Founder Tips. Lev Matveev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SearchInform



    “Founder’s Tips” once again introduces Megamind readers to the stars of the IT market, the founders and managers of their own business.

    Mr. Matveev graduated from Minsk Radio Engineering in 1993 with a degree in software engineering, in the process of training he became a prize-winner at programming competitions. During his studies, he headed the database department in a private company.

    Lev Matveev, also, the author of a number of patents in the field of processing unstructured information. At various stages of his own activity, he headed organizations from 30 to 500 people, until in 1995 he founded his own company, to which he remains the chairman of the board of directors to this day.

    SearchInformHe works in the field of software development to protect businesses from information leaks and control working hours. Mr. Matveev himself is an active speaker at information security conferences and the founder of the annual RoadShow SearchInform, a series of educational events for information security specialists.

    The two main products of the company are the KIB SearchInform DLP system and WorkTime Monitor. This year, the company promises to release its own SIEM system.

    Company offices are located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk, as well as the CIS countries: Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine and Poland. CIB controls over one million PCs in 8 countries, more than 1,500 organizations are users of SearchInform software.

    Here are some tips Lev Matveev shared with the audience of Megamind.

    Accept the fact that at first subordinates will receive several times more than you

    In order to open a business you need, first of all, a stable psyche and frantic motivation. For the pleasure of being the leader of your own business you need to pay considerable hardships. And for some it is too high a price. This is normal, which is why people are divided into businessmen and employees. Do you want stability and lack of headache? Work "for uncle." Do you want to be an entrepreneur? Get ready for a lot of problems and lack of money.

    When I first founded the company, I paid employees 3 times more than I received. He received a “salary” according to the residual principle: first, employees, taxes, contribution to development, then, if something was left, for their own living.

    Do not demand from the employees the same attitude to work as you


    It is a common mistake of entrepreneurs to demand the same return on work from employees as the manager shows. It is especially relevant at the stage when the team is small, 5-6 people and everyone knows each other, spend weekends together and, in general, are best friends.

    If you are working on your own project 80 hours a week, do not expect someone from the team to take an example from you. This is your project, you put your soul into it and understand why you are doing all this. Your team is hired workers, their attitude towards the company is radically different.

    Hire and Delegate


    Sooner or later, the moment comes when the company is ready for expansion and growth. And here the novice entrepreneur begins to "stifle the toad," because many functions can be taken over and at the same time, do the job efficiently and fairly quickly. And if you hire a new employee, then, out of ignorance or inexperience, he will spend 4 times more time on the task, while he will have to pay a full salary.

    Accept this injustice and hire staff. Let the employee complete the task in 4 hours, but he will free up an hour of your time. Spend it on development, not on current affairs.
    Otherwise, the business will not grow, and the employees will develop professionally.

    Don't be afraid to take risks


    Any businessman on his way makes a lot of mistakes. Without experience and knowledge, acquaintances and mentors, we often break in the wrong doors, at the wrong time and in the wrong direction.

    Lack of money and constant “uncertain prospects” can gradually make a businessman paranoid. Here the only advice is not to break down and not to start “having burnt in milk, blow into the water”.

    Any entrepreneurial activity is a risk. Walking the beaten path, you will never be the first.

    Take on a team of people who want to earn


    I admit honestly: I don’t understand people who have enough average earnings and work from 8 to 17. I’m most interested in recruiting a team for employees who need a lot of life.

    People who want to grow with the company, earn more: for leisure, a good car, home, family - for anything.

    The most correct people are not those who “sell themselves” from the start, but those who are ready to work, show their benefits and make a breakthrough in their own work. In our company, most of the tops grew out of ordinary managers. I am sure of their motivation, they gave a lot to the company, and the company gives them no less.

    From the Editor: if you have a desire to participate in the Founder's Tips rubric, write to us at editor (at) megamozg.ru

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