“It is much more important to compete with yourself than with your opponent”, believes the tennis player and CEO, Healthy Media, Sara Kozomara.
Sara Kozomara is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry. She has multiple skills in Human Resources, Sales Management, Eyewear, and Management. This strong business development professional is a graduate of the University of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sara Kozomara shares her views on success strategies and tips, and motivation with Business Upside in this interview. Edited excerpts from the interview:
Edited Excerpts from The Interview:
Business Upside [BU]: How did you get your idea or concept for the business?
Sara Kozomara [SK]: Basically, the idea was a set of circumstances that lead me to this. My husband is an ophthalmologist, and through his work I got myself intrigued by this medical field and all its parts, including optical service and optometry. On the other hand, I am a big fan of fashion and I love it, so I was able to combine these two factors and make, in my opinion, a very successful business story.
[BU]: What was your mission at the outset?
[SK]: My mission in business in life is always the same-everything I do, I do it for an impact which will be for the greater good. My story started less than 8 years ago as an idea derived from a great desire and love for fashion, but also the need for a socially responsible project that is necessary for our environment in a far more accessible, modern, and educational way. This primarily refers to a more direct and tame approach to clients, who have needs for optics services for health reasons, so that their need becomes a desire, and wearing optical aids is a fashion and entertainment. They are certainly accompanied by another part of the population who simply want to keep up with world trends and use the services and offer of optics to spice up their fashion and lifestyle, and the world scene should be made possible at home
[BU]: What products do you manufacture?
[SK]: We do not manufacture any products, we are mostly known for high-quality merchandise that we sell, particularly high-quality branded optical frames, sunglasses, corrective lenses, and contact lenses. Furthermore, we aim to bring new eyewear designers into our country and present their quality to our customers.
[BU]: How do you advertise your Business?
[SK]: Our main field of advertising is digital marketing. I think that the era of TV commercials, big billboards and newspaper and radio ads is far behind us. There is no person today who does not spend at least 6-8 hours per day on the internet, particularly through their mobile phones. Internet is a great source of information and it can also be used to present yourself and your business simply and efficiently.
[BU]: What made you choose this type of Business?
[SK]: As I said earlier, my husband’s profession and my love and sense for fashion created the business model that I love and enjoy every day.
[BU]: What is your management style?
[SK]: Professional and sometimes tough, but fair and friendly. I never liked those bosses that their employees were afraid of. At the same time, we have to have the professionalism and care for our business as it is something we make our living from it. I believe that employees’ rights have to be met in their full capacity, but they also have to know that they have obligations that come from those same rights.
[BU]: How do you measure success?
[SK]: I measure it by my feelings. If I am happy with what I have and what was I able to achieve, than I think that I am successful. Since I was a professional tennis player, I learned that it is much more important to compete with yourself than with your opponent. Therefore, I do not compete with anyone but myself and that’s one of the basic factors why my business model is so unique and successful at the same time.
[BU]: Do you believe there is some sort of formula or pattern to become a successful Businesswoman?
[SK]: By far the most important key to business success is represented by the people who make up one team. Regardless of the fact that we live in a time where people are becoming more individual and less team-oriented, independent business success and development can be achieved up to one limit, after that you need a circle of good and quality people to whom you will transfer knowledge, support and motivation. which together will make that success even greater.
I am extremely proud of my team, watching them grow both as people and as business associates, they are just a confirmation that what I am doing, I am doing just right.
[BU]: How do you market your business, and which method has been most successful?
[SK]: Digital marketing is the main source of advertising. However a world of mouth also picks up the place as the new form of potential client information about our products and services. You have to love what you do, you have to make it your passion, you have to put in a lot of hard work, and you will succeed.
[BU]: What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
[SK]: The excitement of creating something new and improving your products and services every day is something that makes me very happy. When you look at your personal growth and development and the growth and development of the people who make up the team around you, there is no better personal satisfaction that what I do, I do just right. I strongly believe that we live in a world that changes each and every day and we all can find our place in it.
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