“If you approach your work with enthusiasm and a positive attitude, you enjoy every aspect of it, regardless of what it brings, and nothing is too hard for you,” is the positive attitude our janitor, Rajko, brings to our office.
Rajko was born in Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and came to Slovenia in 1980, when he was 18 years old. He came to visit a friend in the army, got offered a job as a builder at a construction company, and stayed here. Later, he started working as a janitor at Marand, and when the company split, he stayed with Better. He is the first to arrive at our office every day, and often the last one to leave, and he makes sure everything runs smoothly and people are happy. Read the interview and get to know our Rajko a little bit better.
You have been part of Better for many years. Can you take us back to the beginning, how did you first join the company, and what were your first impressions?
I joined the previous company, Marand, with Mr Dimnik, an external contractor, who was responsible for Marand’s maintenance. I had worked with Mr Dimnik before, and he invited me to join the company when it was still at Koprska ulica in Ljubljana. And the rest is history.
Every office has a person who knows everything and makes sure that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. What do you enjoy most about your daily work at Better?
I don’t have any specific preferences, I like working here. We have been together for a long time, and I really can’t say what I like the most. Collaboration is the key to everything, and if you approach your work with enthusiasm and a positive attitude, you enjoy every aspect of it, regardless of what it brings, and nothing is too hard for you.
You approach everything and everyone with a positive attitude, chat with people, you make some jokes, and people really appreciate that.
Yes, this is the way to approach life. Many times, our colleagues are missing a smile, they are missing goodwill, and people are closing themselves off in their problems. And you have to cheer them up a little bit. We should work on that as a team, if you see someone in trouble, you have to come and help them. There is always light to be found, even in darkness, and you have to look for it.
Better has grown and changed a lot over the years. From your perspective, what has changed the most and what has stayed the same?
Thank God things haven’t remained the same. 🙂 I must say that Mr Gornik made sure already at Marand that things were done properly, business-wise.
And Better is his achievement, these are his ideas and his project. It is evident that people now really take care of business, prioritising our customers and the markets, which we didn’t see before. For Better’s business, even though I don’t understand everything, it is essential that we have achieved our goal. And we will see how it will go on.
You work with many different teams. How would you describe the culture at Better and the way people treat each other?
In such companies with a larger number of people, it is difficult to think that the culture is perfect. There are many different people with many different ways, but in general, yes, I can say that the Better culture is positive. It’s hard to expect everyone to connect with everyone, but people do enjoy working here, coming to the office and spending time with their colleagues.
What moments at Better stand out for you? Are there any funny memories, meaningful interactions, or events you’ll never forget?
I don’t have any funny stories from Better, but I do have quite a few from Marand. But they are not to be told in public. 🙂
When you’re not at work, what do you enjoy doing in your free time? Any hobbies or passions that keep you busy?
My hobby is my work. I like working, and I always find something to keep me busy.
Is there anything you would like your coworkers to know about you that they may not already be aware of?
I can say that, as a child, I had a better childhood than most children today. Although I was in an institution until the fifth grade of elementary school, I had a marvellous childhood. We were in a group, always playing. My childhood was relaxed, we weren’t burdened with games or sports. Children today will never have such a relaxed childhood, as parents are imposing obligations on them way too soon.
What does Better mean to you?
We shouldn’t look at what it means to me, we have to see what Better means to everyone. And it means a lot to a lot of people, a lot of people live with the company, and it is really important that things work for their own good. I sometimes think how it is possible that everything functions as it does, month after month. This is not easy, and I am very thankful for that. Better is an important part of my life. After Marand fell apart, I was unemployed for a while, but then Better said they needed me, and I’ve been here ever since.
