Struggle, Survive, Succeed - People that make it in Macedonia

[Soldier of Macedon]

In Macedonia, there is no work, there are no opportunities, people are waiting for others to create opportunities for them rather than creating opportunities themselves, people don't bother looking for work, people prefer to chat and drink all day at coffee shops, people complain about poor standards, etc. We hear about the stereotypes all the time, some being more true than others. That being the case, it would be good to have a thread where we can cut through certain misconceptions by citing and discussing examples of how people in Macedonia have struggled to survive and eventually succeed in achieving a financial goal, securing a job or establishing a profitable business - and consequently improving their lives and living conditions.

So, if you know of anybody that has made something of their lives in Macedonia that can serve as an example or inspiration for others, please share their story here.

[Coolski]

This is a really good idea SoM. Cultural change through positive reinforcement is going to be much more effective than only pointing out what's wrong.

[TrueMacedonian]

My uncle is a very successful business man in Macedonia. Here is one of his businesses - http://hotel-sirius.com.mk/category/home

I haven't spoken to him for quite some time but I give the devil his due. He owns gas stations, industrial metal and iron work shops, and he even once owned Mastika for a short time. He did it by working his ass off and avoiding the Kafanas. He told my brother that he was asked to run for mayor of Strumica. But his obligations to his businesses wouldn't allow it to happen. Another thing he once told my father was that he especially kept people of like minded interests around him.

[Coolski]

I have an uncle and aunt in Bitola that have worked their asses off, both working 2 jobs, (most recently on an apple farm) to make enough money to put my cousin through Med school. They've struggled, survived and succeeded in making their daughter's ambitions possible. They haven't made millions but they did what they could for their child. There's definitely a "spare fuel tank" when it comes to parents sacrificing and working hard for their kids.

[Risto the Great]

We in the Diaspora are typically the offspring of people who were often quite desperate to make better lives for themselves. So, in a sense, we may in fact be more genetically inclined to get off our respective arses. I know it sounds a little extreme but I do believe the traits required to uproot and start a new life actually suit only a segment of the population. These same traits seems to co-exist quite well with an entrepreneurial spirit.

I am positive Macedonia has its share of hard workers. They wouldn't be the ones complaining. That is why we don't hear from them much.

[George S.]

i'm in full agreement with this thread that there are many hardworking individuals in macedonia making ago of things.I met a couple off individuals who got together & opened a sand trucking co.They said they are doing quite well.Another lot said the have regular jobs but certain times of the year they go to italy & import clothes & shoes..They said they wouldn't like to live in o/s for anything.
Then you have your whingers & whiners who are so negative etc which is normal.but they wouldn't be seen dead working on a farm they sold their farm years ago for a better life in the city.But they are earning a meagher pay & not much food on the table.

[Jankovska]

A lot needs to change in Macedonia, it's not that people are lazy but they are used and abused and there are no laws in protecting the workers.
If you only saw how the workers in the factories are treated your hearts will break. There are many many people who want to work in Macedonia but the treatment they get is unacceptable and if I were there I will refuse to work.
They are not just treated in bad manner, they are made to work unacceptable hours, they are pushed about like animals and on top of that they could go for months without pay. Until laws change and HR becomes part of working society in Macedonia the people will be afraid to try.
As for the ones that made it usually they have done it so by screwing people over and treating workers as I mentioned above.
TM I am sorry to say this and I hope you don't hate me for it but your uncle is known to be one of the worst gazdi in Sr.
I know at least four people who have worked form him, his lovely gas station and one of them had to quit in the end because he didn't get paid for 9 months and had to travel and pay for travel every day to Sr. That person is my husbands brother who is nothing but a very hard worker.But then he is stupid coz he is too nice.
Every time you go to Sirius he has different waiters and he also cheats his customers.
I had my wedding in Sirus and I paid up front A LOT of MONEY for unlimited drinks and food. I couldn't find the waiters to order drinks, they didn't care as they got my money. I then in my wedding dress went out and after I found out that it is actually the gazda of the hotel who told them to stand in the hall I told them to call him and let him know that I am the last person he wants to mess with and finally got some service.
I hope we don't use people who made it that way as an example, the country will be full of people trying to screw someone over.
Nothing needs to change but the laws. Young people should be given an opportunity to give it a go not to be crashed out by some gazda who has made his money in an awful way and has paid the gov to support them.
Gazdi should be made to hold down and HR person who will look after the people and ensure their welfare.
If I had to work for someone in MKD I would probably have to kill them or if I tried a business and wasn't related to a political party I would be screwed.
I am not saying, there must be people who have made it honestly and with hard work but I haven't met any of them yet.

[momce]

Im reading this thread, interesting. Well you dont get wealthy by work and in modern capitalism entities destroy eachother and turn to politics and mafia to protect themselves. Macedonias elite seems to have thrown their cards in with the globalists.

[Coolski]

The question is, is it possible to start a business in Macedonia and not be an asshole? If so, can those examples be promoted?

[momce]

No its hard to open a business anywhere and yes there is always politics involved with business everywhere. Its a power play as there is no pure market economics ever in history. Places like Balkans are worse because they are in bad position in the global business model.

[Vangelovski]

Lets try and keep this thread on track as its an important one. Momce, if you want to rant on about BS globalist conspiracies, open a new thread. Any further irrelevant ones will be moved from here. No further warnings.

I have a cousin that worked for nothing for almost two years learning metalwork and woodwork. Once he felt ready, he and his parents pooled some money together bought him some basic start up tools. From there he worked for himself from home, making furniture, repairing metal and wooden tools and equipment and a range of other random things. Over the past 10 years he has slowly but surely built up his business and he is now earning a comfortable living. Most recently, he won a fairly fair tender to make street lights for Struga.

I think that is a textbook example of what millions of people all over the world do and what Macedonians can do if they wanted to. It takes hard work and time - but that's just life and Macedonians need to learn to deal with it.

[Chiche]

Easy 'Tiger' momche did not rant!!! "on about BS globalist conspiracies"

[DraganOfStip]

it's not that people are lazy but they are used and abused and there are no laws in protecting the workers.
If you only saw how the workers in the factories are treated your hearts will break. There are many many people who want to work in Macedonia but the treatment they get is unacceptable.They are not just treated in bad manner, they are made to work unacceptable hours, they are pushed about like animals and on top of that they could go for months without pay.

B U L L S E Y E !
Allow me to get involved here.This comes from an average Macedonian working family - I have a high-school diploma and so does my wife.So you can say we're a typical example of a random Macedonian medium-skilled,medium-qualified citizens.I am a waiter and my wife is a textile worker.Combined we have something like 350 euros of income.A liter of gasoline is like 1,5 euros;a liter of cooking oil is about the same;a liter of milk something like 0,8-0,9 euros;a kilogram of sugar 0,9 euros;a kilogram of flour 0,6 euros...Now,bills go as far as 100 euros (electricity,water,phone and TV,kindergarten...),and that's without the taxes and monthly payments of firewood (which you pay like 8 out of 12 months a year,a cubic meter of firewood is like 45 euros and the average consumption for one household is 7 cubic meters per season)or your car registration or...So take all this info and figure out how much money that leaves average Smiths until their next pay day and what can they afford with it.I can't even remember the last time I took my darling out to dinner.Life is hard here in RoM,and tell you the truth,if the opportunity to work/live abroad ever bites me in the butt I won't hesitate to take it.

[Risto the Great]

Sounds awful Dragan.
Modern day slavery to be precise.

Do we have any indication of the level of profitability of these medium to large enterprises?

[DraganOfStip]

Sounds awful Dragan.
Modern day slavery to be precise.

Do we have any indication of the level of profitability of these medium to large enterprises?

The most obvious indication is the expensive cars and apartments the "gazdi" buy for their kids' 18th birthday,something that an average worker can only dream of.Like my father once said to me:"Son,more or less your mother and I used the best of socialism.It's you that I'm afraid for."Or like Carl Marx puts it: