Who is Elad Sofer (@eladsof) ?

I started looking for people outside Western-Europe and USA. And by coincidence (does that even exist?) Elad came on my radar.

After connecting with Elad, it became clear to me, that he did have an agile mindset.
I think it also shows in his answers.

What is something people usually don’t know about you but has influenced you in who you are?

I have a little sister who was born with a relatively rare disease for which no cure has yet been found. This has affected her whole life, including multiple surgeries, and different and complex disabilities. This reality has affected me in so many ways I do not even know where to start, but I think the most important aspect I have learned from this situation is proportion in life. Whenever I encounter a problem in my personal or professional life I am able to look at it in an objective manner, I able to not get emotionally attached easily, which I think helps me and my environment to solve the problems we encounter with a clear thought and without submitting into premature judgement before taking a deeper look and really analyzing the situation as it really is. I have learned from her that giving up is not an option, there is almost always something that can be done to improve reality and no matter how hard it gets, one should always stay positive.

If you would not have been in IT, what would have become of you?

As I was interested in computers ever since I was a little boy, I am not really sure what I would have been. I would guess that one option would be a copywriter in the advertising domain. I always thought I am good in using words to transfer a message and at the age of 23 I thought about trying to get into an advertising company, and was even able to arrange a meeting with a senior manager in an advertising agency in order to understand what it means exactly to go down that path, but I recall that after the meeting I thought to myself this is not for me. I am a geek.

What is your biggest challenge and why is it a good thing for you?

My biggest challenge is probably the need to know everything, I am always finding something new which i don’t know enough about and feel the uncontrollable need to know more about it even at the expense of neglecting the previous “new thing”. It may be a new programming language, a new approach for testing or even a new tool I can use in my daily work. It is a challenge as it is very hard for me to really dig deep and completely understand every detail of this “new” thing.
It is however good for me as I have a large portfolio of MMF’s up my sleeve and when in need I can dig deeper into the subject which i find that may be suitable for a specific situation.

What drives you ?

Challenges. I would probably take on almost any challenge you give me. Succeeding with a challenge is one of the most marvelous feelings for me. I just love looking at my kids doing things I am proud of, raising kids is probably the most difficult challenge of all.
I just love looking at that IKEA furniture I was able to assemble, which is probably the second most difficult challenge after raising kids.
I put on a really big smile when looking at a team self organize after no one, including the team thought it was possible. When I don’t succeed I will do everything I can to change the situation, learn from my error and request another shot at the challenge.

What is your biggest achievement?

My biggest achievement so far is everything in my life. I was not raised with a silver spoon and without any support (no complaints here, just reality) I was able, together with my wife, to build a home and a family, to raise two amazing littlle boys(ages 2 and 4), to make sure that they have everything they need in order to grow up in a happy and pleasant environment. I am lucky enough to have founded my own company (with two partners) doing what I like most. What more could a person want?

What is the last book you have read?

I have just finished Phil Gordon’s “Little Blue Book and am now reading “The Upside of Irrationality” by Dan Arieli. Both are recommended, the first one if you want to improve your understanding of Texas Hold’em poker game and the second if you want to improve your understanding of people and what drives them.

What question do you think I should also ask and what is the answer?

You might want to ask me to choose my own question and answer it. Oh, you just did 😉

Who do you think I should ask next?

I hope it’s ok to have three names, these are the people who really helped me to get where I am today:

If you like these answers, please have a look at our book who is agile