You can succeed in both competitive swimming and an IT company with a goal if you have motivation and self-discipline. At least that’s what Simons Bilis believes – Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics competitor and current holder of several national records.
Read on to learn more about his career path and further explore the parallel between setting records on the swimming track and Hostinger.
Childhood in the Swimming Pool
Simon and swimming go way back. His grandmother and aunt were both swimming coaches and his mom did water aerobics. So it’s no wonder he was already splashing and wading into a pool when he was just four. Although it was just a game then, it began to shape the future champion.
“My family didn’t put much pressure on me to take up swimming as a sport. Everything came naturally. First, you are encouraged to learn to swim. Then you wonder how fast you can get through the track and it’s all slow and steady from there. However, it wasn’t always so easy to maintain my motivation and discipline to get up early every day to go to the pool before classes and then once again after school. Therefore, I am grateful to my parents who did not force me but, let’s say, guided me enough to continue,” says Simonas.
Reaching the top
Finally, all the effort and persistence began to pay off and Simon began to show his true potential. A turning point was when he started representing Lithuania in international competitions at the age of 16-17. Then he realized that swimming is not just a hobby but something bigger. Soon, Simon was competing at the highest level there is.
“The highest point was, of course, going to the Rio Olympics and swimming in the final there. Then that same year, I went to the World Short Course Championships and won gold and bronze. One of my biggest achievements is that I broke a Lithuanian 50m record and a Lithuanian 100m freestyle record that stood for 20 years or more. I felt very good”, remembers Simonas.
New opportunity in IT
Unfortunately, Simons had an injury that took him a long time to recover from. Even after that, he didn’t feel as comfortable swimming as he used to. As a result, Simonas has decided to end his professional swimming career in 2022.
“Then I thought it was a good time to change something in my life and I started looking for new opportunities. I’ve always been interested in IT, so when I saw an ad for a position at Hostinger, I thought to myself, “Why not?”. Since my job before was swimming, I had to learn a lot to start a new career. But I was willing to do it and I made my motivation clear. I think that’s the main reason I got the job,” says Simonas.
Taking the next step
Simonas is a good example of how dedication and the desire to improve can take you far. It took less than a year for a former swimmer to go from junior to senior Customer Success agent.
Now, he works on bigger projects, actively helping other teams with product development and making sure that Hostinger customers have to contact the Customer Success team less and less often.
“At Hostinger, you always have the opportunity to grow. I started with little technical knowledge, but found myself in a place where I could quickly absorb new information, gain experience and thus have an opportunity for professional development and growth. But, of course, you have to have that drive to go the extra mile and see a specific goal. When I first joined, I set myself a goal of reaching a mid-level position in half a year. I did it. Then I gave myself another six months to work my way up to a senior role. I achieved that too”, reveals Simonas.
Self-discipline is essential
Simons believes that self-discipline and coming from a professional sports background, where striving towards a goal is imperative, helps him succeed at work as well.
“Hostinger employees have a lot of freedom. No one is standing behind your back or micromanaging you. But you have to have that responsibility towards your work. It’s the same with professional swimming – your coach can’t control how much effort you put into each workout or whether you give 100% every time. It’s up to you. At the same time, your coach’s guidance and support is invaluable. Likewise, team leaders, mentors and a supportive environment in general greatly contribute to the personal growth and success of any Hostinger employee,” Simonas asserts.
Enjoying the Journey
As important as personal goals are, you should also enjoy the journey towards them. That’s what Simonas believes is the key to achieving any goal – whether it’s in the pool or at work. After all, if moving toward a goal isn’t rewarding, maybe there’s no point in trying to achieve it.
“Of course, there will be challenges, and maybe even times when you want to give up, but if you enjoy what you’re doing with the right attitude, you’ll find a way to move forward and you can achieve a lot. I think this is the main lesson I learned from my years of participation in sports. I am happy to apply this lesson in my life and share it with others”, says Simonas.
Are you also motivated to learn and have fun? Explore our careers page – you might just be the right fit.
Part of Hostinger’s Communications Team, Kotryna is responsible for building and maintaining media relations and ensuring that the organization’s achievements and initiatives receive public recognition. In her free time, Kotryna likes to explore new places and take pictures.
