Page 17 - Carrer Channel Magazine 1

MILLENNIAL LIFESTYLE

WORK ANYWHERE, LIVE FULLY:

LESSONS FROM RORY MAGEE

The systems, mindset, and
habits behind location-

independent leadership.

by Michelle Huang

For many Millennials, the dream isn’t just climbing Q: For those in a 9-to-5 dreaming of starting their
the corporate ladder — it’s designing a life where own business, what advice would you give to
work fuels freedom, not burnout. Rory Magee, someone stuck in a ‘meh’ job and unsure what’s
founder and CEO of Wootware, has done just that. next?
Running a tech business from South Africa, he’s
learned how to balance deep strategic work with A: Start something tiny on the side, and I mean TINY. I
travel, proving that career success and personal didn't quit everything to start Wootware; I was
freedom don’t have to be mutually exclusive. In this literally selling PC parts from my bedroom while
conversation, he shares candid insights on remote figuring it out. You don't need a vision board or a 5-
work, building something that lasts, and why “quiet year business plan. You need one customer, one
thriving” might just be the new gold standard for problem you can solve, one thing you can do this
career satisfaction. weekend. The clarity comes from doing, not thinking.
And keep that meh job. It's funding your experiments.
Q: You’ve been running your business for 18 years
since 2007 and counting. What inspired you to Q: Over the years, have you found that having a set
start it? routine or staying flexible day to day adds more
value to you and your company’s growth?
A: Pure frustration, honestly. In 2007, trying to
build a decent gaming PC in South Africa meant A: I've learned I need some structure or I'm useless.
either paying insane markups or dealing with Mornings are sacred: email review, metrics check,
retailers who didn't understand what enthusiasts team check-ins, tech news and reading X. But after
needed. I was already building systems for friends noon, it depends on what the business needs. Some
from my bedroom, and one day I thought, why not days that's deep strategic work, others it's putting out
make this scalable? Started with my dad letting me fires, sometimes it's researching new product
use half his bedroom for inventory. The inspiration categories. The routine is in the rituals that keep me
wasn't some grand vision; it was just wanting to connected to the business; everything else flexes
solve a problem I personally had. around what's most important that day.

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