How one fine changed my perspective on business

Doing business internationally means many opportunities, but also many challenges. A person learns as they go, and sometimes they are given a lesson they will never forget. That’s exactly what happened to me.

We led the company Aluko, which operated in Germany, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Austria and France. Everything was going relatively well, but one day an unexpected fine arrived – 38,000 euros for an administrative error in Sweden. My first reaction? “What?! You can make beautiful dreams come true for that kind of money, and we’re just supposed to throw them out for some bureaucratic mistake?”

At that moment, I realized that even a small inattention can have major financial consequences. But in the end I said to myself – it could have been worse . Some competitors received even larger fines. But for me, it was a clear message: You can’t do business without paperwork.

Since then, I have dug into the company’s processes, set up rigorous controls, and made sure every detail was under control. And I still do it today.

What did this experience teach me?

✅ You can have any good business model, but if your paperwork isn’t in order, sooner or later there will be a problem.
 ✅ Watch your cash flow and don’t waste money, even if you have a good income. If you learn how to manage small, it will work on a large scale.

Today I know that when I’m building a business, it’s not enough to just work hard and be the best at what I do. I also have to think about things that seem insignificant at first glance – because in business, a small thing can decide whether you grow or pay for expensive mistakes.

To this day, I thank the ladies at Aluk for always approaching these things responsibly. Thanks to this, we eventually built a successful company, which my team and I successfully sold.

Paperwork is not a pleasant thing. But sometimes you have to do what is not pleasant – but essential .

Why do I travel to countries where others wouldn’t go?

When people think of traveling, most people imagine a vacation in Italy, relaxing by the sea, or exploring famous metropolises. But I was always attracted by something else – to see the world as it really is .

After my accident in Croatia and the death of my father, I realized that life is too short to live it in a comfort zone. I wanted to see reality. What does the real world look like outside the European bubble? How do people live where they have no certainty about tomorrow?

And so I started traveling. Iraq, Eritrea, Sudan, Bangladesh…

Many people ask me: Why these countries?

Simple answer: I want to see the truth. I want to understand what it’s like to live in conditions that most of us can’t even imagine. Because only when you see the poverty in Bangladesh or the consequences of war in Iraq will you realize the luxury we live in in Slovakia.

One of the most powerful experiences was my trip to Iraq. I spent more than 10 days there and crossed the country from Basra, through Nasiriyah, Ur, Najaf, Karbala, Baghdad, Samarra, and all the way to Mosul. Seeing Iraq with your own eyes is like experiencing two completely different realities.

🔹 Cities destroyed by war, hidden terrorist cells, but also fascinating historical sites and monuments.
🔹 From extreme heat of 56°C outside to icy rooms with air conditioning.
🔹 From places where people fight for food and water to neighborhoods where you overeat in restaurants, Iraq is not a country for tourists looking for comfort. It is a country for those who want to understand the world differently than the media shows it .

Each of these journeys taught me something. In Sudan, I understood what true hospitality means. In Iraq, I saw that people are the same everywhere in the world – we all want safety, family, and a chance at a better life. And in Bangladesh, I realized that happiness does not depend on wealth, but on how you can appreciate what you have.

If you are interested in traveling to less traditional destinations and want to see the world through different eyes, follow my other trips. You might be surprised to learn that sometimes the poorest places hide the richest stories.