We are talking to Krzysztof Oleksowicz, founder of Inter Cars company about the beginnings of motorization business, extreme sports and philosophical verve. .
On the one hand, a businessman, on the other hand extreme sports lover, and a philosopher graduate. We can see here lots of contradictions. How would you describe yourself?
The basis of philosophy is, generally speaking, logic, that is to say possibility to think in an abstract and logical way. I do not know if it is combined with studies, or with the school of life, which I got through, but generally speaking I got this skill and it is - in my opinion - a must when doing business, especially large scale business. In case od small business one needs courage and to take decisions quickly. In my "not business life" I have always had a tendency to act in a risky way. When I get an adrenaline shot I feel better. That is why my free-time activities are surfing, kitesurfing, skiing and rallies. This is my way of running away from stress connected with everyday work.
Studying philosophy rather does not go into the concept plan of running your own business. Where did the decision about such studies come from?
In high school I did not pay much attention to learning. But one had to choose some studies. Philosophy won. In those days I was a hippy, and a hippy did not want to be a lawyer or an engineer. Philosophy was chosen and fit in that time perfectly. It was also a part of my rebellion against parents, who wanted me to have a good profession - as a rebel - I had to go another way.
And when did the hippy go into business?
I was a hippy during my first years of studies. Starting from the second year I used to go to the US to work. How did I get the visa? In those days it was hard to get the visa, as they were afraid that people would leave for work and never come back to the country again. Each time when one applied for a visa, one had to have a talk with the consul in the US embassy. I started to wonder what to do to get the visa. As I had quite an open mind, within one night I had learnt the history of the USA. When I was asked why I want to go to the US I replied that I was a passionate of the US history and I started telling him what I would like to see. And it worked. The consul was astonished with my story, and although I wanted a visa only for 3 months, I got one for half a year. So I was working, earning money, and I soon got used to having them. As a student I worked in student's co-op - I washed the windows, worked on highs and did other things, on which during one day I earned the same money as my parents within the whole month. I knew that after graduating I would not get any interesting position, so I started working as a car mechanic. It was the only one time when I worked for someone. I gained some experience and left to Germany. There, still working as a mechanic, I started selling cars. In the communism system the automotive industry brought quite a good money.
Is this true that the first parts you have imported were rod bearings for Mercedes?
This year it is exactly 30 years from that event. in 1984, totally by chance I got to Egon von Rouville company. At that time I was selling with my friend from Germany. One day we want to buy some parts fro the cars he was repairing. When it came to paying, Harals (my friend) got nervous that he had to pay so much. In response he heard that he was a small customer and this is the reason for the price - that sounded grotesquely, as Harald had around 120kg weight and was almost 2 meters high, but this was the truth. So I asked how much I would have to pay if I wanted to buy parts and sell them in Poland. It turned out that I could get a really good price, as the manufacturer had no customer in Poland at that time. So I bought 20 sets of rod bearings and went to Poland. I sold them in Mercedes service and earned on them 1,000 German Mark, which was a huge amount. This was the beginning.
Right now Inter Cars is a leading company in automotive industry. Stockbrokers, analysts and financial advisers rewarded your company with the title of the Stocks Exchange Company of the Year 2013. When did you realize that you are running a serious business?
For a long time I did not realize that. I did what I had to each day and it was developing itself. Somehow it went forward. It was surely much better when the company employed several people and I knew exactly where and what for each driver went. At the very beginning the business requires high activity, courage and taking the right decisions. Later parametrical management begins, i.e. algorithms, which are combined with logic, and this brings effect.
Luck in business. Should one count on that?
Surely. I remember such moment when Inter Cars was getting on high speed operations, and my friends said: Krzysiek is lucky. All this was paid for with hard work and resulted from adapted assumptions. Nevertheless I have to admit that there were many lucky coincidences. But I think, that luck, which is out of any statistics, just like bad luck, applies for everybody in the same extent.
At the beginning of our conversation you mentioned your passions which are a way of relaxing from your business life. Is the biggest of them... motorization?
Several years ago, together with my son, I was taking part in rally tests. On moment I decided to get into his car and try my luck. I thought that if I drove in different cars over 1.5 million kilometres, I can also manage this challenge. I was wrong. The effect was far from satisfactory. Because I am quite persistent, I have rented from a farmer a piece of land - neighbouring with our company in Czosnów - and I built there a few kilometre gravel racing track. I bought a racing car - an old Mitsubishi - and I started learning to drive there. I had my helmet at hand all the time. So I got interested in rallies myself, as most of the sportsmen, but I took first steps with my son. We are an example of an untypical case where the child passes his passion onto the parent. When I trained a bit, I decided to take part in some rally. In this sport two things matter: the driving skills and the skill of driving with a co-driver who tells you how and where to go. I have even managed to, I have to boast in this place, win a Kormoran, one of the most well known gravel rallies taking place for 38 years now. I have won the 38th edition, in Mikołajki, on the stages of World Championships.
Who leads the team during driving? The driver or co-driver?
During the first drive the driver tells his co- what he can see, e.g. a curve in 150m. And now the point is to mark the curve with additional description: "left", "right", "fast", "careful", "cut", "don't cut". Curve "2" means a right angle curve. Curve "one" practically does not exist. It is a really difficult "turning back". Open angle curves are numbered from "3" to "6". The last possible moment is marked with a sign "bottom" - it is almost a straight with a light curve, but one cannot see what is behind the curve. You have to go "blind". During the first test drive (in case of Championship Poland or World Championship there are 2 test drives) I tell the co-driver what I can see. But during the second one, the co- tells me the route in order to verify if he understood and wrote down everything correctly. When during a race we go through a special stage, I know that when I have in the description a "2", this means I have to brake down to 2nd or 3rd gear, depending on the description which is further, and when I have written "bottom" I cannot touch the brake pedal. This description is really important and must be precise. And good cooperation of driver and his co- is the basic thing.
What a good co- should be like?
Not only technical qualifications of the co- are important, his psychical resistance in difficult situations and possibility to cooperate, but also his psychic comfort when driving - comfort of the driver and the co-, which results from their mutual relations and being on the same wavelength. Also relations with mechanics, coordinator and the whole team are very important. The co-driver I go with currently is such a person.
Let's assume that on the racing track you find a gold fish which you save. For this you get the possibility of making one change in your life. What change would it be?
The best would be if I were 30 years younger, but this is an unreal dream (laugh).
Interview led by: Paweł Kruk and Maciej Blum
Source: www.autoexpert.pl
08-10-2014