NewsLetterMart2020FINAL-refixed

Newsletter March 2020 It is all ABOUT KNOWLEDGE WORK INTRODUCTION TO KNOWLEDGE WORK the organization is crucial in this day and age. Building a cul- ture in which this pattern is enabled and encouraged, auto- The modern office environment implies that we should matically expands views and creates new opportunities for work on our cognitive endurance. The best way to do that the organization. is by strategically organizing our efforts and timing while al- ways having in mind the type of tasks we are working on. A versatile organization involves everyone in the learning Optimization of performance and processes can double the and growing process. Knowledge workers are encouraged output, and that is the key to productive knowledge work. and expected to come up with innovative and better ways of In knowledge work, we should always contribute to the task doing the daily work. They appreciate constructive criticism, with value-added activities. In order to do that, we need to praise active listening and positive reinforcement because have a clear picture of what the task is, and to design and these elements are the foundation of a great workplace. assign our roles accordingly. Creating an organization where Knowledge workers have autonomy, take ownership, are everyone is working towards clear goals is the true goal of accountable for their actions, have a sense of purpose and knowledge work. feel joy at the same time. When a person feels appreciated Knowledge work revolves around the most important, for the dedicated input, the output will be doubled. open-ended, human capital knowledge. Acquiring, imple- menting, documenting and transferring knowledge across Aneta Dimovska

INTRODUCTION We are proud to announce the second Karpa Newsletter. As we are getting started with 2020, we all should look back. “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” – Benjamin Franklin “I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I “Challenge yourself with something you know you could never do, and what you’ll find is that established yesterday or some previous day,” said James Joyce you can overcome anything.” - Donnell Rawlings By looking back at the year that is behind us, we can get a The letters in the SMART acronym represent: clearer picture of where we are now. And what is more impor- Specific tant - where we are going. Measurable Achievable “A year from now you may wish you had started today.” Relevant Time-bound The New year is a time when we refresh and reset our lives. A time when decisions should be made. A time for setting goals. The most important thing that each of us should have in mind is having a SMART goal to complete 25% more Trello tasks than last year, and then share it with someone. Let yourself be encouraged by this Newsletter. Let yourself be inspired by your colleagues and their talents. I know I always am.

MAIN EVENTS THAT HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS Here is the list of some of the best events that took place throughout the years: Text by Marija Cilevska 2016: Very often (almost every day :) during our daily work breaks we choose to go to the local coffee shop “Bar Carsija” and have a coffee together along with mutual life stories and jokes. During the summer we had a picnic at “Golema Livada” - a meadow located on Pelister, one of the oldest national parks in the whole country. It was a very pleas- ant picnic with a lot of socializing and hanging out with the employees, and some of their closest family members. As a team of 8 people in November 2016, we went to Skopje to watch the play Monty Python’s Spamalot and the Holy Grail, a very funny musical comedy adopt- ed from the same movie. It was a very interesting trip filled with a lot of laughter and excitement which all of us enjoyed. During the Christmas Eve we had our first Chocolate Christmas party at Z and Jen’s house, filled with very entertaining games and hanging out.

Text by Marija Cilevska 2017: As the number of Karpa employees in- creased there was a need for more space so we created two teams (Batcave and Asgard) aonud2r 0bguo17itl:doiunrg,nseoweoafcfihceteianmthheasseitc’sonodwnfloooffricoef As the number of Karpa employees inacnrdeahsoelddtthheeirres wwaesekalynmeeedeptfroinrpgmrsiaointreethosefpfiaacpcee-; . We created two teams (Batcave and AsDgaurdin)gatnhdegaouttuomurnnweewhoafdficteheonfirtshtevsiseict- woDnuhdricinfhlgowotarhsoefvaeouruytruebmxucniiltdwininegmgth,eosaeodutisentaaghcseshtinfhitrwiettsshaytawsfemistprvnaooaiveshpsmepmniatertptheysrofrtsreeuooieoottrp’xgfsmniscerAr.oosiitaWtmtowhmitnuoeeeenegrprr,oeoioptAcmfnoffoffamiijocorcnoutseeeuysuct.rerlnaaoiycdAislntalwyemdatnhhatlehoegoecrountoifmlceiidlrwnlaesesRnetatothtocghwbeoopeuiannlpietltriee,,ocmwwahrRoegteehofuuediwboncekiuehiasnl-yr, Awamhlseeonrilcweafetnawcagotollceohadegdiumeapsrmeinsosvpiioeenrsaoonnnd.hWheare,dtbieomdennmcienjoahosnyu.eveesIirrede,thtbasotiehhnngceedkeatmwtuhhimsaeaeedrdeasedlcwshoiohneeuenlpmesrelpfaesrteedtaoncoeftogghnteotieodtmohrgdteveosisirestm.uhicctIsepooitrninruh,nedpim2ns2l0svkeo0iiso1s1wo9t9inltf..ey Tathhneedsmeeoxacsrtiteifnrtoghmeeevtevhenentsset,sttthwhaaottyaheraaevresn,oleatflttmiihnmtmoeohgcponueecrstgrfTavieterohehsosinmwinsemIoeitsepoandsetrnr.m,.heetsaIehsorsoswsaeutientohirtlelnaetmhwrssreteesahooevaeannyvelnroseeemdtotanhemwrtIiesnsreae,mtetrnaenhemldtrfatieoehoottsrmothnhthuaiseabneogtdvegrmheI.riaIrneIltenwethamdeafmeitlrneleemmosmsxsautctoobhvirinssteeeett-grr Until then, I am wishing you allththeembfeosrts, oMmaerijaan. other occasion. Until then, I am wishing you all the best, Marija.

Text by Niko Naka Text by Niko Naka 2016: DuwtSrraoaimndrgkietibtoahrsneiaonwkftoiphnrleakayhbniinsregetaoadrrkbaysyroticsnfakhf2eea0bpn1ape6pex,ntfwoeterod.l2wouD0unourc1u6rholid:n,fftgishcpteeheend most of our time in the “Bar sCtbiimenitbwAanytcrerthtpes2eetieda0rjhtrakrh1eeoti”6hantfbwciakttmgaehitewnagfeewmgewairndeeseoncnr,euhoawiinnsxlofldaoflkgtwesihtsnwewoaapwg.eeveTdtecehwnwhaouetiaroefsstfmuroeslweilfedtodfmtain.scltesuaTtoeocshto.upuhsiAfnihspnainttyltewihlelsefyneiia.trrcdhssesabptesmulr,etenwameonatdcesdoiklttmiiwttvtnohhiieomftteeynuhtehtladdetwuuwrhisenoungraklwbilnyregesaapdkleal nayadsng,drtwehnoeeordektinijntutgimsrteaigsnbihtdrtteinsbaigtek-, oIcnonwmwbtmhetroehoaepgermtaukeakwsbietnmeineeatgdiengtoaadiwtnlnonolshnnfdhseiofaCnposntvgielrteljiw,outnciwawsdkneteegismanst.mlgdilotwaitasdiilhngntlerpngoegr,ohfeerstytodihwsnkuiecnicepteaoswmclwtoooahigrfcmhakhttgopiitnvwtuwebiigynttaeyseggdsdrb.davheyesuoaastrwgmt,tineidrogrlans.rgtTssthiisosuairsssetahlvegearse,matehs.eoAnnfttwheeer rpbeloawuygeinrhget tdInhagdAoCetrruathrtobrrsietcutsrhsfekeptoeeialismvrstbkeoetasaehsfsngw,tegodiatnauhofgwnysefoafsireipnlmclevoglemasewwwya.tg,eihAenniwrraagfeldesttgei.dcewdfTrooadehnrpmrrgtteoleospaostyeeatpckitnonalnhiatdgmobaicotwopoewpenupndeaihstneetmonefdnogwniriinaanlsilnmgtmgoghnk.rswoeeoiWnwniwanogtgetehg)fs.cridrtieondidfffelnoeoo,tarenovdfeKnthaferepemal at(hiwnahteevinreenthtthadetutCriimnLgTe wethme aredaesoanPtowbeury odfarMtsofmoerntht ewohfifcihcereamndaitnoebdein our memory. Now, whenever wbeepCIinnglLgmaitnTchcene’esonidnfttpfigeeoeasenrmiaaotdhtndaaedrKrtetatotshhnrfipaeorodannwlmld.eof)laTwwotihhns,oielwsreotecocttrofcefafourKfd,eprasigetareoiptoestiaonhya.noobh(pwudoahuusnfoertacirrndmoeagrneitnttgdhihknaee-“umBeaedr.oCUf dnatarislritjtash”:e,) it reminds us of the next edition of the breaks was playing darts and winning. We did not even feel that in that period we made Pow- er of Moment which remained in our memory and whenever we mention darts and the coffee place named “Bar Carsija” it reminds us of the beginnings at Karpa. This tradition has contin- ued. Until the next edition of the newsletter, see you for a game of darts :)

They say that many times traditions form spontaneously. For us at Karpa MK, from a simple work break in 2017 when we went to eat kebap (meat kebabs) in a traditional restaurant nearby, we created a tradition of having a monthly lunch together. Sometimes, we would have this traditional lunch to celebrate a special occasion and we would always go to Old Bitola’s Carsija (Bitola’s old bazaar marketplace where the office is located). For those who do not know, Old Bitola’s Carsija is a place that has been part of many songs for Bitola, shown in numerous TV shows, and a place visited by many tourists and visitors during the summer. With its authenticity, architecture, and vi- brant atmosphere during the summer, Old Bitola’s Carsija ensures the time spent there will be even more interesting. All stories about the Carsija began at least 50 years ago. According to the sto- ries, in those small traditional restaurants in Old Bitola’s Carsija, a lot of events happened, including trade of goods and services. Motivated by these stories of doing business in the Carsija, we also use this atmosphere to make plans for next steps, finding solutions to technical problems, and finding directions to move for- ward in our professional setting. We have a map of the traditional restaurants in the Carsija and our goal and mission is to go and have kebap in all of them, in order to decide which is the best place for kebap. After finding our favorite, we will make a photo which reminds us of this Power of Moment. This means that we do not need much to be content, we only need to find creative ways to do it.

Text by Ljubinka Cavdarovska “We are not a team because we work together. We are a team because we re- spect, trust, and care for each other“ - Vala Afshar The most successful teams are those that work together collaboratively and ef- ficiently. They’re professional, reliable and respectful of the company and the company’s values, as well as each other. And at the end of the day, they feel like family. Our Karpa team is like a family. Here we feel safe, worth, and happy. Here we learn how to help one other, help our colleagues to realize their potential and create an environment that allows everyone to go beyond their limitations. In the last couple of months, our team had a lot of events, that made us as a team closer and stronger, which helped to raise the trust between Karpa team members.

In January we had a team-building event with all Karpa MK and UK mem- bers in Ohrid, where we spent a great time together, we had team games, din- ner together, and with one word we en- joyed together. Also, part of this event was our col- league from England, Ian, whose birth- day we celebrated and surprised him with a birthday cake.

Every team had their own team building activities and they enjoyed the time spent together. Team building activities foster the idea of working together.

KARPA TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES Everyone loves to be recognized and rewarded for finishing the goals and tasks. The Power of Moments is an opportunity to mark successfully finished tasks and projects, for which there is a defined SMART or PQA from the start, and the re- sults can be seen. The Power of Moments is a direct outcome of completing our pursued goals.

We must not forget our Karpa kids. Last year we had a Christmas Party where the kids decorated cookies, and we en- joyed our time together with the kids.

At the end of the day, nothing feels more like a family than everyone being proud of your achievements and supporting you when you’re down. Fostering great working relationships between your staff is important for productivity, innovation, and in the end, your business success. I included more pictures than words because every picture has a story to tell...

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu! Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a self-de- fense oriented martial art that focuses on grappling or ground fighting. It utilizes fighting techniques and sub- mission holds such as joint locks and chokeholds to neutralize the strength or size advan- tages that an opponent may have. Billy started training in Bra- zilian Jiu Jitsu over two years ago and is now co-owner of the Fusion Jiu Jitsu gym. Car- ly helps teach the kids class two days a week and is progressing quickly. While visiting the office in North Carolina, Konstanins visited Fusion Jiu Jitsu with Billy. Here’s Billy in a tournament in 2018 where he won second place in his division. Carly, Billy, and Billy’s son, William, also attended a regional Pedro Sauer affiliate testing event where they helped stu- dents that are testing for new belt ranks.

Karpa US Christmas Dinner Teresa was being “Santa” handing out the gifts she made! Some of us in our fresh Karpa swag

An Interview with Carly 1. Your thoughts about the Karpa work one could follow to get the most out of 3. How you are going to take what you culture - the importance of the SMAC, a book (this would be the basis for the learned from the SMAC and apply it to written report we are supposed to write reading, etc.: and submit to Z after reading). Just other new areas of your life? I believe that the most important part of Probably the most helpful part of the the work culture at Karpa is being will- some basic prompts like: Karpa SMAC for me was applying the ing and ready to help regardless of the In 1 paragraph describe the main point SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achieva- task (i.e. even if you don’t know how to ble, Realistic, and Time based) method do something when asked). To me this is the author is making to tasks. While I didn’t always apply it as the essential part of being a knowledge List 1-3 things you agree with consistently as I would have liked, just worker. When a task was assigned to me List 1-3 things you disagree with being aware of this process has helped or I was part of a PQA, I always asked List 1-3 things you will try to apply to me complete projects/tasks or at the myself “What can I personally do to your work life from this book. very least know that it is a good meth- move this task/project forward or help The above would at least have given me od to move forward when I get stuck on the team members I am working with to the motivation to read through a book something difficult. It’s something I think do so”. Sometimes I would do this in oth- answering these specific questions, or er areas not my expertise if those I was other questions Z agreed with, to have a will help me going forward. working with (who were expert in that more clear WHY as to what we need to 4. Your hobbies, new ventures: part) were too busy with other tasks, answer for the book reports. etc. I hope I never did this to the point I intend to learn more about organic gar- of annoyance to other team members! It Meetings: dening over the next 6 months with the was always in the spirit of “let’s get this I’ll be honest, a lot of times they felt intention of selling my own produce at like an echo chamber. To me I think you local farmer markets and also possibly DONE!” could possibly format the meetings like starting my own CSA (Community Sus- 2. Your thoughts about the reading list the following and they would have more tained Agriculture). I also want to get or the weekly reading for the meet- back to creating visual art for my own meaningful engagement: ings: Each team member got a chance to enjoyment and possibly to sell. choose an article (this would help par- 5. Is this a “so long, but not goodbye” Honestly Robin, I think the reading and because you may be involved in an- meetings are good in theory, but per- ticipation) other trip to MK for the Lighthouse of sonally feel there could be the following As part of the meeting there would be a pulse check on how projects are going Hope? improvements made to them: for everyone. “How’s everyone’s work- I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Reading: load/projects this week?” by asking this the entire Karpa team in the USA and question, it would possibly help people MK and also everyone at OSG and SCP. I am very glad that I started reading get things off their chest and mitigate Please know that I will miss you all very business related books as I have gotten frustration as the group could discuss much and am grateful for your friend- fresh perspectives from them. I would possible solutions to whatever was in- ship! I wish you all the best for the re- not have done this without starting to hibiting success for each person. Basi- mainder of 2020 and beyond and will read books on our Karpa reading list. cally, rather than us stuffing, smiling and be in touch. I hope to return to MK very That being said, I did not read as much struggling on, it would be a 10-15 minute as I should have (or would have liked), forum (after the article was read) where soon. partly because I never felt like I had time any issues/interpersonal problems to do so during work hours. This might could be safely discussed and helpfully be too rigid, but I would almost say it would be helpful to create a sheet of dealt with. reading comprehension prompts that