Closing the Chapter of our Office Space
As we gear up for a new office move, it seems an opportune time to indulge in some reflection – and perhaps some laughter – regarding our stay at Mletačka 12, our Pula office. For the past four years, this has been the place of the Sprend company’s headquarters in the Istrian Development Agency Incubator. Here we built our team and upgraded things by hiring three more developers who very quickly became integrated into the fabric of our story. The ambiance allowed one to learn new skills and embrace new ideas as we all seemed to be nurturing each other’s creativity.
But simple working in the office wasn’t the only feature – many individual quirks, challenges and funny stories created the atmosphere that the office was more than just a shared space.
The ‘Bright’ Battle: A Funny Battle
Development was not just about the code; it also included our daily Seinfeld episodes. One of the most amusing was the ongoing struggle with the fluorescent lights. Every morning, we would eagerly open the curtains to let in the sunlight. But then, Arne would arrive, pouch in hand, and without hesitation, flip the switch, banishing the natural light and plunging us back into a glare that prompted an array of comical complaints: “Are we coding or performing surgery here?”
This playful banter always lightened the mood, with someone inevitably chiming in with a witty remark. Over time, however, Arne found himself persuaded to join the ‘dark side’—a decision that delighted us. So, when someone asks Arne: “What was your biggest team change?” He can mention this. For a start.
Widening Our Growth Quality with New Partnerships
The process was not internal only; some external partnerships complemented our work. One highlight was working together with Consonna’s Martina, or to say it in our office: “Martina the Great”. Her professionalism and good vibes enhanced our projects and improved our small stay in the so-called Pink Building.
Working with her was a textbook example of how performing teamwork is supposed to be done. More lessons were learned, we expanded ourselves, and a lot of coffee was shared, some of which, Arne will take the blame, and may have been taken out of the house.
The Great Coffee Heist
Coming to the point of coffee, no regular drink for Arne, but a proper entertainment strategy. Every morning we would watch him going into the kitchen and making himself a cup of Martina’s blended coffee. "Where's Arne?” “Oh, probably off on another coffee mission!” These small light-hearted episodes, the small contests we created to cheer ourselves that made this office special; made us proud contributors of this office.
Tanja’s Wisdom and Wit
Now, no reflection is complete without a mention of Tanja, our Croatian director. While Tanja wore many hats, she did so with style and a touch of humor to organize us all, keeping everything on its proper course. One of her best leadership qualities was being able to transition so easily from working to socializing.
She would be in a heated strategy meeting discussing ideas and vision and then turn around and say something insightful. There were many moments with her, but after most of them, one would exit feeling smarter and inspired.
Learning and Growing Together
It’s never just about writing computer programs. It concerned acquiring abilities, new ways of seeing things and engaging with our neighbors. We built friendships out of working on things like fixing the redundant wifi, conquering cold and empty halls, making a mistake with the code, and activating the security alarm.
We matured as a company but more importantly as a team as we learned from each other and from the ever-changing environment that surrounded us.
Move to the New Prologue
And now once again, as we gather our things (and yes some snacks), we do not forget the next stage of our journey with a feeling of anticipation. It may also be summer and the holiday season that has injected there some sense of nostalgia, but we are very curious to know what kind of antics we will have in our new premises.