significant dissatisfaction. It was an internal signal that he was ready, combined with knowledge, experience, a network of acquaintances, and passion.
– Eight years ago, I had that moment where I had a choice – to go on my own or seek a new engagement in the system – and I thought: ‘If not now, when?’ To those considering a similar transition, I advise them not to think too much, but to try. Activity is very important. Opportunities do not wait; they are created – notes Sruk.
He transferred part of the order and planning into his entrepreneurial life. A work schedule, clear goals, and constant communication with the team became the backbone of the business.
Security vs. Personal Meaning
Ivana Urem Marohnić, the founder of the longest-standing artisanal bakery in Zagreb, Korice, describes the transitional moment after twelve years of working at A1 Croatia (then VIPnet).
– Security was no longer enough. I reached a point where I felt less and less meaning in what I was doing, and more and more recognized the emptiness of repeating the same patterns. It was not a great drama or a sudden cut, but a quiet decision that I wanted something of my own and tangible – emphasizes Urem Marohnić.
For her, the greatest advantage of entrepreneurship is the ability to shape the business according to her values, to choose collaborators, pace, and rules of the game. That sense of responsibility and freedom is invaluable, but with that freedom comes a constant mental involvement.
– Work does not stop when the bakery doors close. A lot of things constantly demand your attention and decisions. I have learned to cope with that, but it is the part of the job that consumes the most – she explains.
Structure as the Foundation of Freedom
The founder of Aircash, Hrvoje Ćosić, began his career in banking. After graduating from FER, he got a job in the treasury of a large bank and immersed himself in the world of ‘real finance’: managing balance sheets, interest rates, exchange rates, and the bank’s liquidity.
– It was a great experience, but also a significant accumulation of new knowledge in the field of finance, which allowed me to logically connect with my mathematical and technical foundational education – explains Ćosić.
In managing Aircash, he maintained a strict organization similar to that in banks.
– Although it is a technology company that constantly tries to innovate, Aircash has similarities with a banking structure: a clear organizational structure, hundreds of documented business processes, dozens of internal procedures. Key business decisions are made at the board level, which provides maximum security for our users’ funds – he emphasizes.
