How to Become Your Own Boss at 24 – An Interview with Matic Benet (by Hannah Stirling)

Author: Matic Benet January 17, 2019 9 min read

Aged 24 and your own boss? It’s a dream many have. I spoke to Matic Benet – founder and owner of Organized.Si – to find out how he made this dream a reality.

Organized.si was officially founded just one year ago. However, Matic has been creating his signature planners for four years now, and slowly but surely expanding his line of products. Originally an aspiring architect, Matic’s brand began after he used his digital design skills to produce a planner which suited his needs, after finding that none of those on the market were what he was looking for. After seeing Matic’s original design, family and friends asked him to create them a copy, and things grew from there. Now, at 24 years old, Matic is continuing working towards achieving a Masters in Architecture, whilst single-handedly running his own business.

Matic Benet, owner and founder of Organized.si and Matic Benet Ceramics.

Photo by Uroš S. Abram, @slikaj.se

I interviewed Matic to find out how he established his own brand at such a young age, and to find out about the future plans for Organized.Si.

How Did you Go About Officially Setting Up a Brand at Such a Young Age?

The thought of setting up my own brand at this age seems completely overwhelming. However, Matic assured me that he had felt the same and that there was so much to learn during the creation process. His way of overcoming the vast business side of things was to take it slowly, “Learn everyday, there’s always something new to be learned but you just have to tackle things one step at a time. You just have to start and keep swimming.”

“Selling products is really hard at first but it’s a challenge you must force yourself to overcome.” Matic said that he initially had no confidence when it came to sales. However, with time and practice he’s learned how to successfully reach out to potential customers, being positive and showing them what makes his products so unique, and approaching shops in person, carrying some products with him for the shop-owners to assess.

The Realities of Being your Own Boss

Just two months ago, Matic quit his job as an interior designer in an Architect’s office to invest in his passion and work on his brand. I asked Matic about the realities of working for yourself, to find out if it’s truly all it’s made out to be. One of the main advantages that Matic mentioned was the freedom to choose your own working hours. Not only does this allow you to shape your working week, it allows for flexibility in your social life too, so long as you are fully committed to the brand. Matic discussed how his social plans used to revolve around his working week, but now his working week can revolve around his social plans.

As a self-employed young person, Matic also discussed how he enjoys the freedom of having no routine – no specific, constant working hours, no day-in-and-day-out routine to get tired of. However, having so much freedom with your time requires you to be disciplined and motivated to use it effectively, and Matic highlighted that a routine may actually be beneficial to some people with their own brand, it’s just not something he ever liked.

How do You Keep Yourself Organised?

Photo by Uroš S. Abram, @slikaj.se

As a young entrepreneur, of course, organisation is key. Thankfully, staying organised comes as second nature to the creator of ‘Organized.si’ himself. When I asked him how he stays on top of his business, Matic laughed, saying; “I genuinely use all of my products” before showing me all of the products he carries around with him. Matic is literally a walking catalogue for his brand; using his notebooks to store to-do lists, this year’s planner to house his schedule, next year’s planner to prepare everything for the year ahead, and always carrying his laptop from which he keeps the business in check.

Matic’s Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:

1) Be aware that it’s not all fun and games.

There is a lot of paperwork involved in having your own brand. The designing is exciting but there’s a lot of paperwork and admin too, approximately 60-70% of having your own brand is paperwork.

2) Everybody needs help and support.

Matic showcasing an Organized.si bowl.

Photo by Uroš S. Abram, @slikaj.se

As much as this is very much an individual project, Matic made it very clear that he still relies on the support of others. For example, he has a friend who is a photographer who helps him to create the content for his social media and with advertising his products.

3) Social media can be a tool for success.

It’s important to maintain a keen social media presence and Matic believes that the most effective approach to social media is to keep it personal and honest. Matic documents everything – the making process, photo-shoots, selling his products at arts fairs, he even photographed our coffees at this interview. This genuine social media presence reminds followers of the personal nature of the brand and ensures that he is telling the brand’s story.

4) You need some money to start.

Whether it is money you’ve saved from your student loans or from a job you’ve had, you need some money to register and start your own company.

5) Just start.

There are a lot of elements required for having your own brand – photography, paperwork, shipping – and, although it can seem overwhelming and off-putting, you just have to slowly but surely start getting through it.

What are your Plans for the Future?

As successful as it has already proven to be, Organized.si is only just getting started and there are big plans for the future and development of the company. Matic commented; “I actually love collaborations with other brands.” An example of a collaborative line is the Organized.si animal pots (metal crockery), and Matic assured me that there are already some big plans for new collaborations in the works to be announced next year. He said that artists and designers find each other at craft fairs and art markets, and then literally reach out to each other via text and social media to suggest collaborations.

Creating products for Matic Benet Ceramics.

Photo by Uroš S. Abram, @slikaj.se

Matic also hopes to grow Organized’s social media following and intends on expanding Organized’s social media presence altogether, through creating an online community which can then be used as a platform for advice (such as for tips on how to become more organised).

Finally, Matic intends to carry on with developing the brand and is simultaneously working to create a second brand, Matic Benet Ceramics. Ceramics originally started out as a hobby for Matic – much like Organized originally did – and is slowly but surely becoming a successful business.

International expansion

Organized.si notebook.

Photo by Kristin Švab, @kristijansvab

During a recent trip to London, Matic’s photographer friend tried to find stores which would stock Organized.si products. However, Matic’s initial hope is to expand to Croatia and Austria, two of the countries which border Slovenia. He also plans to go to StijlMarkt, a designers’ market in Germany where independents are supported and often flourish.

To facilitate international success, Organized products are written in an equal combination of Slovenian and English language. For instance, the packing list is written in Slovene on one page, and then on the next is the direct translation, written in English. The two lists can be compared and even valued as a language tool, as both say the same things just in different languages. However, the planner is written wholly in English but includes Slovenian holidays. This Slovenian element to his products is something I really love. It shows that Matic is aware of the international market but is also staying true to, and refusing to abandon, his Slovenian roots.

It’s evident that Matic’s work is a passion project. He laughed about how he find time passes so quickly when he’s creating new products. “It’s almost like yoga, it’s cool. I sometimes just start making things and after six hours I’m like what time is it? It’s dark outside, I haven’t eaten.’ Ceramics is the new yoga!”

One of my favourite moments during the interview was when Matic told me about how some nights he’s too excited to sleep, saying; “When you’re so excited (about your business), you can’t sleep.” I think this is the goal for most of us, to be so in love with what we do that it keeps us up in excited anticipation.

‘It’s hard as hell, it’s really hard but you just have to start and keep going. I’m not there yet but you have to work a lot, be 100% in. Still, for me, it’s hard but you have to keep going and find people who are willing to help you. My friends and even my Mum helps me. Ideas and designing stuff is one thing but there’s a whole other side to it – paperwork and taxes. I love it because you’re your own boss with complete control over your time. Not even just your working time, also social time. It’s hard work but I would recommend it.”

A massive thank you to Matic for doing this interview with me. It was incredible to meet someone so genuine, interesting and, more than anything, passionate about their work.