How did you choose Bulgaria for a place of business?
Initially, we chose Bulgaria completely by chance but it turned out we were very lucky. I am really impressed with the skills of young Bulgarian people and their desire to learn and grow. This country is also a great place to get fresh vegetables, and the nature and fresh air make a lovely difference from the daily life in London.
How was the idea of the business born?
Anton and I met in London, and started working on a plan back in 2008. We had an idea about hacking the service industry, and creating a better service. Along the way we found that our passion was people development and growing ourselves as managers. Before First Online Solutions, I was developing products for British Telecom, and the online travel company Lastminute.com. Our idea was simple – to offer services that people love. Several years later, we manage one of the biggest IT companies not only in Varna but in the whole country.
What is the secret of your success?
Finding the right talent and people to work around you who share the values and the passion and have a desire to win. It’s also very important not to be a perfectionist in your work, as those people tend to never get anything done. One thing that is quite common in my culture is over-planning, and the combination with the Bulgarian desire to “just do it” makes for a dynamic and strong approach that gets instant results.
What are your future business development plans?
Our business will continue to grow. We already have branches in England, Australia and the US. We are also planning to expand and reach more European markets. We need more young and enthusiastic people who will help make this happen. We have a lot of projects and are always looking for aspiring leaders who can come onboard and grow with us. Even after 5 years, we still feel the company has only just begun and every day we have new ideas and projects that make it exciting and a great place to work.
How did you meet Rune?
This is an interesting story actually, and just like most business stories nowadays, it started with some social contacts. I met Rune at a dinner hosted by a mutual acquaintance with a large business network in London. After we spoke for a while we realised that I was working in a line of business Rune was expert in and possessed a level of knowledge I hadn't seen before. After several meetings I offered him to do business together. It has been over 6 successful years of happy memorable moments.
What is the company's greatest achievement so far?
We try to avoid saying how great and successful we are, and to say one achievement is more important than another. The size or achievements of the company do not speak of its spirit and values. I prefer to do things here and now without focusing too much on the future and the past. If every member of First Online Solutions is eager to develop and grow, and sees the customers, the company and the business as their own, that's a great achievement. Rather than having managers and employees who just do their job well, we want our staff to become real leaders who drive change and believe in their service.
What makes First Online Solutions different?
The attitude! I believe that if everyone in the company is happy, they will make our customers happy, too. Happy people perform better ! We are trying to prove that Bulgaria offers many great development opportunities to young people and when it comes to achievements and success, sky is the limit. I promise you that our staff's dedication and hard work measure up to those of people who work for powerful corporations!
What inspires you in your work?
When I see colleagues that want to learn, put everything they've learned into practice and are willing to help others grow, too. It is a pleasure to see the next generation of great managers, leaders, business owners, and even politicians grow and shape up before my very eyes. We are just the first step for all these young people and if we succeed to prepare them for the real life and business, I won't worry about the company, the country, the world - while they are part of our team! What else does one need?
