I believe that being trustworthy and reliable are important traits. Standing by your word, delivering in time as well as being honest and upfront.
Today we had a chance to talk with Jan Kaiser, who describes himself as curious above all. As someone who loves continually learning and improving, (especially when it comes to technological advancements) he also enjoys and has been sharing his knowledge in the form of giving private lessons, tutoring, holding workshops, etc. for the past 7 years.
Besides teaching, he has found himself in various roles. Most of his common responsibilities include project management, strategy, product development, and a bit of finance & human resources.
In his role as managing director of Xanevo, he is responsible for the oversight of projects and quality principles when it comes to delivering content automation solutions. Their service portfolio includes workshops and training, which empower customers to build their own products.
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Table of Contents
Let’s learn a little about you and really get to experience what makes us tick – starting at our beginnings. Where did your story begin?
Jan Kaiser: My story began – as probably many others did – because I wanted to stop being an employee for big corporations, but I didn’t quite know which path to take.
Back when I was working for a pharmaceutical company I was offered a job at a young and dynamic IT startup. Since I had a few years of experience as an IT consultant I had already developed a rather diverse skill set when it came to strategy and asking the right questions.
I took the job offer and started freelancing a few months ago in parallel because I could not wait to have my own clients. My freelance job at first was as a developer. I implemented content automation solutions for a partner firm – AX Semantics – but I could choose my own salary and my own working schedule. In January, my journey as a freelance developer began.
Was there somebody in your life that inspired you to take that specific journey with your business?
Jan Kaiser: Actually there wasn’t anyone specific. I felt like I needed a change and due to the pandemic, there was an uprising in e-commerce, hence giving the business model of automating content for SEO purposes a huge boost. That’s why I took the opportunity.
What are the most common mistakes you see entrepreneurs make and what would you suggest they do?
Jan Kaiser: Personally, I think that this goes not only for entrepreneurs but is applicable for leaders in general. It’s about knowing it better. Sometimes it is better to let others make their own mistakes in order to learn and grow from them instead of telling them what to do and what not to do.
That’s also a very important aspect of coaching. Nobody needs a coach who tells them what the best solution would be, for that you’d probably hire a consultant, even if there might be a fine line between these professions.
Has the pandemic and transitioning into mostly online shopping affected your company positively or negatively?
Jan Kaiser: The pandemic was the main driver for me to found my company, along with two great co-founders: Jeffrey Lim and Timo Tzschetzsch.
Lockdowns enabled us to have way more productive hours each day and give time and space for finishing annoying paperwork, creating and optimizing processes, as well as creating valuable products along with sales and marketing content.
What is most important to your organization—mission, vision, or values?
Jan Kaiser: We are young, we still have our lives ahead and we love traveling. We incorporate these values into our company by building it as a remote company – no office and no fixed working hours. A part of our HR strategy includes inviting everyone to yearly team meetups abroad for productive coworking in sunny areas, such as Bali, Dubai, or Portugal.
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What do you consider are your strengths when dealing with staff workers, colleagues, senior management, and customers?
Jan Kaiser: I believe that being trustworthy and reliable are important traits. Standing by your word, delivering in time as well as being honest and upfront.
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What have you learned about personal branding that you wish you had known earlier in your career?
Jan Kaiser: Being authentic instead of targeting specific group results in having customers and partners that are a reflection of your own brand and values. There are many voices out there that advise you to create your brand around the target groups that you want to be your customers. I prefer working with people who are comfortable around me and the other way around. In team meetings, we have lots of room to joke around, have fun and enjoy our time together in and out of customer projects.
How do you monitor if the people in your department are performing at their best?
Jan Kaiser: I do not specifically monitor, I prefer having open discussions. Since our team is still small (5 people) I have the freedom to talk to everyone once in a while.
Do you think entrepreneurship is something that you’re born with or something that you can learn along the way?
Jan Kaiser: I am absolutely certain that it is possible to learn entrepreneurship along the way. Originally I wanted to pursue a corporate career with a safe income and enough free time for hobbies and friends. Now I work with my friends and building a company has become my hobby.
What’s your favorite “life lesson” quote and how has it affected your life?
Jan Kaiser: If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing it right.
Larry Yatch, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Jan Kaiser 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 Jan Kaiser or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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