Blog posts collection on EYE exchange in Izmir, Turkey

In the following six personal stories you can have a closer look in my experience and utterly feel my mindset development. Indulging in my stories, will bring you from my decision to make such move to searching for inspiration to writing a short proposal that can inspire bettering of a small community.

- Vladimir Jovanovski

Contents The Die is Cast………………………………………………..…...1 On the road to knowledge……………............................................3 What’s your excuse?........................................................................5 Capturing the surge of inspiration……………………………..…..8

BLOG POSTS ON EYE EXCHANGE IN IZMIR, TURKEY *EYE – Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

Let's initiate the redefinition of the abandoned industrial buildings…………………………………………………………..11 Perseverance, the Element of Success……………………………14

As

The Die is Cast an opener to the upcoming weekly blog posts, I will use the chance to introduce myself to you dear readers. My name is Vladimir Jovanovski, I am coming from Macedonia and for the time being, I am located in Izmir, Turkey. Finding myself abroad and experiencing positive events in my life, were results of some negative consequences. Remember the Yin and Yang. Without further ado, let me tell you my story.

Last year around this time the humankind started to experience an event that had not affected us for a century. The subsequent events from economic to moral and ethic, to medical and human rights issues, tumbled upon us with a speed of light; thus, many of us experienced challenging moments of being caught between the hammer and the anvil. Numerous businesses stopped working, a few were improving due to their increased demand. And I as a freelancer was fairly resistant to the global changes. I required only two things to keep my job: my laptop and a stable internet connection. At least I thought like that. I, too, was not excepted from the jeopardies rushing towards us like a tsunami.

Soon enough lockdowns were introduced, long stays at home became daily life, and touring the rooms was considered physical activity. That’s where I did my mistake. I might have thought that my laptop’s charging cable is resistant too to the constant couch-chair excursions and the bends I was exposing it to. And then on one pleasantly sunny April’s day it cracked and gave up on I had to learn several carrying the electric currents. Acquiring a new one, was huge trouble since the shipping companies were other skills like designing, overwhelmed and were promising the delivery in at editing as well as least three weeks. Indeed, I got the new charger within collecting and dealing with their promised time, but for me, it meant losing a longterm client and being prevented to do translations. That content material; and on was the beginning of an end and a starting point of top of them to find a way to something else.

learn business management

When one door closes, another opens. I took this and build up an time to think about what I was engaged in the last several years, should I continue the same struggle or entrepreneurial spirit. start creating something on my own. I felt like it was the right time to embark on a more personal and engaging journey, to start my initiative, and work on and around it; hence, I would be able to be in control in times of unexpected developments. The ideas were pouring one by one, researching on my smartphone on the internet became my new daily routine, and I was committed to finding

something that will encircle all of my learned skills: history, art, writing, translating, a little knowledge of Turkish sign language, critical thinking. It was also a time when I took online courses about arts and philosophy in order to understand more about people’s ways of expression.

It did not take long until I came up with an idea to start publishing a digital magazine.

However, to start anything like that, I had to learn several other skills like designing, editing as well as collecting and dealing with content material; and on top of them to find a way to learn business management and build up an entrepreneurial spirit. Luckily, after constant search and countless clicks, I encountered an opportunity I was needing the most. That was the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) program, which is created in such a way that a person aspiring to start a company, will be supported to go abroad to work in a company operating in the same business sector, and learns the lacking skills firsthand. That possibility was a perfect match for my necessities and I set off to fulfill the program’s requirements.

The first one was to write a business plan, a totally new endeavor in my life. It was pretty demanding, but also quite an amusing process because I was learning new things while writing it.

I received great help from The National Centre for Development of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning (my Intermediary Office in Skopje), and the support from their side during the application process was immense. Afterward, I had to find a suitable Host Entrepreneur that will receive me, spend five months with them, and allow me to learn the skills I lack. The search was narrowed down to organizations that publish a digital magazine with content that they independently produce. It took a couple of days to make a list and I started to send e-mails with an aim to express my desire for improvement and learning.

Also, the fortune at this point was on my side and a representative of the Pi Youth Association send me a positive reply. Pretty soon we had an online meeting to exchange thoughts and opinions about possible cooperation, to hear how they work, what they would ask from me, and what should I expect after my commence. It was such a pleasure to communicate with them and to learn that they will host me because it made me feel that a bright light is on the horizon.

“It added a huge amount of optimism on the way towards achieving my aim, and after their acceptance to the program as a Host Entrepreneur, the path was cleared for further preparations.” One of them was writing a proper commitment plan together with Pi Youth Association, which included monthly activities dedicated to my learning process as well as to my active participation in enriching the magazine both in content and design. Hence, I believe I could not ask for anything better than that.

In a conclusion, I would like to state that as long as we keep our willingness to find solutions in the most difficult moments, we will encounter an opportunity that can bring us to the doorstep of a life-changing decision. Thereby, at this very moment, I made my decision and can say that the die is cast.

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On the road to knowledge

“One lives and learns.” they say; “Learning is a life-long process.” others utter; and then through it, we arrive at the motto “Knowledge is Power!”. Indeed, it is I would claim. ounding myself to constantly learn, to read that article, to delve into the depths of the unknown information helped me become a more resourceful and skillful person in various areas, from history and art to food and drinks, to translating and writing, to the newest one I am bound to achieve: learning entrepreneurship. Speaking of which, I am at its starting point.

It was wintertime when I commence my journey into this endeavor. And as the winter started progressing harshly in December, I was warming up my engines to speed up the absorption of the dynamic and vivid theoretical understanding of how to do business. Never have I ever thought I would have an idea to lead something, even though be it a small digital publication, a magazine that I have in my mind. Such a small idea brought me farther than a plane could do it. Just by clicks and types, I came across notions and perspectives that can reach thousands, if not millions of people. Having that in mind, I wrote my business plan and applied to the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) program supported by the European Commission. All things went through very smoothly, and soon after, I embarked on an entrepreneurial trip.

It included a good amount of communication with various actors in the process, which enabled me to enhance my relations-building skill. Also, starting a magazine called for finding a proper partner that can help me sink into the know-how of editing and publishing a magazine. Luckily, there were the people from Pi Youth Association with their punctual and effective work and communication. Within a couple of months, there was me in their nice offices already discussing the practical understanding of how to do business. And more to that, the city of Izmir is just the right pick for my intended plans. Just look at this motivational and inspirational statue right next to their office.

Photo 1. Statue of the 'Aegean association of young businessmen'

In the first month, I had very pleasurable walks around the city center and encountered great examples of young endeavors with modern, urban, and entrepreneurial approaches. Either be that the minimalistic design for a fish restaurant or the elaborate exterior of a coffee shop to associate with the richness of the coffee beans, it provides me an insight that ideas are viable and tenable as long as we work on them with passion and dedication.

Photo 2. Exterior designs of a fish restaurant and a coffee shop

Right in the first weeks, they provided me introductory talks for Canva, Photoshop, and Illustrator. We all know their complexity, especially for the latter two, but when one has a mentor willing to share the knowledge; then, the obstacles are surely annulled. The abundance of young people possessing enormous determination and ambition makes me feel secure and in high spirits that if we aim towards progress, progress is what we will achieve. As I already had my first attempts in the designing area, as part of the learning process here, I feel confident that I came to the right place to learn from the right people.

Furthermore, I had such a wonderful stroke of luck to arrive one month before the Pi Youth Association’s 7th anniversary. As its name suggests, we celebrated it on Saturday, 3.14, under a clear sky with tons of sunshine, and immense enthusiasm for the upcoming seven years as they are the initiator of the new project called Network of Local Youth Associations. That is a large endeavor. It will strive to carry the everlasting need for better and stronger policies toward the youth. I wish them great success!

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What’s your excuse?

“You have already learned from the river that it is good to strive downwards, to sink, to seek the depths.” ― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha hat is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word entrepreneurship? In my opinion, it can be defined as an activity through which one aspires to find a new way or method to sell certain products and/or services. These ideas do not necessarily have to be freshly devised or never-seen-before inventions.

Looking back over my own previous efforts, I remember being in my hometown and buying a couple of old cameras that used 35mm film (e.g. Zenit), bringing them to Istanbul or Berlin, and selling them on for double the price. I had not invented anything new at all. Probably, the fact that I was into film photography was enough; I knew that its popularity was increasing day by day, and it just clicked in my mind that I could carry out some trade. And that little bit of trade supplied me with enough money to keep up my favorite hobby.

At this very moment, I understand what I did back then. I engaged in something I did not have any theoretical knowledge of. Right now, however, I am aware that I am doing it. As I am currently in Izmir, with the EYE program, I realize that doing business is not out of reach; it only calls for one to be dynamic and have an interest in people’s current purchasing habits, or ongoing trends. Thus, I said to myself ‘Let’s explore and see what the Izmirians are trying to achieve, invent, offer and use to make their community unique.’ It was a huge surprise, not only to me but also to the local people working with me. Look at this enchanting part of Darağaç neighborhood; formerly an industrial region, but now a hub of small custom and classic car repair shops and artistic workshops. Indeed, their call for “Engagement with the neighborhood through art and design” is thought-provoking; so, we went there to check it out firsthand.

Photo 1. You cannot miss this car repair shop with custom-made solutions

These people, the car mechanics and local artists (painters, DJs, sculptors), came together to reorganize the area and polish it into an attractive and unmissable spot for those who want to strive for a better community. Their activity inevitably provoked the well-known fresh fruit street vendors to move through the narrow streets and supply fuel for the entrepreneurs’ incessant brains. Likewise, on every corner, we saw tea shops and bakeries, two indispensable elements of Turkish daily life.

Photo 2: Who can say ‘No’ to this colorful juiciness?

However, it is easier said than done. In the background, there is a great amount of sacrifice, struggle, sleepless nights, and times people nearly give up. While writing my business plan, I too experienced a particular problem that could have caused me to give up. As I could not calculate the break-even point of my planned magazine’s sales forecasts, the struggle was enormous and lasted almost three weeks. The problem lay in the fact that my magazine would be digital, thus will not be subject to the costs associated with printing. But I was uncompromising and decided to strive forwards, to delve into the depths of the internet, to reach the solution.

And it was for good reason since I found an academic paper that solved my problem, which was about to be my reason to quit. It came from a university professor Josko Lozic and his work “Zero marginal cost in magazine industry-Changing of cost paradigm in 'new' magazine industry”, published just a few months before I started writing my business plan.

Photo 3. Invent your own journey Let me conclude briefly by telling you to dream and plan at the same time, to venture out into the unknown, however painful, scary, or tiring it may be. Then and only then you will learn how to compete and complete, then and only then you will grow to be unfrightened.

What’s your excuse not to?

P.S. Depeche Mode’s song ‘Dream on’ came into my mind, especially these verses: There’s no time for hesitating Pain is ready, pain is waiting Primed to do its educating.

Capturing the surge of inspiration

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ince the beginning of humanity, one’s inner-self is doubtlessly aware of one thing: production. One would usually associate it with producing physical goods such as food, furniture, phones, cars, bottles, and so on and so forth.

Yet, production is not only what our hands manufacture with raw labor, but also the mental labor of our brains that ceaselessly work day and night, and sometimes even against our will. Thus, since we can all relate to this bustle, all of us possess the required power for productivity, which is inspiration.

Ever since I arrived in Izmir to do my EYE exchange, almost every local person has told me to visit the small artsy and dynamic settlement called Urla. Receiving such a suggestion nearly every other day, and after researching what to do and see there on the internet, I, along with a group of youngsters, set out to make the little discovery. For a long while, I have not been excited about “going off the beaten track” within one city’s limits. You might assume: “Yes, I know, it’s because of the corona pandemic.”; but that was not the reason, I kind of lost the inspiration to engage in new discoveries.

This time my mind was in a completely different state as I was not looking to find a burst of creativity in a literary, musical, or visual endeavor; but in an entrepreneurial one. I have been told that the community there bursts at the seams with upcoming entrepreneurs seeking success in various sectors, from hospitality to handicraft, from arts to organic food production.

I believe it is needless to emphasize how important inspiration is in our lives and in virtually everything we work on and create. Walking along Urla’s main street, Sanat Sokağı, allowed me to dive into new entrepreneurs’ gigantic attempts to establish fresh and sophisticated approaches to commerce; employing not only business knowledge but in some cases also comprehension of whether be it linguistics or traditional crafts or bringing back to life the neglected lokanta (Turkish style eatery).

Since I have a BA in Turkish Language and Literature, I was quite amazed at how elegantly the owner of a small bookshop incorporated the name of the city Urla into the word huzurla (meaning peacefully). It is spot-on and a real eye-catcher for every bookworm as well as a compelling marketing trick to attract customers. Choosing simplicity (two colors and a concise question: "Would you read a book with me?") over some elaborated facade shows us that we need to move towards more straightforward messages and ideas; thus giving us more time and space to work on our creativity.

Taking care of our ancestors’ works and heritage, and also keeping them alive, is a way to build sustainable development. Having in mind that items with historical values and reflections from the past will always delight human brains, producing and offering them to the entire world, in my opinion, is a future-proof endeavor. I bet it comes with a lot of hard work and countless instances of trial and error; however, if every job came easily to us, the post-modern proverb: “It takes 6 months to build a Rolls-Royce and just 13 hours to build a Toyota.” would not be circulating throughout the internet.

And what else could be more satisfactory to human eyes and especially bellies if not a pleasant setting for enjoying delicious national or traditional meals washed down with locally produced drinks? The idea of opening a restaurant which name carries the word lokanta, naturally associated with an eatery that serves homemade-style dishes, is indeed a huge step of bravery.

Preserving our own styles and practices is something that we will need in the future because as much as globalization can present us with new opportunities, at the same time it has the capacity to obliterate the less prominent cultural elements.

That was one brisk visit to artsy little Urla, a place full of hedonism. It was short and effective because in a matter of a few hours I was stimulated to think much more profoundly and in detail about my future ventures. I benefited from seeing the amalgamation of various perspectives when starting a business, and most importantly inspired myself by understanding that simplicity is the way forward.

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Let's initiate the redefinition of the abandoned industrial buildings rganizing and shaping a city are closely related to industry and its development. City planners that govern urban development leave lasting signs on its appearance and physical structure. However, due to the increasing population and decreasing space, every city struggles with its abandoned industrial complexes. People usually see the negative points of these structures, but allow me to examine the positives, and see how they can be put to good use.

Adapting the huge abandoned concrete building in the Hilal area of Izmir could open up the possibility of a better quality of life for many. Similar examples from across the globe so far have proven to be selfish and oriented exclusively towards the profit of small groups of individuals. Some people may envisage new apartment buildings built on the land, which would mean seizing the space and erasing the identity of this historic building, which is part of the collective memory of its citizens. It was thanks to this building that a certain economic sector had developed in Izmir. It is time for a real change.

Since this is not a desirable outcome, why not consider a far more promising and advanced alternative: firstly, to put a moratorium on the plot of land, to protect the building as a piece of cultural-industrial heritage, and then the remarkable construction of the building could be completely renovated into a student city, equipped with meeting rooms, lecture rooms, reading rooms, theatres, yoga and fitness studios, spaces for kitchens where food from all around the world could be prepared, production machine workshops and artisanal squares, co-working spaces, dormitories for young people from other Turkish cities or abroad, imagine a kindergarten on the roof or inline speed skating, and literally everything else that young people (and all other generations) need to thrive in a city. Above all, this student city would aim to act in order to promote the cultural integrity of Izmir and would serve as a hub for its further development with possible influences from the expat community of freelancers. This role can be fulfilled by rescuing the building in Hilal.

Anyone who cares about this issue will have already noticed that except in restaurants, parks, and the seaside, people who are usually in groups do not interact with each other. Let's give a free and open space, a hub of urban culture, and non-formal education to young people from all communities. This could be a connective link that would promote bonds between all communities.

Appropriating abandoned city buildings that are the metropolitan and cultural heritage of every city, bringing them back to life instead of demolishing, is also a way towards a circular economy; hence we should not necessarily believe that new is better than old.

With such an approach, the city would be brought closer to its citizens, and the people would show an urge to contribute their opinions and partake in designing their own surroundings.

Moreover, their appreciation of the protection of the city and its environmental and commercial improvement will rise. The postulates of circular economy and direct democracy, which admire

environmentally-friendly solutions, sustainable economies, and direct commitment of citizens in the decision-making processes concerning living areas, are the principles we need for a reliable future.

The reuse of buildings from the industrialization period is an established European practice, so if this project were to be realized, I believe that it would prove the progressive nature of the city, improve the tourist capacity, and encourage Izmir as a city that strives to accept freelancers in large numbers. All this could also build towards the integration processes of the city and its surrounding community, which, obviously, require serious efforts to improve the quality of life.

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Perseverance, the Element of Success umerous people feel disappointed in life when they do not achieve their goals. Others make sacrifices and insistently strive to reach their aims.

Mondays may not be your favorite day but your requirements and resoluteness can drag you out of bed early in the morning to prepare for work. Our willpower and passion help us to rise above obstacles that may hinder us from attaining our goals.

Finding the driving force that will bring us closer to our dream objective requires daily struggle and planning. We can spot such endeavors everywhere around us; all those small stores and vendors are exemplifying perseverance over and over again to provide for themselves and their families. It is a universal rule that if we want to accomplish something, we must start small, then progress and grow our ambition. If we take a look at the most successful companies in the world, we see that they started with a limited amount of money and generally from their basements or bedrooms. It is their steady determination, paired with persistence that set them apart on the way to success.

Making the right moves demands the right amount of research and planning, which as a result requires our endurance. And maintaining that endurance will lead us to the perseverance we need to carry out our actions without taking on discouragement, opposition, or previous failure. I, too, while on Thursdays’ photo walks, am encountering pertinent examples of such perseverance. Once, when visiting the Bornova flea market, it became immensely clear to me that operating one's own enterprise calls for well-considered steps and savvy investment. See the lady cooking her best gözleme (Turkish style savory pancake) on a rather modern station, which I believe did not exist when she started her profession some decades ago.

It impressed me greatly and showed me that in order to be a good business manager, one must continuously be aware of innovation and renew the tools needed for work. Hence, keeping up with the latest trends and technologies again demands us to stay on track and not lose our perseverance.

Going to places that usually stock and offer items from the past come together with divine moments of precious conversations with those who are more experienced. They are sources of knowledge, positivity, bits of advice, and, most importantly, they stand as proof of everlasting perseverance. For me, it was enough to catch this little moment of cross-generational conversation and to realize how important it is to listen to and respect those who persisted in their lives. For they know that: “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”

– Confucius

Regardless of their challenges, people aspire to become successful. Individuals who do not abandon their pursuits but find the strength to cope with their difficulties, eventually achieve their aims. It may seem unattainable until we work towards achieving it. The path to our objective can be rocky. However, we must not quit. Our target may be nearer than we think it is. Perseverance helps us on our rise to success.