Social Friday: Turning the Least Productive Day into a Force for Good with Fikret Zendeli

In this episode of the Aligned and Thriving podcast, host Judith Bowtell interviews Fikret Zendeli, a civil engineer, entrepreneur, and founder of the Social Friday initiative. Fikret, who was born in Macedonia and studied in Switzerland, shares his inspiring story and the idea behind Social Friday, which aims to make better use of the least productive workday which is Friday afternoon by dedicating time to social causes. The conversation covers topics such as work-life balance, social cohesion, community engagement, and the potential impact of small actions on creating a more connected society.

Podcast Episode Summary

• Fikret's background and upbringing, including his experiences growing up in Macedonia and Switzerland, and the values instilled in him by his family.
• The concept of Social Friday and how it was born from an article about productivity on Fridays.
• Implementing Social Friday in Fikret's company and the benefits it brings for both employees and local communities.
• The potential of Social Friday to increase social awareness, foster connections, and create opportunities for non-profit organizations.
• Addressing the challenges of time scarcity and encouraging companies to lead by example in creating opportunities for social engagement.
• Future plans for Social Friday, including building a matching platform, incorporating gamification, and promoting the initiative globally.

Recommended resources:

Guest:  Fikret Zendeli

Social Fridays Website

Outro

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Chapters

• 4:09 Work-Life Balance: Fikret's morning routine and work-life balance practices.
• 6:59 Social Friday Origins: How the idea was born and implemented at Fikret's company.
• 12:40 Social Friday Benefits: Potential benefits for companies, employees, non-profits and society.
• 21:55 Addressing Time Scarcity: Encouraging participation despite perceived time constraints.
• 24:31 Leading by Example: Importance of companies creating social good opportunities.
• 29:19 Supporting Companies: Providing templates and guidelines to implement Social Friday.
• 33:35 Future Plans: Vision including a matching platform, gamification, "official hymn".

Transcript

[00:00:00] Judith Bowtell: Hi everybody. It's Judith Bowtell, the host of Aligned and Thriving, your podcast that looks into all things to do with work life balance. In that we also examine why some work is fulfilling, why some may not be that fulfilling, and what you can do to change your circumstances as well. And we do that by having conversations with fantastic people all around the world who are taking different approaches to work and life and expressing their values through both. And today I am thrilled to be joined by Fikret Zendeli. Hi Fikret!

[00:00:43] Fikret Zendeli: Hello, Judith. Thanks a lot for the invitation and conversation that we're going the next couple of minutes. Really looking forward to this.

[00:00:52] Judith Bowtell: Fantastic.

[00:00:53] Fikret Zendeli: some spirits.

[00:00:54] Fikret Zendeli: Fikret 

[00:00:55] Judith Bowtell: is coming to us today from Macedonia, from Skopje, which is the capital there. We've caught him on this side of his work week, because I believe the other side of it, you go back to Switzerland, which is Fikret is. Fikret was born. So he studied in Zurich. Although I see from your CV, you actually did your El Salvador schooling in North Macedonia. So we'll hear more about that. And by trade he is a civil engineer. He also has a postgraduate degree in business management. And also, I think this is really interesting, a Diploma of Advanced Study in Psychology. He's the founder of a civil engineer company called Breon, which has offices in Switzerland and Macedonia, hence the dual travelling lifestyle that he has. And he's also the founder of Social Friday. Which we're going to hear more about so I won't spoil any of that right now. But Social Friday is a innovation in how we approach work and our time management and how we give meaning to both. He's had a whole lot of recognition around this but I think giving that information about where it's been recognised before I actually talk about the project will be quite confusing. So maybe we'll jump into that. Fikret, what is Social Friday?

[00:02:22] Fikret Zendeli: Social Friday is an initiative actually to make a more meaningful use of the least productive time, which is in fact, Friday, in particular, Friday afternoon. So there are a lot of studies around this topic. And the latest study was about this phenomenon actually was presented around a two months ago done by the Texas A& M University. Many of us already know actually that Friday is the least productive time and the idea behind social Friday is to make better use of that to dedicate that time, that least productive time to a social cause with your team.

[00:02:58] Judith Bowtell: Fantastic. So we'll hear a bit more about that as we go into the episode. But I just want to let you know that it's had it's mostly operating in Europe at the moment. But it's been recognised by Fast Company as a world changing idea. Fikret has spoken at TEDx and Zurich, and it's been an editor's pick on YouTube. It also does a lot of other sort of speaking events for companies, including some of the biggies out there, Adidas, Meta, Google, and L'Oreal. I'm really fascinated by the idea of Social Friday got in touch with me soon after we started Aligned and Thriving. I just went social Friday. Oh, yeah, doesn't everyone do that? I feel like here in Australia maybe it's been a bit altered by work from home and COVID, et cetera, but I've always feel like we've got the culture of Friday afternoon, it's early knockoff time, if you can. And time to get out and focus on your social obligations, maybe your family, all your work friends or whatever. But as I said, we'll get into this a bit more, but I want to start with Fikret as we start with all our guests. What have you done lately for your work life balance? 

[00:04:09] Fikret Zendeli: As mosts of the time. So I try to keep a daily routine, which helps me a lot. Certain structure in life. That means for me personally, get up early at around plus minus 5 AM, do my exercises, do my meditation have some me time between six and seven o'clock where I just can listen to the birds outside and just enjoy my coffee and maybe read something. Without any influence from outside. So it's a very good way that helps me a lot to start my day in a calm way and to structure myself and to give a direction to my day and then create a list, actually a structure, like what kind of goals do I want to achieve that day and then try to follow that list. That's actually all a lot of sport as well. So cycling and yeah, that's actually, it's nothing very spectacular, but it helps me a lot to stay grounded and balanced and quite calm, even the surroundings sometimes isn't that calm.

[00:05:12] Judith Bowtell: I think that's a great practice of having calm me time in the morning and quite a few of the guests on this program have spoken about how they've either had that in the past or they reintroduced it or they try and build it in, especially when they're working over different timelines or know that they've got to be working late into the evening or they've got other commitments on, but just making sure they have some time for themselves, even the mornings it means you'd know you've given yourself something before the day takes everything away.

[00:05:44] Fikret Zendeli: I think it makes quite a huge difference when you know okay, you start your day with something that is already good for you. No and without feeling the pressure, like you're missing out something like you should respond to someone during that time. Because during that time, at least for me, nobody is asking anything from my side. So it's really something I can be for myself and I don't have to feel bad about it.

[00:06:09] Judith Bowtell: No. Yeah. Yeah. I used to do that. When I went to the local swimming pool long, long time ago, and when I was more active and when I had a very active dog, there were times when I was getting up very . Yes, making time, creating rituals and practices in the morning. It's a fantastic thing to do.

[00:06:27] Fikret Zendeli: Absolutely. absolutely believe in that, but it's super, super important. And it's getting even more and more important because the amount of distractions that are around are getting just bigger and bigger these days. So we have to start to live more into the present moment and to be more aware of that present moment. What is going on around us and does good to us and what we should maybe try to avoid a little bit so that we can stay clear and.

[00:06:57] Judith Bowtell: Yeah, absolutely. Now you run your own company so you're an employer, you've got multiple clients in the construction sector. So you're doing engineering and 

[00:07:09] Fikret Zendeli: Services. Yes. 

[00:07:10] Judith Bowtell: great. So that's fairly high pressure, I would imagine. Yeah.

[00:07:15] Fikret Zendeli: A very demanding. Have a huge amount of responsibility towards your people that present you the trust of the clients and the same also towards your team. So then you have you do need to be extremely precise in what you do. Actually, you need to be very much on time, especially when you work. For a demanding market like Switzerland with all the quality requirements it is a very demanding topic for me, but of course for my team, for everyone involved now. So how within that circle where we are within that chain, how to create a healthy balance so that everyone can be best. So it's a challenge. I'm not saying I have the perfect recipe for that. But there is at least a lot of awareness for that topic. That it's super, super important

[00:08:05] Judith Bowtell: Yeah.

[00:08:06] Fikret Zendeli: not to burn out actually, and to take some so that we can still do our best and that we can perform with joy as good as it's possible.

[00:08:15] Judith Bowtell: Yeah. How did you develop your values of quality commitment, the various things that take to set up your own business to complete, to achieve what you have achieved? What did you learn as a kid growing up in Switzerland and Macedonia as well? Mostly Switzerland? Yeah. Tell us the early story.

[00:08:35] Fikret Zendeli: Oh, actually, I have to make a short correction. So I was born in Macedonia. I grew up with my grandparents and my mom, my brother and my sister. We had a little farm. We used to have one cow, usually one horse so to produce some milk. And so I know all the field work. So what it takes to feed to feed the cow and the horse it was quite an interesting childhood. Blessed actually with a lot of warmth and love actually given by my grandparents and my mother since my father used to work in Switzerland back then. It was a very normal thing for a lot of people in our surrounding back then. And then the war in Yugoslavia started in the early nineties. So my parents decided that we need to move to Switzerland to join my father. So then I continued there with the school a lot of respect that we received from the people where from in the town where I grew up. But one of the main lessons that I got during that period actually was from my father that told me like, Hey, if you have something, make sure that also your neighbours will do good. We'll be good because they also need to feed their children. So if you have more. Let's say that the average, then you need to give back to the society to take care of the society so that everyone has more actually. In Macedonia, so where I returned back from Switzerland in 2010 you see a lot of cases on daily basis with people that are less fortunate, less blessed. That are fighting every day to make it through, so that's, that picture is on daily basis, it is visible. And also the question in your head okay, what's my part in this whole story? What can I do? What is my responsibility? What can I do in the scope of possibilities? I do have to make a change in this community. I think. Here, every one of us do have a responsibility. So we are part of this society, and we have responsibility.

[00:10:40] Judith Bowtell: It's so good to hear us thinking Bernie Sanders would be very proud of you. But it's not the accumulation of personal wealth is it doesn't create a functioning society. It creates wealthy people, but unless there is a sharing of resources, it doesn't. Doesn't work.

[00:10:58] Fikret Zendeli: Judith, I believe there is enough on this planet for everyone. So it's as you mentioned, so it's all about how we share it, how it's spread the whole wealth. And here to create the change, a lasting change, a long term change. I believe that we need to work on awareness and we will never be able to stop few people having more than the average. I think it was like that in the past and the history it's now. And it will be also like that in the future. But how can we include these people? That do have much more than they actually need. How can we include them in the society, in the community? So to take more care of the community. I think that's the more interesting question than to think about ways, how to stop them to make more money, because you will not achieve that.

[00:11:44] Judith Bowtell: But helping people to find interesting things to do with the money that they have, that are more interesting than buying another car or another property. I've shared about how Lynn Twist is somebody who inspires me in her book, The Soul of Money. She's a fundraiser for the Hunger Project and things like that. And she talks about how she approaches, the mega wealthy, who she does raise money with is basically that conversation of what are you going to do with, you've done a big deal, you've sold a property, you've sold a business, what are you going to do with the money? And they go, oh, invest it or do this, and she goes, yeah that's fine. Have you thought about, would you like to see some photos of my last trip to Africa? Would you like to see some other ideas about what people are doing with that amount of money and what impact you can make? And all of a sudden. People get interested in the possibility. So I guess that's where we get to your passion project, if I can call it that, which is Social Friday. So we're going to pull it out a bit more. And so it started with an article you read about British Airways. So what was that article saying?

[00:12:48] Fikret Zendeli: It says as I said before, that what most of us already know that people do switch off on Friday in particular on a Friday afternoon. And while I was reading that article, I was really smiling. I thought to myself like if that's the case of the British Airways. It will be hardly any different in my company. So how can I use that fact in a more meaningful way for my company, but also for the society. And that's where the idea of Social Friday got born.

[00:13:14] Judith Bowtell: Great. So did you start it in your own company? Yeah.

[00:13:17] Fikret Zendeli: Yes. I think that has also something to do with the mindset. I think we should try at least to lead like, and be like a role model, instead of to invest too much of our energy and to complain and blame all the others for everything, but it's not going well. I think we should try to use that energy and to lead by a good example. Within the scope of possibilities that we have, let's say now, even as a smaller company. So yes, we started in our own company.

[00:13:44] Judith Bowtell: Fantastic. I love to see it starting in a small company because we do hear stories about what bigger companies do achieve, but most people work in a small organisation, so it's good to see models that work. And so Social Friday got born and where is it up to now? What is some of the projects you've completed or you're working on or how's it going?

[00:14:06] Fikret Zendeli: I think there is still a lot of work to bring this idea, this initiative to the place where I personally believe it belongs.

[00:14:13] Judith Bowtell: Yeah.

[00:14:13] Fikret Zendeli: I think it should become a standard because it makes a lot of sense. So if you dive a little bit deeper into the whole story, whole idea, concept behind and what can be achieved through such a simple idea, actually. It is mind blowing. It is amazing. So we started back then in our company, we visited different nonprofit organisations in our local community animal shelters, elderly homes, organisations that were taking care of kids with disabilities, et cetera. So many different institutions just to see and to figure out where we do match best because it is a normal thing. Even the purpose is maybe good, whatever, but with some people, you do click with some people, you click less, so we wanted to know more behind these institutions. Who is leading them, how they are functioning, how they are organised. And to see if we can get closer collaborations and longer term collaborations with these institutions. And so far, I think we have some good results achieved. With these collaborations.

[00:15:19] Judith Bowtell: Yeah, so now it's not just Breon. It's not just your company. There are other companies involved as well.

[00:15:25] Fikret Zendeli: Yes, correct. In Austria so far in Norway, there was last year, some activities closer to your continent. In Hong Kong. So we are getting closer, we are getting closer to your place. So I hope we'll manage to make it also to Australia. And I'm very optimistic that the day will come where Social Friday will get also a topic in Australia.

[00:15:47] Judith Bowtell: Yeah, oh, like I say, I feel like it's a natural fit because my Fridays, I think we have the belt. I don't know. I'm one person. I'm talking of my background but like my father would he lived a batman lifestyle. He was a accountant in the 1950s and 60s and 70s, and he worked in Melbourne, but he did a lot of lunching, did a lot of, out with the boys and things like that, and out with clients, etc. And Friday afternoon was definitely Social Friday for my father, and he would normally come home a bit tipsy from his social Friday. Which started with lunch at the East Melbourne Hotel and move on into the rest of his afternoon, evening, and he'd come home and often on Fridays, we'd then have take away for like fish and chips for dinner because we were also good Catholic households. He had to have fish on Friday and he would have generous night, which would either be, he picked up some lollies or something or chocolates or whatever on the way home, or he'd give some money to my brothers who'd go down to the local shops and pick up some stuff for us. And so we had generous night. And so social Friday is embedded in my diggin It's a time and not a time to work. When I was at school, obviously I had to go to school on Fridays, but university never had a lecture on a Friday afternoon. That was my time or, time to go out with friends and even now when I run my own business, I don't see clients on a Friday and I try and keep my Friday afternoons for me. Nowadays, I use that to go and work out and do things that are a bit more healthy than going out for drinks with mates, but it could also be that. And but I feel like, yeah, there is a sort of a Friday afternoon wind down in our cities and a sense of it's quitting, the week has ended and we are allowed to treat ourselves a bit. But I also know that for many people, like the pub culture, etc, it's not where they want to be nowadays. I don't want to go and spend Friday afternoon, every Friday afternoon, a pub or something like that. So having an option to do something else and fulfil some of that values of contribution, of supporting others, of making a difference, of meaning and purpose, is definitely something I could see myself getting on board, but also a lot of the people that I work with who are in the for purpose community all want to be at least making, have that value of purpose as well. So I think it fits very well with the Australian culture, but other people may want to tell me I'm wrong. Yeah.

[00:18:26] Fikret Zendeli: No. I think there are a few interesting facts. So the last survey that Texas A and M did, the university did about this on productivity on Friday was that. There is an economic loss to the U. S. economy due to unproductivity on Friday of 1. 9 trillion each year.

[00:18:47] Judith Bowtell: Whoa.

[00:18:47] Fikret Zendeli: Which is a giant, which is a giant. Now, let me ask you something. If we know about this giant number and I didn't come up with this, so it's independent. So how come we as a society do not question the status quo more. Then the other thing we know also facts about that loneliness is getting a bigger and bigger topic within our societies, the same in Australia, the same in the U S. So in the U S they are estimating the costs due to loneliness of 155 billion each year in Australia, it's around between two and 3 billion each year. So the amounts are huge. So we have a problem. We need to work towards a more connected society.

[00:19:31] Judith Bowtell: Yes.

[00:19:33] Fikret Zendeli: And my call to action is like, how about using that least productive time? To increase the togetherness in our society. Now, some people probably will say yeah what will you achieve with few hours of gathering? I think we should not underestimate the power of a single minute sometimes that can be life changing. Because it's all about creating an opportunity to get a shift on perspective. Every one of us, no matter what kind of daily routine you have, sometimes you are struggling more in life. Sometimes it's less, I believe everyone, but when you get out there, these events, when you are in contact with other people that are maybe less blessed, you realize actually that your problems are actually not real problems so that it's all here in your mind. And the way of how we turn out the things more positive or more negative. So during these events, there can be created a lot of awareness, social awareness of course, these events, and I believe a lot of companies will use these events for marketing purpose or brand awareness or as a team gathering with the social company, which is absolutely fine with me. I think it should be that way because the companies they're obliged to also have some benefits out of certain activities that they do. And I'm fine with that as an entrepreneur. I understand that part very well. At the same time, these events can be a huge opportunity for nonprofit organisations to increase their visibility. For their cost to increase the amount of donations, word of mouth, marketing. Let's call it. So I see a lot of benefits. Absolutely. So I see a lot of benefits out of these hours. We just need to be brave to question this status quo of the least productive time because the facts are there. We can like it or not, they are there. So the question is, what do we do out of that out of these facts.

[00:21:37] Judith Bowtell: Yeah, so I'm quite privileged. I live in the inner city. I have a middle class lifestyle, blah, blah. I don't have children. My time is pretty much my time, partner, et cetera, and a business to run. Do something about that. But what about when people say, look, I really just don't have the time to do this. If I was to have some time on a Friday afternoon, I would rather spend it on with my family or with something I want to do, not more time at work or in a community thing. How do you address the question of the scarcity of time that often is running people's decision making, whether it's real or not? And for lots of people, it's very real. But also when we are living in a world where time is seen as scarce how do you talk to people about that?

[00:22:32] Fikret Zendeli: Internally. So in our company. What is offered at the moment is the case, like they can take a half day off on Friday. If they do commit to a social cost, the other half of the day. About how to trigger the people, to get out there, to get connected to the community, because I really think, as I said before, as a company, I do have a social responsibility. And one way out to pay back to the community is like to create a better understanding for each other. We have such a huge division within our communities and these divisions and tangents are getting bigger and higher. So I think everyone of us needs to do their part to create more togetherness in our society. So I'm trying to trigger the people with the fact of, okay, you can have a half day off where you can take care of whatever you want. But for that, you need to commit to local social costs that you actually choose. So I'm not telling you like you have to go and support this cause of work. You choose whatever you feel most comfortable about, but get out there and expand your horizon, because that's also something that is very interesting for a company. If your people see the world in this direction and not in this direction. I think at the end it's all about how to create a situation that is a win for everyone. And I believe that's the best approach. I understand that a lot of people do not have the time. I understand that a lot of people do have family obligations and all the obligations that are included in life. But at the end of the day, we all have the same amount of time. 

[00:24:13] Fikret Zendeli: It's very often about the priorities, how we set the priorities, I think. 

[00:24:16] Judith Bowtell: Yeah,

[00:24:17] Fikret Zendeli: When it comes to companies, I believe that the companies needs to do the first step. I believe that the companies needs to create this opportunity for their people, for their staff that makes it easier for the people to step out of the comfort zone, because if I tell to a team member. Hey, get out there, go somewhere and support someone, then they will be like, yeah, but should I? I'm a little bit shy, but if you say Hey, this is organised by the company, we have set up everything with the nonprofit organisation. So you can just go there, meet the people and do the program that they have prepared.

[00:24:58] Judith Bowtell: Fantastic.

[00:24:59] Fikret Zendeli: How to make it as easy as possible to step out that conference. And once you are there, it starts to become really very easy.

[00:25:06] Judith Bowtell: I think that's fantastic that there's some leadership shown by the company. It's part of the DNA and culture of the company and it's not just words on a wall. There is actual action. So if I was a small company, I'm me, but if I was, back in the days when I was running small organisations, how could Social Friday, the movement support me to set this sort of thing up. 

[00:25:29] Fikret Zendeli: I think we have prepared a lot of material starting from templates, you know how to reach out to non profit organisations for the first contact how to create a bigger awareness. How to do some marketing around your events, etc So all these kind of templates these guidelines in a way are there also when it comes to match this Social Friday Brand, let's say with your brand as a company. So there are a lot of documentations, a lot of thoughts, experience around that. So we are here and really happy to help to any small company that maybe do not have the resources to think about all these little small puzzle pieces. We are here to share our experience in this whole journey, especially the beginning, that's quite important. And very soon you will actually realize that it is another complicated science because. I personally believe that doing good should not be a complicated science.

[00:26:26] Judith Bowtell: That's great. I love that you've, as you said you've learned how to do things. You've got the templates, you're willing to share them and so nothing has to be recreated. And I love that it's about supporting companies. To reach out to the not for profit sector when we first started talking about the idea. I was having worked in the not for profit sector and lots of people come to you with the best of intentions. And it can take up quite a bit of your time and then it doesn't work out or it puts somebody at risk or whatever. So I think it's wonderful that if you've tried and tested things that will allow organizations to be able to build a good, healthy relationship. Yeah.

[00:27:03] Fikret Zendeli: I think we're working on this or implemented this whole initiative seven years ago. So there is a pool of experience behind and still, there is a lot of work that needs to be done. We are fully aware. So I'm already dreaming of further, like what can be done next then what should be done next? And that's actually the projects we are working on. So how to include gamification in this whole topic to increase social engagement and to become part of company's DNAs and part of community culture. Actually there is more ongoing behind the scene. Now there is a lot of work, but. I love to do it because I truly believe in the impact that this very simple idea can have actually also on a bigger scale.

[00:27:45] Judith Bowtell: Yeah. Connecting organisations together. Partnerships can be mutual benefit in these partnerships and just good stuff can happen when people can talk to each other. Yeah.

[00:27:56] Fikret Zendeli: A hundred percent. So see at this point so the biggest amount of donations happen usually during the holiday season like few weeks before the Christmas period, that's period where people or companies do donate. And when you have the biggest amount of flyers in your mailbox, actually from nonprofit organisations asking for donations. But even I'm quite skeptical, if I don't know then I'm much more careful. Should I donate something or should I, because I don't know actually the background but during these events I get the chance to get to know the people behind the nonprofit organisation. Once they are in need for further support, then I'm at least much more willing and able to consider their request. And probably to answer in a more positive way than don't know them then.

[00:28:49] Judith Bowtell: Yeah. Yeah.

[00:28:51] Fikret Zendeli: So it's a great opportunity to get to know each other, to create more awareness for our local community and to expand the collaborations. Even long after these social Friday events.

[00:29:01] Judith Bowtell: Yeah. I've run small organisations. The last one I ran was Milk Crate Theatre. I was, had the privilege to be CEO there for a few years. before COVID. And now they're led by a fantastic team headed up by Jodie Wainwright and Margot Politis, but they work with people who've experienced homelessness. And all the underlying causes of that, which include, disability addiction recent arrivals, all that stuff. It's a fantastic project. And, but when I was there, we did make some great. Just connections with people in the local community who are running businesses, like one of the big developers in the area, he'd probably go evil I'm crossing my fingers doing, evil got big on big developer, you're the cause of homelessness in the inner city. And it's always there. But also just when you talk to somebody as a person. And they were great. They were really supportive. And they had space. We needed space. They had money. We needed money. They wanted to improve their brand in that area because they were seen as the evil outsider. And yeah, it was a fantastic way of both our needs being met. But I don't have to say it, in that sort of strategic way. It was a much more human to human, I could pick up the phone and say hi. We need office space for a couple of weeks for being chucked out of hours and that help. And same with the local City Council, who again, City of Sydney could be seen as a bit barriers to what have you and the building developing side of it. But when I needed we were having a dinner actually upstairs in the local town hall where we had our offices and it was really hot night. In December, in an Australian December night, one of those really hot nights, and we had no air conditioning or anything like that. And the guys from the city who we'd invited along to the dinner, and they rang me and said, what are you going to do to cool the space down? And I said, I don't know, I'll go to the windows, I've got my stuff going to work, I'll get you some fans. And he's oh, okay, and so I just hung up and went on with the day. And the next thing I know. This guy from the city had wrapped up with fans, big industrial fans that we could run before the event to cool the room down enough that people could then, have a much more pleasant evening. And it's just those sort of things that when people know you and know what you do and can help out in simple ways. It makes a huge difference for the not for profit. And solving problems you hadn't even thought could be solved. So I just found this such an interesting idea, but I also love the simplicity of it. Yeah.

[00:31:40] Fikret Zendeli: Yeah I'm fully with you fully agree on what you said just right now. I understand that especially bigger corporations, they have the pressure, like they have to deliver numbers about impact about let's say anything you do, but. I personally believe that we need to move a little bit away from the mindset of just business and numbers, because it's more about business and impact. And I think we should create the opportunity for people to experience the power of doing good. To feel the power of doing good, actually, and how good it feels to yourself. And yes, this might be an egoistic approach, but you need to feel good. You need to be good for being able to help the others, because how will you help the others? You are not good. If you don't feel good, then how are you able to support the neighbourhood? It's going to get difficult. So I'm against it to make complicated signs about anything we do that human touch. It's super crucial and important to me because out of that a lot of very interesting ideas can further develop. So if people meet for a good cause, a lot of amazing stuff can come out of that. And we shouldn't stop that. So not to allow that to give a chance, just because of, we create some barriers, some administration some complications, unnecessary or complicated, because at the end of the day it's about. People to allow people to meet and to see how they can support each other while they use the least productive time that is a proven fact.

[00:33:17] Judith Bowtell: So if there's anybody out there in my audience who works in a company or is just interested in Social Friday as a concept and wants to know more, where should they go

[00:33:28] Fikret Zendeli: We have a website. Yeah, I can highly recommend it's fantastic country with amazing people, amazing foods, some periods of the year, also amazing weather. So I can anyone to visit this beautiful country, but there is also more other way to get some more information. We also do have websites. So social Friday, or I think that's the place where you can get some more information and then also direct contact at welcome at social Friday. So feel free to reach out to us. We'll try to respond as good as we can.

[00:34:06] Judith Bowtell: So we'll definitely have all those links in the show notes. So please feel free to check it out. It's really interesting to see the sort of types of relationships and the types of projects that have been going on. And as you can see, it's also the application, the concept is so simple, it can apply into many different geographical areas.

[00:34:24] Fikret Zendeli: Geographical areas. Also, let's call it target group. We did a very interesting project with the school class in Switzerland. Primary school in 

[00:34:33] Judith Bowtell: Oh, 

[00:34:34] Fikret Zendeli: For almost one year with one class. So teacher did the research, let's say on this concept and how to increase the social skills for kids in schools while using this Friday afternoon period for social costs. And the results are actually amazing. So we have created a school subjects over the Friday. So on how to improve social skills of kids. And 

[00:35:01] Judith Bowtell: so needed at

[00:35:02] Judith Bowtell: the moment. 

[00:35:03] Fikret Zendeli: There are so many unlimited possibilities what to do in a more positive, more meaningful way. Just if we are ready to question the status quo of the least productive time.

[00:35:16] Judith Bowtell: yeah. 

[00:35:17] Fikret Zendeli: And if we are trying to think about ways,

[00:35:19] Judith Bowtell: yeah.

[00:35:20] Fikret Zendeli: How to make better use of it.

[00:35:21] Judith Bowtell: The other thing is, of course, you can adapt this. It's so flexible to your own needs. So if you don't want to, obviously, every Friday, I guess Social Friday in your company, and you'd want to do it once a month or once a quarter, that's also, whatever works for you. But it's just a, it's a sensible to being part of a bigger community, as

[00:35:39] Fikret Zendeli: I think that's also something we're trying to work on towards. So this being part of something bigger, that's why we have these official events once every quarter. So every three months which should be possible for, let's say for a lot of people. With that move we didn't want to do it only once a year. This Social Friday events on a bigger scale for the reason. We want to create a repetition factor into the whole story. And we want to achieve and to create habits over time because only when create an habit, I think then when real change start to happen within our heads and minds. So that's why we try to create a certain rhythm, which is not overwhelming, but doable or for a lot of people out there.

[00:36:28] Judith Bowtell: Yeah.

[00:36:29] Fikret Zendeli: We inviting everyone to join the idea and to do good in their local community.

[00:36:33] Judith Bowtell: And there's a lot of stuff that can be done that needs doing in every community. I live in an extremely privileged part of the world. I admit that. But there's lonely people in my community too. There are people that need, who would love to have more involvement in what's going on around us. There's people who are still marginalised in even the wealthiest parts of our city. And in every community there are people who will just, once in one and one contact, ,

[00:37:01] Fikret Zendeli: Absolutely. Somewhere there are better visible somewhere. There are like in Switzerland, there are maybe less visible in North Macedonia. There are better visible, like who is maybe in need for support, but there are all around. There are people who are in need for support and for an exchange and for some good works at least. And I think it's really about time so that we create more awareness about that topic, since we are drifting towards a direction that I think is not doing healthy to any one of us, neither at the end of the day to the economy.

[00:37:34] Judith Bowtell: Yeah, but definitely on social cohesion we've had some shocking things happen locally in Sydney. And which has saddened a lot of people in our community, and frightened a lot of people, and there's a call for social cohesion, but it's also just not something that just happens. It's about knowing the language you use, the way you talk about people, the way you might listen to things as well. There's an article in today's or yesterday's Women's Agenda written by a fantastic person, Violet Roumeletis, who runs Settlement Services International. So she's been running this welcoming organisation for migrants into Sydney for many years now. Just amazing. But she wrote just, simple things about how othering because one of the incidents happened in a Christian charismatic group, like not a mainstream Christian group. And it was seen as a Muslim Christian fight became a fight. It became a bit of a riot and and very easy to blame the Muslim community for that. Because, or any sort of, it's very other to the white Christian communities of us, of just our white communities. And it's so easy to just go, Muslims bad. And that means it's, the world becomes a very frightening space for Muslim women, for anybody wearing hijab, et cetera, et cetera. So that's a breakdown of social cohesion that we need to be aware of and our simple actions that allow us to connect to people as human beings, rather than just a symbol of something you are uncomfortable around makes such a difference. And that can be somebody from a different religion, ethnic background, race, different coloured skin, disability, sexual orientation, all sorts of things can make people other to you and discomforting. But getting to know somebody in those communities can create a different understanding and a more open hearted understanding.

[00:39:32] Fikret Zendeli: Absolutely with you. I couldn't agree more actually, because yeah, obviously there are forces out there who are interested in this division because it's much easier to rule once people are divided.

[00:39:45] Judith Bowtell: Yeah.

[00:39:46] Fikret Zendeli: I think it is within our obligation to work towards a more connected society. Simply the fact, once we are together and we start to communicate, so communication and awareness is the key. So once we start to communicate, we realised like, Hey, no matter the background you have or what kind of orientation you might have. We have so much more things in common than anything else, because at the very end of the day, we are all human beings and we all want a good and better life. And that doesn't mean that just because the other person is next to me with a different colour or whatever. That good and better life is not possible, but we need to work towards that too. So to create these moments where people can meet and where people can exchange, it's today more important than probably since decades. So it is super crucial. It is and it doesn't require complicated science behind that to create a surrounding. And once they are there, they realize, Oh, but he's also praying to God. Yeah. The same like I do, no matter if the Muslim or Christian or whatever he might be. Or even if he doesn't believe in anything, then it's his choice, it's like free choice. As long as he or she doesn't do harm to anyone, to the community, it is his or her freedom. But people need to experience that people needs to get the opportunity to experience the real life and to get out a little bit more of the social medias and all the channels that are feeding us, unfortunately, not only with good news.

[00:41:22] Judith Bowtell: No, definitely not only with good news. Thank you so much for sharing all you're up to. What's next for Fikret? What's up next for you?

[00:41:32] Fikret Zendeli: A lot of things actually. So when it comes to my business to Breon, you're finally voting to the new office. So I'm looking very much forward to that after over a year reconstruction. So finally, that's that. So I hope I will have after this reconstruction topic hopefully we'll have more time that I can dedicate to Social Friday. There are a lot of things are on the agenda. I'm very much interested to build a platform, actually, a matching platform between giver and receiver. And to include gamification tools into the whole process and to work towards the promotion of this initiative. So there are a few things that are in the pipeline. I'm very much interested currently and in first contact with a musician actually. This might sound a bit strange for musician and social engagement, but I want to create an official song for Social Friday like an official hymn for these events, no matter where they might happen. Yeah.

[00:42:40] Judith Bowtell: Like a, we are the world.

[00:42:42] Fikret Zendeli: Yeah,

[00:42:42] Judith Bowtell: Are you old enough to remember that?

[00:42:45] Fikret Zendeli: Yeah Maybe Yeah. I do I know that song I have a little bit of another direction of how the soundtrack should look like but I think the pro is probably he will hopefully figure out something very interesting. There are a lot of ideas. It's all about the connection to the, let's call it right people. There is a lot of work done. There is a lot of work prepared already during the last seven years. So it's not only that, what in front of the screen, there is a lot in the background done, a lot of prepared. It needs just to get out there and yep, that's something that i'm working on that's at the moment And I believe I will continue with that my entire life because I really, really believe in the power of this project and in the power of possibilities that it can create actually for a lot of people out there and a better understanding for each other And in days like these I think that's something we really need. So we need more togetherness within our societies and it's worth it to work. It gives a lot of meaning for my life as well. So that's

[00:43:53] Judith Bowtell: yeah 

[00:43:53] Fikret Zendeli: yeah, I'm passionate about win. So absolutely. 

[00:43:57] Judith Bowtell: So if you feel moved by the values of community, cohesion, social cohesion, connection, togetherness, all the things that Fikret has talked about, please please reach out to him. You can contact him directly. And just before we went on the mics, and I'm so sorry we didn't get to record this he was explaining the meaning of his name. So please tell us how you got your name. It's a great story. 

[00:44:21] Fikret Zendeli: So back then in the eighties, actually my aunt was traveling to Istanbul. So while she was, I don't know having a walk through Istanbul through a bazaar there, she catched up this name, Fikret. A few weeks before I was born, she came up with the proposal to my parents and luckily they took it. I think the meaning of this name comes from, has a Persian Arabic background and it means something like idea, rich on ideas and thinking. So I'm very happy actually that they choose this one. They, it was a perfect fit. There are a lot of ideas in my head that I want to realize that I'm really passionate about to realize. So it's a difficult name to pronounce. So I had many experiences in Switzerland when somebody would ask me for my name, I first would take out my mobile phone, write down my name and say look, this is my name because obviously most of the people would ask me like two or three times, like, how do you pronounce your name? And once I was like fed up. So I said, okay. I have to create a method, so people won't ask two or three times So I would write it down and say this is my name. The meaning is a good one. I love it, and i'm very grateful for everything what my parents did to me for all the lessons and for all the love that they gave me, there are a huge reason where I'm standing today in my life. I had luck and I just want to spread some of that luck to the world out there.

[00:45:48] Judith Bowtell: It's no good you being in a good place if your neighbor is not. So I think we can all I'm going to remember that and thank you again for your time. And we look forward to hopefully catching up with you again at some point to hear maybe about the first Social Friday project in Australia. Okay, so thank you.

[00:46:10] Fikret Zendeli: Thanks a lot. And I'm very optimistic that we are going to have a Social Friday as well in Austria. It's a matter of time.

[00:46:16] Judith Bowtell: Alright, thanks everybody and thank you so much for joining us here on Aligned and Thriving. If you want to know more about this project, my passion project just check out the show notes, check out my bio and et cetera there. And if you've got a passion project that you want the world to know about, please let us know. We're really happy to have a bit of a chat as well about that too. Okay. Take care everyone. And we'll see you soon. Bye.