Doing things differently as an it entrepreneur
- Author
- Effy Shkuri
- Published on:
- Published in:
- Playbook
The Five Lessons from Erik Vos
In this episode of our video podcast series, we explore entrepreneurship in the IT sector from a unique perspective with Erik Vos, an IT entrepreneur (behind Sparkly, RealConnections, and others) who isn’t afraid to do things differently. Erik shares his journey with us—from the transition from employee to entrepreneur to the life-changing experience that made him realize that life and entrepreneurship are full of risks but also full of opportunities. Here are five essential lessons from Erik Vos, focused on embracing change, pursuing passion, and daring to take risks.
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1. The Leap Car
Erik emphasizes the importance of taking risks and daring to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Although, looking back, he feels he took that step too late, his story illustrates the idea that it’s never too late to start a business. The joy and satisfaction that entrepreneurship brings outweigh the security of a steady job.
2. Every Day Is a Gift
A near-fatal cardiac arrest radically changed Erik’s outlook on life and entrepreneurship. This experience taught him that every day is a gift and that there is no room for doubt in the life of an entrepreneur. His advice: live every day as if it were your last, and make decisions with confidence and conviction.
3. Entrepreneurship Is About Making Decisions
According to Erik, entrepreneurship is synonymous with decision-making. The ability to make decisions quickly and with conviction is what sets an entrepreneur apart. This applies both to launching new projects and to having the courage to discontinue projects that do not yield the desired results. It’s about learning from both successes and failures.
4. The Value of Diversity
Erik shares an important lesson about the importance of diversity within a team. He acknowledges that he started hiring women at his IT company too late, and emphasizes how diversity can lead to better balance, team dynamics, and communication within a team.
5. Work-Life Balance
Finally, Erik talks about the balance between work and personal life. Despite his ability to be “always on” for his businesses, he emphasizes the importance of being able to “switch off” and enjoy moments outside of work. It’s about having a switch that you can consciously flip so that you can be fully present in the moment, whether it’s work or personal life.
Erik Vos shows us that entrepreneurship isn’t just about pursuing business success, but also about finding deeper fulfillment in work and life. His story inspires us to take risks, make quick decisions, and live each day to the fullest. One sentence: A unique playbook for the entrepreneur.
Effy Shkuri
"Our people make the difference." Really? As a former "digital workplace & IT entrepreneur," I've said this for years about my 25 colleagues. But the reality is we were only considered thought leaders by 5% of our target audience. Even today, this remains a common statement from MSPs and IT service providers. But these words lose their meaning if your expertise does not extend beyond your existing customers and a handful of prospects. I now help IT entrepreneurs with thought leadership in their niche.