Beginning My Journey in Poland
I arrived in Poland in 2014 and immediately started my entrepreneurial activities in 2015. Together with my partner Vitalik, we founded a joint company, known as UN Consulting sp. z o.o. This company continues to operate successfully in the Polish market to this day. Our first step was creating a digital agency that actively developed based on our previous successes in Ukraine, where we already had experience in website development.
My employees started working remotely, taking orders from both CIS countries and Polish clients. Before opening the business in Poland, I received my first resident card through language courses, then obtained a second card for business, and finally, a third one, which expired six months ago. My path to obtaining a residence permit in Poland was only made possible by my active entrepreneurial activities.
Business Diversity in Poland: Entrepreneurship Lessons
Starting with the digital agency, we actively worked with Polish and European clients, defining various projects: from info-business and project management schools to offline businesses like e-commerce. We sold tuning parts for cars and even Christmas trees, which, despite challenges with partners, turned into a successful direction. Over the years, we managed to test more than 30 niches, with each project bringing new ideas to the business in Poland, alongside less successful attempts.
In 2019, I realized that experiments with business directions were losing relevance, so a new phase began – the creation of UN Consulting Group. We started offering consulting services to small and medium-sized businesses in Poland. During the pandemic, we also began helping other companies enter the Polish market, which contributed to the active development of our YouTube channel.
My 10 Insights from 10 Years in Poland: Lessons and Recommendations
At the beginning of my stay in Poland, I carefully studied many videos and materials related to life here. While many beginner bloggers repeat basic advice, I would like to share my unique insights and lessons.
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Shifting Mindset The first important decision I made was to switch my mindset from that of an immigrant to a local resident. The life strategy should be based on the idea that you are staying in Poland forever. This includes important aspects such as obtaining citizenship, building a positive credit history, and learning Polish. Thinking about temporary residence can limit your opportunities.
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The Importance of Documents This aspect definitely requires attention – especially if you represent professional fields like engineering or medicine. The legalization process can take a lot of time, so it’s essential to be prepared. Over the years of living in Poland, I’ve realized how crucial it is to have the proper certifications, such as B1-level language proficiency, which may be needed when applying for a residence card or citizenship.
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Risk Is Always Worth It Every risk I took – even if it seemed unsuccessful – ultimately brought new opportunities. It’s crucial to take conscious steps and think about how your risks can affect the direction of your business.
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Invest in Yourself Invest in your well-being and understanding of your own abilities. Every time I felt confident and free in my decisions, the results in my business and life in Poland were much better.
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Explore Your Environment Your environment plays a huge role in your life in Poland. It can significantly influence your decisions and strategic approaches. Be sure to connect with successful people who can inspire you.
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Financial Literacy Financial literacy isn’t just about managing personal finances; it’s also about knowing how to earn more. Make sure your finances don’t get stuck in the “swing spiral,” where the only goal is saving.
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Learn the Polish Language While this may seem obvious, knowing the Polish language is a necessary tool for running a successful business in Poland. I encountered certain difficulties due to the lack of language skills, so I strongly recommend taking a course and passing the B1 exam.
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Stay Updated on the News Keeping up with the news opens new opportunities in various fields, including business. Knowing current events can help you predict the next trend or event that may suddenly arise in Poland.
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Don’t Be Afraid to Move If you don’t like the city you live in in Poland, don’t hesitate to change your place of residence. This can open new perspectives and improve the quality of your life and business.
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Understand the Tax System It’s important to understand Poland’s tax system and find legal ways to optimize your taxes, which will help you avoid many problems and inefficient use of resources.
Conclusion: Lessons for the Future
My experience over ten years in Poland is a blend of many moments and changes. I’ve gone through various trials and transformations, and each situation has made me more experienced and stronger. The key takeaway is understanding that successful business operations in Poland require constant self-education and openness to new opportunities. You have the chance to build a successful business in Poland if you follow the right strategy and trust in your strengths.
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