My first and cautious steps in business was in 2002. I had been writing as voluntary journalist about the Balkans, after I had a great time in the 1990’s in Bulgaria. So I took a course in freelancing. The theory was perfect, but practice much harder.
My family has mixed experiences in business. My sister runs since many years a small but successfull restaurant. An uncle worked many years for a major bank. He was travel and business advisor, but was always an employee. Another uncle was farmer and would-be businessman.
My father worked many years in a metal factory, my mother was a house wife. We did not have much money, but it was nice and cosy at home.
My grand dad on my mother’s side was a special guy. He was a small businessman, but he was very good. He just loved the trading business. He perfectly knew his client’s strong and weak points.
A good male friend was in the 1990’s health consultant in South America and in the Middle East. Another female friend lived and worked a couple of years with her husband for Shell in Africa. At that time I discovered Eastern Europe. I loved to share my stories with them. I had next to no money but did have a spirit for travel and adventure. I helped the male friend in his starting new business and sold an old map to a museum in Lithuania.
I started in 2020 as writer and drawist but that was not successfull. I wanted and expected overnight result. That was not possible.
In 2025 was an unexpected turning point. I was middle aged, got stuck in just another office job and recovered from the divorce of my Ukrainian wife. She and I spoke Russian.
I had no kids, but did have some money. Travels to California and Brazil and across Western Europe were inspiring and opened new horizons.
After I had discovered Eastern Europe in the 1990’s and 2000’s I was ready to face the rest of the world.