"In tech, quick solution implementation drives growth, while understanding customer needs creates indispensable products."
Welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview with Alex Gurkin, a visionary entrepreneur whose pioneering work in technology and healthcare has led to the creation of Friday CRM.
In this captivating discussion, we embark on a journey through Gurkin’s remarkable career, exploring the intersection of these two dynamic industries and the transformative impact of his brainchild, Friday CRM.
Gurkin’s journey is one of inspiration and innovation, driven by a passion for crafting solutions that seamlessly blend technology and healthcare. With Friday CRM, he has redefined the landscape of customer relationship management, offering businesses a platform that prioritizes simplicity, efficiency, and user-friendliness.
By seamlessly integrating with Google Services, Friday CRM has become an indispensable tool for organizations striving to optimize their CRM capabilities and enhance their operational efficiency.
Throughout this exclusive interview, Gurkin offers profound insights into his entrepreneurial journey, from the initial spark of inspiration to the challenges and triumphs of bringing Friday CRM to fruition.
Join us as we delve into the mind of Alex Gurkin and uncover the secrets behind his success, as well as his vision for the future of technology and healthcare integration.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Alex Gurkin: My work in technology and healthcare has inspired me to create solutions that seamlessly blend these sectors. Friday CRM, my brainchild, is designed for simplicity and efficiency.
Its smooth integration with Google Services and focus on user-friendliness make it a vital tool for businesses aiming to improve their CRM capabilities.
Quiet quitting, The Great Resignation, are an ongoing trend causing many businesses to struggle to keep talent engaged and motivated. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued, and misunderstood in the workplace. In your experience, what keeps employees happy? And how are you adapting to the current shift we see?
Alex Gurkin: In tackling challenges like quiet quitting and The Great Resignation, I believe in the power of feeling valued and heard. My approach involves transparent communication, acknowledging achievements, and offering growth opportunities to keep our team engaged and motivated.
We’re committed to creating a culture that values feedback and work-life balance. It’s crucial that every team member feels genuinely supported, fostering a trusting and positive work atmosphere.
Regular surveys, meetings, and open channels allow for open expression, making each employee feel involved and significant to our company’s journey. This method not only boosts satisfaction but also drives innovation and a dynamic work environment.
Here is a two-fold question: What is the book that influenced you the most and how? Please share some life lessons you learned. Now what book have you gifted the most and why?
Alex Gurkin: Eric Ries’ ‘The Lean Startup’ was a total game-changer for how I approach business. It really drove home the importance of being nimble and tuning in to what my users actually want.
The book taught me humility and adaptability in a major way, steering me away from assumptions and towards genuine customer insights. As for Cal Newport’s ‘Deep Work,’ it’s my go-to gift for anyone looking to thrive despite distraction.
It’s a beacon of light for those seeking laser-like focus and success amid the constant noise of modern life. When I’m writing, I often make references to all kinds of influential books that have shaped my thinking.
These works don’t just inspire me, but they also contain valuable insights worth digging into. By citing these references, I want to point readers towards a deeper understanding and encourage them to check out these meaningful sources of knowledge and inspiration.
Christopher Hitchens, an American journalist, is quoted as saying that “everyone has a book in them” Have you written a book? If so, please share with us details about it. If you haven’t, what book would you like to write and how would you like it to benefit the readers?
Alex Gurkin: Reflecting on Christopher Hitchens’ insight, I’ve authored several books, with ‘Develop Alone’ being a standout. This book mirrors my tech journey, exploring the challenges and triumphs of independent development.
It’s both a personal narrative and a guide for those embarking on solo tech ventures.
Writing ‘Develop Alone’ was like managing a complex project. I tackled it in small, manageable parts, focusing on paragraphs or even sentences to keep progressing.
As a tech expert, I harnessed digital tools for effective organization and progress tracking. Mind mapping software was key in structuring my thoughts, while project management tools helped me meet deadlines. Community feedback was invaluable.
By sharing excerpts online, I gained crucial insights, refining my ideas to ensure the book resonated with readers and offered practical advice for the tech industry.
In your experience, what tends to be the most underestimated part of running a company? Can you share an example?
Alex Gurkin: In SaaS, a key overlooked aspect is deeply understanding customer interactions with our product.
It’s not only about having an outstanding product but also about how users engage with it, their challenges, and joys.
This understanding is critical for continual improvement. Balancing aggressive growth with long-term sustainability is often underestimated, risking short-term success but potentially leading to long-term issues.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Alex Gurkin: If I could choose a business superpower, it would be the capacity to swiftly understand and adapt to market shifts. This ability would be invaluable in the fast-changing tech and business landscape. I’d also want the power to consistently make the right decisions, based on data and experience, and the capability for continuous learning to stay ahead.
In a rapidly evolving tech world, the ability to quickly implement new solutions would drive growth and innovation, while intuitively understanding customer needs would allow us to create indispensable products.
To figure out what superpower I need for different projects, I would first think about what resources I need most to scale my business – time, money, creative ideas.
I would target the strengths that would enable me to get those resources. I visualize myself with different superpowers and know which one generates the most enthusiasm and desire for action.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Alex Gurkin for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Alex Gurkin or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
Disclaimer: The ValiantCEO Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
