Developing Solutions for Your Problems Helps Others and Your Career with Kristijan Ristovski
IT Career Energizer
Introduction
The guest shares their journey of creating Sizzi.co, a browser for designers and developers, including its evolution, decision to monetize it, and efforts towards enhancing user experience.
Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Kristijan Ristovski who is also known as Kitze. He is a developer and the founder of React Academy where he teaches React and Graph QL around the world.
He also launched ok-Google and more recently sizzy.co, which is a browser for designers and developers. And he’s now in the process of documenting his journey on YouTube.
In this episode, Phil and Kristijan Ristovski discuss how solving problems you have helps others, stretches you as a developer and gets you known, in the industry. They talk about how easy it is to launch side projects and how to take advantage of this fact.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
(4.51) TOP CAREER TIP
Solve your own problems. Usually, you are not the only person with that problem, so, coming up with a solution helps others as well as you. Plus, it is a great way to learn and stretch yourself.
Sharing what you create is a great way to get known.
Kristijan has taken this approach and has ended up developing two marketable and highly successful resources. The problem you solve does not necessarily have to be huge. It is the little issues that annoy people the most.
(6.17) WORST CAREER MOMENT
While in college, Kristijan created a fun news portal for Macedonia. It became the 5th biggest Macedonian website.
The site could have been huge and much more profitable had he invested some of the cash he made into running ads and marketed it properly. Instead, he blew most of the profit on having fun, while at college. Understandably, Kristijan regrets doing that.
(10.06) CAREER HIGHLIGHT
Sizzy.co, the developer’s browser, is Kristijan’s biggest success, so far. It has really taken off despite the fact that he is not yet heavily marketing it. Currently, there are 4 or 5 investment companies interested in investing.
(11.48) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T
The fact that things are getting easier is really exciting. You can get a huge amount done. So much so that launching side projects is a viable option for every developer.
Right now, Kristijan is working on 20 ideas in parallel, something that would have been impossible just a few years ago. Machine learning and AI mean pretty soon anything will be possible.
(14.41) THE REVEAL
What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – From childhood, Kristijan was enthralled by all things computer-related.
What’s the best career advice you received? – Don’t wait until tomorrow to get started. Work on your ideas now. After all, at any point, you could have an accident and find yourself unable to work.
What’s the worst career advice you received? – A friend once told him not to publish a conference summary article, he wrote. He did anyway and it proved to be very popular.
What would you do if you started your career now? – Skip college and focus on self-education.
What are your current career objectives? – Kristijan is currently building a bigger team.
What’s your number one non-technical skill? – The ability to inject a bit of humour into most things. It makes serious, heavy subjects more accessible and easier to digest.
How do you keep your own career energized? – Kristijan only works on things that he loves, which helps to keep him energised.
What do you do away from technology? – Kristijan is trying to get to the gym 6 times a week. He is working at spending more time away from technology, so is learning to play the guitar.
BEST MOMENTS
(5.00) – Kristijan - “Solve your own problems; others will have the same issue. Providing a solution will boost your career.”
(13.18) – Kristijan - “In a weekend, you can sit down and turn any idea that you have into a launch. So, why not just do it?”
(15.56) – Kristijan - “Don’t wait, create and invest in your future now, while you still can.”
(18.02) – Kristijan - “Spend time on self-learning. You can learn most things using online courses.”
(18.56) – Kristijan - “Build a team. You really can’t do everything on your own.”
ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS
Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations to design, develop and implement software solutions. Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers. And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.
CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS
Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess
Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer
Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer
Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact
Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com
Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer
ABOUT THE GUEST – Kristijan Ristovski
Kristijan Ristovski who is also known as Kitze is a developer and the founder of React Academy where he teaches React and Graph QL around the world.
He also launched ok-Google and more recently sizzy.co, which is a browser for designers and developers. And he’s now in the process of documenting his journey on YouTube.
CONTACT THE GUEST – Kristijan Ristovski
Kristijan Ristovski can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thekitze
Github: https://github.com/kitze
Personal Website: https://kitze.io
Business Website: https://www.reactacademy.io/
Sizzy: https://sizzy.co/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/kitze
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