First Steps in the Job Market
When you finish high school, choosing your next steps is not straightforward.
However, before deciding to pursue higher education, I thought that I wanted to find myself in the job market and then choose my the right university. It was probably the best solution at that time.
Sending out my resumes, I was thinking about the internet-related industry — and settled on digital marketing.
Indeed, I knew nothing about it. SEO? Email marketing? But I was filled with a strong zeal to gain all the knowledge.
That’s exactly how I ended up in my first company that specialized in SEO. More precisely, in the sales department.
Cold calling & cold emailing became my bread-and-butter and, in reality, my allies because I quickly liked them.
Selling internet marketing services in an intensely competitive market (back then, only in Poland) was really a tough nut to crack. However, the most challenging experiences can teach us the most.
After a few months in the industry, I decided that was the bull’s eye. This is what I wanted to do, and ultimately on a larger, international scale.
Working in my first organization, the year 2017 was great (for the Polish SEO industry in Poland and the company’s standards). I acquired new business worth nearly $250k (around 1 million Polish zlotys PLN) working exclusively on outbound—cold mailing & cold calling on a daily basis. It was a great experience.
Now, it’s time for an international adventure. There was only one main thing missing in working with international clients — the English language.
University
After more than two years in the job market, I decided it was time to choose the right bachelor’s degree.
I kicked off Management at Collegium Da Vinci. Great experience, good education, and many group projects. That’s what I really cared about.
On the first day of university, I also met a student (then my best friend ever) with whom I worked on all the projects together.
That moment when you meet someone, and you know that this person is gonna be your best buddy! It doesn’t happen often. I’ve only experienced it once myself.
Then, working together in the same company and carrying out university projects, especially those related to digital marketing, my engagement in the industry ramped up.
This is where the original idea for the blog came from.
However, I couldn’t fully reconcile it with learning foreign languages.
Indeed, at that stage, they became my standard fare.
Learning English from scratch (literally), on a daily basis was a pure pleasure. Although I remember the beginning, when I couldn’t introduce myself in two simple sentences in English (at the age of 22!).
While combining studies and the world of marketing, an opportunity appeared on the horizon, through which I could start studying abroad.
It was the Erasmus+ program.
I couldn’t let that pass by.
Over time, the situation gained momentum.
In 2023, my university invited me to give lectures. Not only in Polish but also in English.
Role Changes: Student —> Guest Lecturer
— Simon Gorlak (@simongorlak) October 10, 2023
Starting the story 6 years back, I had no knowledge, no English, but a huge pressure to gain them asap.
Hopefully, this path changed its direction.
I'm grateful I was invited to conduct the workshop for +60 international students. pic.twitter.com/WuNqThFdLp
Conclusions? It’s a really great feeling to be on the other side and help young students gain the best practices!
In hindsight, I see that the investment (of time and money) in learning foreign languages was one of the best decisions in my life.
Internationalism & Learning Foreign Languages
The first day of university in Croatia was like diving into deep waters.
Everyone spoke English, there was no one from Poland, I could only rely on a foreign language.
The first feeling — to run away.
After a few days of adaptation — I didn’t want to leave.
Going on Erasmus for educational purposes was the best step I could take to learn English, and at the same time to make a significant stride towards working in an international environment.
And after all, getting a job with English was my main goal.
However, it didn’t stop with English.
In 2020, when Coronavirus reached Poland, I decided to take another step in language learning.
And I came up with Spanish.
Initially, I reckon I dropped it in my mind about 10 times.
Difficult (for Slavs) pronunciation, similar-to-nothing words, and unusual grammar — blah!
However, I knew that proficiency in this language could offer me much more than not having it, so I couldn’t give up.
During that time learning Spanish, I went for a master’s degree in Warsaw.
It was the year 2020/2021, Coronavirus was rampant in Europe, and there was nothing else to do but stay at home and study.
That’s exactly how I used that time.
Every day after work and university classes (sometimes during as well), I studied this language. I knew that just a “little while” more and I’d gain the fluency.
Finally, it happened.
In 2021, I went on a 2-week Spanish language course in Valladolid, Spain.
Daily 4-hour lessons with a native speaker and living with a Spanish family. There was no other option but to learn this language fluently.
Returning to Poland, I felt that outstanding feeling when I went from stuttering in a foreign language to fluency. It’s been a really great feeling!
Three months after returning from Spain, I applied to a SaaS-based company that in 2017 got the title of the fastest-growing company in Central Europe — wow.
Entirely English-based work, conferences around the world involving English, Spanish (later Portuguese). I knew this would be the environment I wanted to be in.
So, through the year 2022 and into mid-2023, I had the opportunity to travel to countries around the world, understand the needs of customers from different markets, and learn about cultural differences.
The above photo was taken during a conference in Cyprus.
The area? iGaming.
This industry is thriving and blooming on the internet, just like every other one in the digital world.
However, the (briefly) described experience was, a prelude to a bigger and way more engaging project.
What is it? This very blog.
I couldn’t wait any longer to finally launch it!
Final Steps Towards Creating the Blog
The primary aim of this blog is to educate you—my readers and clients.
On this blog, you’ll find both less and more controversial information, but all fully reliable and substantive.
Creating this blog, I perform considerable research daily (hell yeah), so I’m also educating myself in the process, which is ultimately a significant added value.
Nonetheless, this blog is certainly my first milestone, although probably not the last (stay tuned, to be continued).
But how do I want to distinguish it amidst such vast competition?
By the Accessibility & Usefulness of the Knowledge
Observing many C-level marketers and founders of digital agencies, I’ve had the opportunity to experience that their main pain point is the lack of substantive knowledge in areas where they consider themselves experts.
However, with this blog, I want to reverse the essence of knowledge about digital marketing — I want it to be as comprehensive as possible here.
This blog is dedicated to marketers with 10+ years of experience in the industry, as well as to beginners because everyone will find a substantial dose of uniqueness here.
I deliberately say uniqueness because even the way this knowledge is presented might change the perception of one or all three main areas that will be covered on this blog: SEO, Email Marketing & Digital Copywriting.
However, if you have questions or suggestions on what I could do better, don’t hesitate to send me a message on LinkedIn or X.
Or leave a query through Contact.
I will gladly respond to you.
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