Michael Tutek is the founder & CEO at preezie, a retail experience platform that enables brands to empower shopping experiences through individuality.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
I started working at the good guys. This is where I developed a love for sales, tech and psychology and created the concept of preezie.
They bring the in-store shopping experience online. Post that I went and studied engineering and finance. Moved into electrical engineering then sales. Post that I started preezie and met my co-founder Quoc.
2) What does a day in your life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
My days are pretty scattered to be honest. Two days a week we go into the office, on those days we try to get as many of the face to face meetings done. Like interviewing applicants, doing any 1 to 1 with local staff.
On the days I work from home, I typically start at the same time I start when I’m in the office, just to keep the routine similar. But aside from that I don’t have any strict routines and guidelines that I follow. I typically take it day by day.
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
We currently run a hybrid working model. Where we all come into the office two days per week with our team. We are a small team so it’s important to still see each other and touch base in person here and there. It also allows us to get to know each other better, have lunches together and Friday night drinks.
4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
I look at work-life balance a little differently to most. I believe people should do what makes them happy. For me work and life are not easily separated. As the founder of a business that does 60% of our work from home it’s more joined.
I like that though. Personally that works for me as I love what I do and have the flexibility to spend time with friends and family, go to doctors at 11am on a Tuesday, etc. To me personally, I see the idea of work life balance being something more long term and short term.
For example, many may see it as 8 hours work, 8 hours family and friends, 8 hours rest. However, I typically see it more long term, as in over your lifetime how much time did you spend doing the things you love. I believe people should work towards putting more time into the things they enjoy doing.
If you want to play more long term for example, and in order to do that the way you want, you may need to build more financial freedom. So you may work or study or upskill more for 5 or 10 years to allow yourself to do that so you can spend more time playing, I think that is fine.
5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?
Nah, I am not a routine kind of person. The closest thing I have to a routine is going into the office two days a week.
6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?
A podcast I listen to on occasion is StarTalk Radio, it’s not business related, it’s more about space, stars and the planet. It’s funny, while being relaxing and educational. In terms of business in my space, The SaaS Podcast is pretty good.
7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?
I do relax a fair bit, so Netflix and Spotify are two things at this point I could not live without. Another that is given is my car.
I think my love for tech and the amount of time I spend in tech has made me appreciate nature. So every weekend Tanya (my partner) and I go drive out to the Dandenong Ranges or Macedon Ranges and just chill, walk and eat to relax in nature.
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