Patrick Bazalaki is an experienced entrepreneur with many talents. He founded Patrick Bazalaki IT Services, a company that provides high-quality technical services in all areas of the software development lifecycle, from requirements gathering to production support.
Patrick’s experience in the field of Information Technology spans years, during which he has worked in software development, Quality Assurance, and management. Patrick is skilled in developing, automating, and testing software. He has proven his strong ability to evaluate applications and code in a logical manner. Patrick enjoys taking on new challenges and learning new technologies to stay on the cutting-edge.
With a strong belief in customer satisfaction, Patrick has earned himself a great reputation in the IT industry. He has a passion for delivering high-quality services and products that meet or exceed customer expectations. Patrick is also a strong advocate of teamwork and collaboration. He believes that working together towards a common goal is the key to success. His strong work ethic and dedication to quality have resulted in the successful delivery of many projects on time and within budget. He has a proven ability to work effectively with clients, team members, and management. Patrick is also a great mentor and teacher, sharing his knowledge and expertise with others in order to help them grow and be successful.
As an alumnus of the University of Northern Colorado, Patrick obtained a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Social Science. Five years later, Patrick graduated from the University of Denver with a Master of Science in Software Design and Programming. During his time in Denver, Patrick also authored “The Implementation of Automated Software Testing to Leverage Faster Market Software Releases in the Health Insurance Marketplace.”
The skills of Patrick Bazalaki go beyond technology, however. He is also a skilled auto mechanic and handyman who enjoys working on his cars and making improvements to his home in his spare time.
Whichever capacity in which Patrick is working, be it as an IT professional or pursuing his hobbies, he puts his whole self into his endeavors. Patrick Bazalaki is a man of many talents and a true force to be reckoned with in the business world.
Where did the idea for your career come from?
I have been working for a company as a software engineer for a while. With my master’s in software engineering and a passion for entrepreneurialism that couldn’t be satisfied by only working for an employer, I decided to start my own company in order to further hone my development skills.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
My typical day consists of developing software. This involves programming on the front end with Angular and the back end with Java. I also spend time networking with other people in my industries as well as other small business owners and entrepreneurs. For my business, I work with existing clients to fulfill their software development needs and consult with new clients.
How do you bring ideas to life?
First, I thoroughly research all aspects of my idea including existing technologies, competitors, methodologies, and the potentials for market growth. Then, I road map my plan for implementation and seek out the necessary tools for bringing my idea to life.
What’s one trend that excites you?
One trend that excites me is the emergence of self-driving vehicles. As an expert in automation, I find this trend to be particularly exhilarating because automation has the ability to improve rider safety.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I pride myself in my ability to pivot when I run into roadblocks. As a business owner, it is important to not get dissuaded by setbacks and to consistently find workarounds to problems that arise.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell the younger me to keep a small circle and dream big. One of the biggest regrets people have in life is failing to accomplish their goals. It is better to try and fail than to never try at all.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Working longer hours does not mean you get more done. It is better to work efficiently and have a healthy work-life balance than to put in long hours at the office.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I am constantly networking, even when I am doing things that are completely unrelated to my business. I have found that some of my best business opportunities arose from connections I made outside of the IT industry.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
I always put the customer first. Keeping customer satisfaction high has paid off tenfold for my business. When clients leave satisfied with the service I provided, they inevitably return for repeat business or refer another customer.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I consider my biggest failure to be my delay in launching my business. I dreamed of starting my own business for many years, but school, work, and life always seemed to get in the way of me forming my company and getting it off the ground. The pandemic and the birth of my daughter motivated me to finally launch my own company.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Data recovery for businesses is a must because data is one of the most important assets a business has, so data recovery firms are in high demand. A business idea is to start a data recovery firm.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
The best $100.00 I recently spent was on trim paint for my house. I am always looking for cost-effective ways to increase the value of my assets and painting my home’s interior trim was a quick and affordable way to make over my home.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
I rely on Github to store source code (CI/CD) and get ideas for building software.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
I recommend The $100 Startup: Reinvent The Way You Make A Living, Do What You Love, And Create A New Future. This book contains case-studies about self-made entrepreneurs who succeeded with just modest investments. The book is more than just a motivational guide, it shows exactly how to turn an idea into a successful business.
What is your favorite quote?
My favorite quote is, “Sometimes you have to take two 2 steps back to take 10 steps forward.” This quote is particularly relevant to entrepreneurs and small business owners who frequently hear “no” and experience setbacks and delays. It’s important to keep your eye on the ultimate goal and to not get dissuaded by unexpected obstacles.
Key Learnings:
- The best businesses face adversity. Entrepreneurs should not be discouraged by setbacks or hearing “no.”
- Always be open to networking opportunities, even when you are off the clock.
- Multiple streams of income are essential to financial freedom.
- Small investments and big ideas can turn into valuable assets
Steve (Stefan) Junge hails from Germany and helps with the day-to-day publishing of interviews on IdeaMensch. While he and Mario don’t share a favorite soccer club, their enthusiasm to help entrepreneurs is a shared passion.