Making. Change. Happen. - Ilja Grzeskowitz

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and leadership development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ilja Grzeskowitz, a keynote speaker, bestselling author, and change expert based in Berlin, Germany.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I help companies to develop a culture of change, to adjust their mindset to the challenges of the future, and be successful as a team.

Over the last years, I have published 12 books that have been translated into dozens of languages worldwide (among them German, English, Chinese, Czech, Polish, and Lithuanian), and three of them have become bestsellers.

I have the privilege of being invited as a keynote speaker all around the world and already spoke on five different continents. Among my clients are big global brands as well as traditional middle-sized companies.

Tell us about yourself

In my old life, I used to work as a store manager for Germany's largest department store corporation as well as for IKEA. From the outside, I was pretty successful. But deep inside, I was frustrated and unhappy because I had the burning desire to live a self-determined life. And I knew that in order to do that, I needed to start my own business. So in 2009, I quit my secure job as an executive manager and started over from scratch. With no clients, no network, and nothing but a huge dream in my head.

You have no idea how much criticism I had to face because 99.9% of my friends and colleagues didn't understand this decision. At least once a day, one of them reminded me: "Ilja, how can you throw away your great career for this crazy idea? We all agree that this was stupid, and we predict that your company won't last longer than a few weeks!" I tried the best I could to ignore all the surrounding naysayers, but the start was tough indeed.

I vividly remember giving my first workshop in front of only three people in a youth hostel in Berlin, and two of them were friends of mine who I'd invited for free. Every night I couldn't sleep because I worried so much if I would financially survive another day. But instead of giving up, I chose to grab the future by the horns and actively shape my future. I developed a business plan, defined my core values, and made sure that they became the north star for every decision I had to make.

Today I have a great team at my side. Most of the big international brands are on my client list, and in March 2019, we celebrated our tenth business anniversary. Take that, my naysayer friends!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I built my whole business from scratch with just a big dream and financial reserves for a few months. When I look back, then I realise that I was never the smartest, the most innovative, or creative entrepreneur. But I was always willing to do the work. That led to quite a few awards, bestselling books, and outstanding speaking gigs on the way. And I know that I only achieved all of my business successes because I was willing to outwork my competition.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

For me, it's definitely the area of well-being and mental hygiene. I always have so many ideas in my head that I find it hard to take breaks, spend the weekend with something non-work-related, or go on holiday. But I know how important these times are. Because they help me to recharge my batteries, develop new ideas, and to get inspiration for my content. So a few years ago, I started to intentionally block dates in my calendar that I only use for "me-time." A real game changer for my role as an entrepreneur and for my business as a whole.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Have clarity on why you want to start the business. Not having a purpose won't last very long.
2. Define your core values. The ones that are important to you. And then live them every single day of your life.
3. Be willing to do the work. Because if you don't do it, nobody else will do it for you.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.grzeskowitz.de/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iljagee/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iljagee
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iljagee/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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