How to survive crisises running an IT company

By Max Itskovich - https://www.facebook.com/max.itskovich.9
Every business including IT passes through rises and falls. When it’s time to fall, the leader has two ways - either get afraid and “die” as business or to draw conclusions and find strength to bring a company into rising stage. My talk contains few technics to survive crisis and some motivation points for ones, who ready to panic.

Transcript

1. How to survive crisises, running an IT company
2. my past life ◎ ASP.Net developer for about 8 years ◎ giving lectures for 5 years ◎ earning more than I could spend ◎ had a dream of a sofa in my office
3. Stress 1. Starting a new business.
4. Stress 1. Starting a new business. ◎ Office: a small 19 sq meters room ◎ Two junior developers ◎ Partner, with no business experience ◎ Client: a government structure ◎ Project: a budget-funded ERP from scratch
5. Stress 2. Failing a new business.
6. Stress 2. Failing a new business. ◎ Client was imprisoned ◎ Founders were sued (~$80’000) ◎ I fell sick with pneumonia ◎ No new projects ◎ Did not want to loose a team
7. What helped me ◎ Sometimes you can’t control everything ◎ There always should be something that keeps you moving forward ◎ Personal efficiency trainings are a solution ◎ Speaking about my needs widely ◎ Whatever happens - happens for the best.
8. Stress 4. Starting a new business again.
9. Stress 4. Starting a new business again. ◎ Had to find a new partner. ◎ Merge actives - all mine is now ours. ◎ Share responsibility. ◎ First project manager. ◎ Here comes the market and the marketing.
10. No stress. Enjoy.
11. Stress 5. Losing all developers.
12. Stress 5. Losing all developers. ◎ Not enough salary. ◎ Not enough attention. ◎ Had to find new ones in panic. ◎ Had to increase the rate significantly. ◎ Had to understand who we actually are.
13. Lessons I’ve learned ◎ I am not as good as money. ◎ You always have to watch the market. (both sides) ◎ Keeping the employee is cheaper than finding a new one. ◎ New employees are a fresh blood. ◎ Nobody owes you a thing.
14. Stress 6. Growing a company.
15. Stress 6. Growing a company. ◎ Founders had no salary for months. ◎ Half of developers were out of projects. ◎ We were concentrated on improving delivery process. ◎ Had to arrange separate sales dept.
16. Stress 7. Losing a partner.
17. Stress 7. Losing a partner. ◎ We had no clear vision and different values. ◎ Lost half of employees in a year. ◎ New partner was not found. ◎ Not a coder any more, not an executive yet.
18. Lessons I’ve learned ◎ Alcohol is not an option. ◎ Family is an option. ◎ Consultants and coaches do really work. ◎ You need to have a clear vision. Written on a paper. ◎ Keep f*cking moving.
19. Stress 8. Decided to move forward.
20. Stress 8. Decided to move forward. ◎ Take decisions by myself. ◎ Feeling of loneliness. ◎ Having qualms all the time. ◎ Consult with competitors. ◎ Enjoy your struggling.
21. Lessons I’ve learned ◎ What doesn’t kill you - makes you stronger. ◎ Hire responsible / professional executives. ◎ Or learn by yourself and grow them. ◎ Invest into company. ◎ Strategy rocks. It helps your team moving
22. “ How to understand how good manager is? Watch him when he’s just about to die. “
23. Thnx! I AM Max Itskovich You can find me at: maxim@mobindustry.net