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October 4, 2010
Drago Talijan CEO of Banjaluka based EIB Internationale, considers himself a successful man. His success is not measured in money, as most things are nowadays, but in health, family and unconditional friends.
This former student and youth leader, says that running a private business is a hard work, taking up a lot of time and energy.
“In the evenings I usually wrap up what I did not do throughout the day. My family has to put up with it but I sincerely hope that my working hours will stabilize in time,” he says.
When he had more time, he would use it with friends, but today he has replaced that with occasional tennis game or a walk to the natural park Banj Brdo. Family is still his priority and he travels with them on summer and winter vacations. He would like to have more time for a game of Preferans or chess that he used to play a lot more.
Honesty is important
Talijan, a Doctor of Political Science, has lived in Banjaluka all his life where he completed his education, while his PhD was acquired at a Belgrade university of Mechanical Engineering.
He is guided by two sayings Cut your coat to suit your cloth and Do as you would be done by. Those principles are grounded in basic postulates of ethics, aesthetics and logic: goodness, beauty and truth.
Talking about people skills he says: “I have realized that all people are different and those differences cannot be measured. I only want to see good in everyone”, he says. He appreciates the sense of justice, and admires people who know their limits.
Return to teaching trade
As he has been preoccupied with other things, he has ended his teaching career but does have some plans of going back. He feels he has something to leave to the future generations: "I have realized that during my own education I had too many drills, but not much of the meaningful stuff. Many teachers were never capable of capturing the true essence of their subjects, so that such ideas have not stayed with us for the rest of the life”, he says.
He passed his ‘managing exam’ early on, in a system of hierarchical values where no one could skip a step or two on a way to faster success. The progress was gradual and according to merit.
People are too confident
He believes that one of the problems of today is that nobodies want to interfere with every sphere of life, people lack in competence, while nobody is standing up to them in a transparent and determined manner. Everything he has ever earned, he owes to the people he works with. He especially likes when a team works together, and when harmony rules at work.
The project he is specially proud of is the Type Approval in Motor Vehicle Industry where EIB International – the Center for motor vehicles monitoring the process. That is a large project he says, where Bosnia has to come up with several expert team solutions in time and according to plan.
Other than the Center he is also in close collaboration with the Forenzic – Center that does expertise and Preving whose basic activity is preventive engineering.
PEROSNAL INFO :
In car I listen to?
I spend a lot of time driving, mostly listening to the radio stations. I like good music no matter the variety, but I have special connection to the music of 80’s that I grew up with.
What makes me laugh is?
When it is more funny than sad, that would be human stupidity. I like a good fun crowd, with a healthy sense of humor. That relaxes me and act as some sort of a spiritual catharsis.
Favorite book ?
I do not belong to the group of people that can easily single out one book. I like every good book, but I always go back to the source – Ivo Andric, Russian classics, although there are more and more excellent contemporaries. However the lack of time as with everything else, prevents me from reading some 3000 of books that I have in my personal library. Although I have not read them all, I keep on buying – one might say that I have a fetish for good books.
Do you like to travel? Favorite trip?
When I had time I did not have opportunities to travel. Today the situation is reversed, and that is a life’s cruel twist. I like to travel, however I mostly go on business trips. The most recent journey I have had was to the Dominican Republic. I have in plan to see other exotic destinations I have not been to so far.
What languages do you speak?
When I was in school, English was not widespread. So that is my case, I speak English timidly, I am better with Russian that was in at that time, the trend I see coming back these days.
Unfulfilled wishes?
I do not have any. I am an ambitious man and I have plans for the future. I would like to see my kids happy and successful, but I will not drop on them the load of my wishes or ambitions. I hope for them to recognize what they want to do with their life, my job is to provide education and prepare them for life’s toughest challenges.
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