We all know the saying, “If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.”The secret to a happy life naturally lies in a happy career. We asked six people who have managed to make this saying the centre of their lives about the secrets of working with love.
Barbaros Özbuğutu, the co-founder and CEO of iyzico, a company currently serving over two million customers, says leaving his comfort zone has helped him improve himself throughout his professional journey that is filled with surprises.
Polo Yaka Tişört / Polo Shirt: Lardini / Beymen Takım Elbise / Suit : Pal Zileri /
Beymen Ayakkabı / Shoes: Barrett / Beymen Saat, Takılar / Watch,
Accessories: Kendisine Ait / Barbaros's Own
You’re one of those lucky people who love their job. How does loving what you do influence your view on life?
First of all, when you do what you love, getting out of bed in the morning isn’t hard. In today’s world, it’s a great blessing to wake up with enthusiasm every day! When you love your job, it reflects on every aspect of life, including your home and family, and your time with them feels more peaceful. It’s also the way that leads to success. When you achieve it, your influential reach gets bigger, and you can do good and spread it around as well.
Pek çoğumuz çocukken büyüyünce şu olacağım diye hayal kurarız. Siz bu Most of us dreamed of being something when we were kids. Did you realize your dream, or did life lead you in a different direction? Can you tell us about your journey?
It was definitely an unexpected journey for me! For me, it was more like “pack your back, hit the road, set a course, and be the best at what you do.” I dropped out of school to become a bartender. Then I wanted a serious job and started my working at a call centre. Then my journey in Turkey started and along came iyzico. Eventually, we became the biggest financial tech company in Turkey. The only constant in my journey has been leaving my comfort zone which has always helped me improve myself.
What do you love most about your job?
My favourite thing about my job, first and foremost, is my team. I’m working with the best team I could have. Our job also touches people’s lives. iyzico is the force behind e-commerce and online shopping in Turkey, and I begin work each day with the excitement and happiness of this all. During the pandemic, being there for people and being able to support our customers have especially reminded me how much our job touches their lives.
What about the challenges?
One of the things I love most about my job is that I can touch people’s lives every day, but it also is the biggest challenge. We feel responsibility of the trust our customers have in us and work hard to preserve it.
What is your biggest advice for people who are about to embark on a career?
Don’t follow your dreams! Instead, find your passion, and work hard every day and keep renewing yourself to be the best at it. This will take you to success.
FOTOĞRAF / PHOTOGRAPHY: ONUR DAĞ
STYLING: TÜLİN AVCI SAÇ / HAIR STYLIST: REMZİ ATEŞ
MAKYAJ / MAKEUP ARTIST: GÖKHAN SERPİN (MAC)
FOTOĞRAF ASİSTANI / PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: MUSTAFA BERBER PRODÜKSİYON / PRODUCTION: ARMAĞAN MERVE BİLGİN & MÜGE SARIOĞLU