We were lucky to catch up with Elvin Atwine recently and have shared our conversation below.
Elvin, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
Growing up in Uganda, I had the privilege of watching my dad build his businesses in the entertainment and real estate sectors. He was a successful entrepreneur, and I often accompanied him to construction sites or when he was buying equipment for his nightclub and recording studios. Observing his work ethic firsthand, I developed a meticulous attention to detail, whether it was in small, seemingly insignificant tasks or larger, more complex ones. This ability to focus on both the big picture and the finer points has heavily influenced the way I approach building software today.
On the other hand, my mom’s focus on nutrition and healthy habits taught me the importance of balance in life. She always emphasized that success isn’t just about working hard but also about taking care of yourself so that you can perform at your best. This combination of influences from both my parents has shaped my work ethic—grounded in a detailed-oriented approach to my projects and a commitment to maintaining habits that keep me at my best, both mentally and physically.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Growing up in Uganda, I was surrounded by an environment that fostered creativity and entrepreneurship from an early age. One of my earliest ventures was helping kids in rural areas create their Facebook accounts and play video games at my dad’s business, where I charged other kids to play with me. It was a small operation, but it taught me valuable lessons about the power of technology and the importance of connecting people. As I got older, my entrepreneurial spirit led me to explore other ventures, including launching a clothing brand. Designing and marketing my own line of clothing gave me firsthand experience in understanding market trends, branding, and the importance of authentic customer relationships. I also became an athletic event photographer, capturing moments on the basketball court, which deepened my appreciation for detail and storytelling—skills that have become invaluable in my later work.
Today, that passion has evolved into my work with Klorah, a platform I created to help freelancers manage their businesses more effectively. Klorah is more than just an invoicing app; it’s a comprehensive tool designed to support the unique financial and operational needs of freelancers and creatives. We recently launched new features that allow creatives to showcase their work through enhanced profiles and get booked for gigs online. These profiles are designed to be visually appealing and easy to navigate, making them the number one choice for creatives who want to stand out in a competitive market.
In addition to these features, we’ve introduced a powerful tool for managing agreements. We understand that clear, professional agreements are critical for freelancers to protect their work and establish trust with clients. Our platform now allows users to create, customize, and send agreements directly through Klorah. These agreements, tailored for freelancer-client interactions, can be customized to specific project requirements, helping freelancers set clear expectations with their clients from the outset.
What makes our agreement feature particularly exciting is the integration of AI to help draft these documents. Freelancers can generate agreement templates that include all the necessary clauses for their specific industry and project type, ensuring nothing is overlooked. This tool saves time and reduces the risk of potential disputes, giving freelancers peace of mind so they can focus on their creative work.
In addition to these features, we’re constantly looking at ways to expand and improve the platform. Whether it’s integrating new financial services, offering more customization options for profiles, or adding new tools to help freelancers manage their work-life balance, our goal is to make Klorah the go-to platform for freelancers and creatives.
At its core, Klorah is about empowerment—giving freelancers the tools they need to succeed in their careers, just as I was empowered by the experiences of my childhood in Uganda, the lessons I learned from my parents, my time as an athletic event photographer, and my experience running a clothing brand. Whether you’re a creative looking to showcase your work, a freelancer needing better financial management tools, or someone who values the importance of detail and balance, Klorah is here to support you every step of the way.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back on my journey, the three most impactful qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that stand out to me are:
1. Treating Entrepreneurship Like Being an Athlete: This might seem like a stretch, but it’s crucial to understand that being an entrepreneur is similar to being a professional athlete. Just as a basketball player’s work doesn’t only happen on the court—it happens in the kitchen, the trainer’s room, during sleep, and in every aspect of their life—entrepreneurship is the same. The way you eat, sleep, prepare, and work all contribute to your success. Entrepreneurs should focus on maintaining their health, honing their skills, and preparing themselves mentally and physically for the challenges ahead. (I got this way of thinking from my mom)
Advice: Develop a routine that supports your entrepreneurial goals. Prioritize your health, learn to manage stress, and ensure you’re getting enough rest. Treat your preparation and daily habits with the same seriousness that an athlete would.
2. Attention to Detail: This has been a recurring theme throughout my journey, from my early days helping kids with Facebook accounts in Uganda, to launching a clothing brand, to building Klorah. Paying attention to the small details, whether in the nitty gritty design of where to place a button and why some may have a background and some may not, user experience, or business operations, can set you apart and lead to greater success.
Advice: Cultivate a meticulous approach to your work. Whether it’s a small task or a significant project, focus on the details that others might overlook. This can make a substantial difference in the quality of your output and the satisfaction of your clients or customers.
3. Adaptability and Continuous Learning: The ability to adapt and continuously learn has been critical in my journey. From photography to software development, each new skill I acquired allowed me to pivot and grow my business. The entrepreneurial landscape is constantly changing, and the most successful entrepreneurs are those who can evolve with it.
Advice: Embrace a mindset of continuous learning. Stay curious and be willing to step out of your comfort zone (as frequently as possible…you should almost keep a stat on this weekly) to acquire new skills. Adaptability is key in entrepreneurship, so be prepared to adjust your strategies as needed and keep learning from every experience.
These qualities have been instrumental in my journey, and I believe they can be just as impactful for anyone early in their entrepreneurial path. By focusing on these areas, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities that come your way.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
One book that has played a significant role in my development is Atomic Habits by James Clear. A particular concept that jumped out at me was the idea that you rarely rise to the level of your goals; more often, you fall to the limitations of your systems. This insight was a game-changer for me.
Systems, as Clear describes, are the processes and habits you build into your daily life that determine your long-term success. While goals set the direction, it’s the systems you create that make progress possible. For example, consider someone with a goal to run a marathon. Having the goal is important, but what really matters are the daily habits and routines they establish to achieve it. Are they consistently training, following a nutrition plan, and getting adequate rest? Or are they simply relying on their desire to complete the marathon without the necessary structure to support it?
Just as a marathon runner needs a well-structured training plan to gradually build endurance, avoid injury, and improve performance, an entrepreneur needs solid systems in place to ensure steady progress toward their business goals. Without these systems, even the most ambitious goals can fall short. This insight has been invaluable to me, as it taught me to focus not just on the end result, but on the day-to-day processes that will get me there.
This idea fundamentally shifted how I approach both my personal and professional life. Instead of solely focusing on end goals, I started paying closer attention to the systems I needed to put in place to achieve those goals. Whether it’s my daily routine, the way I manage my time, or how I approach problem-solving, I’ve learned that building strong systems is crucial for sustainable success.
In entrepreneurship, as in life, it’s not enough to have big dreams. You need to create reliable, repeatable systems that guide your daily actions toward those dreams. That’s where the real power lies, and it’s one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from *Atomic Habits*.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.klorah.app/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elvniv/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elivnatwiine/
- Twitter: https://x.com/elvniv
- Other: https://www.klorah.app/profile/elvniv
Image Credits
https://www.alexismphotography.com/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
