Unlocking Entrepreneurial Success: The Inspiring Journey of a Visionary Innovator

Explore the inspiring narrative behind the book "Even Nerds Can Build a Business," the innovative pizza chain "Dodo Pizza," the engaging blog "Power of Mind," and the visionary individual connecting them all: Fyodor Ovchinnikov. A man distinguished by exceptional intelligence, relentless perseverance, and unwavering belief in potential — in short, an entrepreneur from the finest perspective. The introduction to Fyodor's blog perfectly captures the essence of his book:

"This book tells the story of an entrepreneur from a very ordinary small town. It is a truthful and documentary-style account of business — a story about dreams, growth, successes, victories, mistakes, and disappointments. Evgeny Chichvarkin called it 'one of the best books on entrepreneurship.' As it happens, this book is about me."

What drives your work?

I'm the founder, co-owner, and director of the "Dodo Pizza" chain and the popular blog "Power of Mind." "Dodo Pizza" is more than just a pizza chain; we are creating a proprietary cloud-based information system to manage our unique business processes. Through cutting-edge technology, I aim to spark a small revolution in the food service industry. Our goal is to develop a "smart pizzeria" model and replicate it widely.

Today, the "Dodo Pizza" group consists of three companies: the first produces pizza through our retail network, where we test technologies, recipes, business processes, and marketing strategies; the second supports partner pizzerias as our franchising arm; and the third develops the Dodo IS information system. In many ways, "Dodo Pizza" can be considered an IT company. Our model resembles that of Apple — just as Apple sells its operating system only with its hardware, we sell our software exclusively bundled with the business franchise. We strive to create a highly efficient system where software and business are seamlessly integrated.

Our business gained recognition in Russia largely due to our openness. Since 2006, I have maintained a blog sharing everything about our business, including revenue, expenses, and profits. Transparency is key: for example, our pizzerias have live webcams in kitchens streaming pizza preparation in real-time. Currently, nine "Dodo Pizza" locations operate across seven cities — Syktyvkar, Samara, Chelyabinsk, Smolensk, Belgorod, Ukhta, and Sarapul. In the coming months, new pizzerias will open in Bashkortostan, Taganrog, and Dolgoprudny near Moscow.

What does your workspace look like?

My workspace is wherever my laptop is. My entire office fits into a backpack weighing just one kilogram. I don't have a fixed desk anymore; I am completely mobile and have long since eliminated paper. I don't keep business cards, brochures, or paper documents. If I find a contact valuable, I digitize it and discard the physical card. Documents requiring my signature are brought by responsible staff, and I approve invoices electronically.

The company grows rapidly. Often, I don't have an assigned desk and work in meeting rooms, cafes, or any available spot. However, I need a space for one-on-one conversations or focused work. Currently, I have a designated office, but when I'm away, any employee can use it. The office contains two desks, a whiteboard, and chairs. If both the office and meeting room are occupied, I schedule meetings at the nearby pizzeria under our main office in Syktyvkar — a convenient spot for casual planning sessions over coffee. Sometimes, work meetings happen in unexpected places, like forest walks or even the beach.

Adapting to this flexible work style took time. I developed the skill to work anywhere — airports, hotels, or home — enabling mobility. While this approach suits me, I ensure comfortable, permanent workspaces for colleagues who prefer them.

Regarding my desk, I prefer it clean and distraction-free. On it, you'll find my laptop, notebook, pen, sketch paper, water, and a couple of apples.

Offline office software is banned in our company. All documents are created in Google Docs, except for complex spreadsheets.

I use a MacBook Air 11" and am very satisfied with it. Speed, battery life, and lightweight design matter most to me. Limited storage encourages me to delete unnecessary files and rely on cloud storage. Its performance suits my needs since I mainly handle emails, documents, and simple spreadsheets. I don't use a mouse to save space; the trackpad suffices. I also use an iPad Mini, iPhone 4, and iPod Nano. The iPad Mini helps me check mail, manage calendars, and read books and magazines, while the iPod Nano accompanies me during runs.

One of my core work principles is that what you don't do is as important as what you do.

What software and tools do you use?

I'm an avid user and fan of Google services. My wife adds events to our shared Google Calendar, like picking up a child's certificate. I've used Gmail for the domain sila-uma.ru since 2007. At "Dodo Pizza," we use Google services under the dodopizza.com domain with a paid corporate account for 72 users. Offline office programs are prohibited; all documents are created in Google Docs except for complex spreadsheets. We maintain a structured folder system on Google Drive, with personal folders accessible to domain admins and shared folders for work documents. This keeps us organized and ensures all created content stays within the company.

We actively use Google Calendar for scheduling meetings and planning sessions. Shared Google Docs spreadsheets track payments and project management. For example, our retail sales spreadsheet is updated weekly and publicly accessible, exemplifying our transparency policy. For corporate knowledge bases, we use Google Sites, and for quick messaging, Google Talk. Our employees are spread across Syktyvkar, Moscow, Kolomna, Minsk, and Ufa. For meetings, we use Google Hangouts, similar to Skype. Franchise partners also operate within the dodopizza.com domain, each receiving three free @dodopizza.com accounts per pizzeria, granting access to knowledge bases and documents. Group-based user management allows efficient document access control. Google's service suite offers vast capabilities while remaining simple, accessible, and affordable.

I also use Dropbox, SlideShare, and on mobile devices, Google apps for mail, calendar, documents, and tasks. I enjoy Flickr for photo hosting and LucidChart for creating mind maps, diagrams, and business processes. For managing Dodo IS development, we transitioned from Basecamp to OnTime, a Scrum-focused software development management tool.

Ideally, my Gmail inbox has no unread messages. "Unread" means I haven't responded or completed the task. I check mail continuously and allocate time daily for thoughtful replies. Managing email volume is crucial; in July alone, I received 2,297 emails from 304 people and sent 840 emails to 139 recipients.

Unread messages in Gmail indicate pending responses or tasks. I may read a message but mark it unread if not ready to reply, signaling a return later. Gmail doubles as my task manager. After trying numerous task management tools like Megaplan and Basecamp, I settled on email for its flexibility. Our company enforces email standards: maximum response time is two business days; emails must have subject lines and proper greetings with correct grammar.

I enjoy drawing on paper. Though I tried the iPad with a Bamboo Wacom stylus, it lacks the tactile feel I prefer. I favor pleasant paper and fine-line capillary pens. Drawing helps me think visually. When explaining schemes, I use paper or whiteboards, even if it's just a few circles and arrows. I also sketch daily plans and multi-month project roadmaps — I am a visual thinker. After experimenting with various time and task management methods, I rely on email, Google calendars, paper, and pen. Everything else stays in my mind.

How do you organize work while traveling?

While traveling, I manage emails, write texts, prepare presentations for public speaking, read, and watch films.

What ensures your high productivity?

One key principle I follow is that what you avoid doing is as important as what you do. We often waste time on unnecessary tasks and consume vast amounts of irrelevant information that drains energy and mental space — from pointless emails to useless news. A major productivity booster is mastering concentration, filtering out noise, and avoiding distractions. I admit I’m still working on this personally.

Another factor is personal motivation and energy management. No task or time management system helps without motivation and vitality. How to stay motivated when not always doing enjoyable work? Set exciting goals and self-motivate — no one else will do it for you. I visualize desired achievements and sometimes convince myself to do unpleasant tasks by finding reasons to make them interesting or useful. Always doing only what you like is a myth!

I am also motivated when others doubt our company — it fuels my drive. Regarding energy, maintaining good physical health is crucial. Proper nutrition, regular exercise — football, cycling, running — and avoiding smoking are vital. I have completely stopped drinking alcohol and feel great, with no stress or tension. I replaced alcohol as a relaxation tool with sports and music.

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