Perhaps this is not exactly the type of book that you are looking for, but One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest has a lot of important messages that entrepreneurs can apply in their endeavors.
Gaming industry veteran Joe Olujic has years of experience working in executive-level roles, having served as chief operating officer and assistant general manager of finance during his 15-plus years in the industry. Mr. Olujic has overseen the development and expansion of several companies, most notably spearheading an organization’s foray into the hospitality industry after years of consistent growth in the gaming industry.
A driven executive, Mr. Olujic is known for his approach toward all manner of business endeavors, with employees often reporting greater levels of job satisfaction and productivity under his watch. While serving in executive-level roles, Mr. Olujic has garnered a reputation for stimulating significant profit growth among several different organizations within the gaming industry and has successfully expanded the client base of these organizations.
Mr. Olujic is known as a worker who frequently attempts to inspire those around him with his work ethic. .
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
We generate various reports on a daily basis, so I usually spend the first part of my morning going over those reports and discussing them with the relevant personnel. I usually have meetings scheduled for the late-morning, and the afternoons are typically reserved for as much in-person oversight as my schedule allows on a given day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I have worked very hard to create an atmosphere that is conducive to the creation and acceptance of new ideas, and I constantly ask everyone I come into contact with on any given business day what they think of an idea that I have had or that someone else has presented to me. We exchange and debate the merits of the idea and try to find ways to make those ideas beneficial to the company in one way or another.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
I am very pleased that a lot of other businesses have taken our lead with regard to service. We have always made a point to try to separate ourselves from the competition by offering superior service, and now that other businesses are trying to meet our level of customer service, the customer is the one who benefits the most.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I spend a great deal of time on preparation, so when it comes time to put a project into action I always feel quite confident that it will be successful. It is just a matter of doing your due diligence and then simply executing the plan you have created.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I was taught from a very young age that there is no job that is a bad job. I have valued every work opportunity and have worked exceptionally hard no matter my duties or compensation.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I am very happy with the way things have worked out, so not a thing.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I am a big proponent of collaboration, so I try to engage someone in an exchange of ideas as often as possible.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
We decided very early on that we wanted to gain a foothold in the hospitality industry and the gaming industry, so we laid the groundwork for both when we first entered the initial planning stages. I had some previous experience with this, so it was a very simple strategy to employ in this endeavor.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I have been very fortunate that I have not had an experience that you could honestly refer to as a failure. I have certainly had my share of bad ideas, but I have always made it a priority of mine to be constantly surrounded by a group of intelligent and honest people who help me filter out those bad ideas before we ever come close to putting them into practice.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I have always been very passionate about the ideas I have personally come up with, so I would say that it is best to pursue an idea of your own making rather than one someone else has given you.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I have an employee who has been a mainstay of our team and has always worked exceptionally hard, so I paid for a night out for him and his wife. It was money well spent.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
We rely on a great deal of data every single day, and the analytics department is able to identify the important data points that I need to be aware of on any given day. I love that our analytics team is able to analyze those numbers so quickly so that I can act on new information in an efficient manner.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Perhaps this is not exactly the type of book that you are looking for, but One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest has a lot of important messages that entrepreneurs can apply in their endeavors. Of particular importance is the notion that it is vital to commit to something you believe in wholeheartedly.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
Billy Mills has always served as a source of inspiration, especially because of what he did after he achieved success.
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Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.