My Story

When I look back at where Ganex and Shadow Armor Systems started, it still feels surreal to see where we are now. People see the end result, the brand, the products, and the growing reputation, but they don’t see the sacrifices, the sleepless nights, the relentless struggle that went on behind the scenes.

I didn’t have a head start. I didn’t come from a family with connections in the industry, and I sure as hell didn’t have anyone funding my ambitions. When I decided to go into this sector, I was working a $450 a month minimum wage job in Serbia. That’s all I had. Just a dream, barely enough to get by, and this burning desire to create something that would make an impact. I had to sell off almost everything I owned, things I’d worked for years to afford, just to get the funds I needed to take the first steps. I was left with the bare essentials, and even those felt like luxuries I couldn't afford.

Every day was a battle. I counted down the days till my next paycheck, knowing that every single dinar was already spoken for, every penny earmarked to go right back into my dream. I never had any money in my pocket, rarely a spare coin to spend on myself. I sacrificed my comfort, my stability, even basic financial security, just to keep this vision alive.

On top of that, I was searching for investors, borrowing money where I could, reaching out to anyone who might believe in what I was building. I took loans, I chased opportunities, I faced rejections that could have broken anyone, but I kept going. I had no choice. I knew if I didn’t push forward, no one else would do it for me.

Even with all this, I made time for the people who mattered. My family, friends, and my girlfriend at the time (who is now my ex). I wanted to prove to them, and maybe even to myself that I could balance it all. That I could build a company from scratch while still being present for those around me. But that wasn’t always easy, especially when they didn’t fully understand what I was trying to do. My family didn’t see the vision they couldn’t comprehend why I’d throw myself into something so uncertain. My friends? Most of them thought I was out of my mind. They’d laugh it off, tell me to ‘be realistic’ or ‘find a real job.’

My father, for one, thought this whole venture was just another one of my "stupid projects." He dismissed the idea almost instantly, shaking his head and telling me I was wasting my time chasing pipe dreams. He’d seen me try other things before and assumed this was just another passing phase. He didn’t offer any support, no encouragement just doubt. It stung, especially coming from someone who is supposed to support you. But that all changed the moment he saw results. As soon as the website for Shadow Armor Systems went live and orders started rolling in, his tone changed completely. Suddenly, he was showing off our site to everyone he knew, acting like he’d been a supporter all along. Funny how success has a way of changing people’s minds.

Then there was my mother. She didn't think much of it either, but for a different reason. Her first reaction was that what I was doing had to be illegal. You know, the standard Serbian mentality if something seems unconventional or ambitious, it’s probably shady. Every time I’d tell her about a new development, she’d look at me skeptically, as if I was somehow breaking the law. I know she meant well in her own way, but it was tough, constantly having to reassure her that everything was above board, that I was building something legitimate.

And don’t get me started on my old group of friends. The moment I started talking seriously about Ganex and Shadow Armor Systems, I saw the way they looked at me, the smirks and the eye rolls. They couldn’t see past the ambition; all they saw was risk and failure waiting to happen. Most of them dropped off somewhere along the way. We’re no longer friends, and honestly, that’s a story in itself. People say they want you to succeed, but when you start actually taking steps toward that success, they’re the first ones to pull you down.

But the hardest part was my girlfriend at the time. She just couldn’t understand why I was putting so much time, money, and energy into this. She’d tell me, over and over, that it was a waste, a waste of time, a waste of resources. She tried relentlessly to get me to quit, telling me I was setting myself up for failure, and asking why I couldn’t just be "normal." That hit deep because, out of everyone, I expected her to be my anchor, my source of support. She was supposed to be the one person who believed in me, who saw potential where others saw risk. But she didn’t. And that hurt. Every conversation became another reason to doubt myself, another layer of stress. But even then, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was onto something real, something worth all the sacrifice.

As I poured my heart and soul into making this dream a reality, I lost more than I had ever expected. It wasn’t just time or money I lost sleep, weight, and even some of my hair. My mind was constantly racing, even when my body was on the edge of exhaustion. I’d lie awake, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling, going over everything in my head every plan, every risk, every moment I was told I was making a mistake. And each time, after hours of overthinking, I came back to the same answer: I had to keep going. I had to make it work, not just for the people who doubted me, but for myself. I needed to prove that this vision, this crazy, ambitious dream, was worth everything I was pouring into it.

Fast forward to today, and Ganex and Shadow Armor Systems aren’t just ideas or sketches on a piece of paper. They’re fully realized companies, creating products that people trust and rely on in real life situations. This isn’t something that happened by luck or chance. It happened through blood, sweat, and an unbreakable will to keep pushing forward, even when everything seemed stacked against me.

Of course, I didn’t do this alone. I have to give an honorable mention to Sa?a Milju?, our current Senior Director of Operations at Ganex Serbia. Sa?a saw the ambition and potential I had, even when others couldn’t. Initially, he came on board as an investor, seeing something in the idea that others couldn’t grasp. But Sa?a didn’t just stop at investing; he believed in the vision deeply and supported it wholeheartedly. He started working at Ganex as a sales representative, and his commitment, ideas, and invaluable support over the years propelled him to where he is today. Now, as our Senior Director of Operations, he’s become an integral part of the team. I can gladly call him a good investor, an amazing colleague, and a very close friend. Without people like Sa?a, who not only believed but actively contributed to our journey, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

I didn’t take shortcuts. I refused to compromise on quality, even when it would have been easier or cheaper. I didn’t water down my vision just to make things more convenient. Every piece of Ganex and Shadow Armor Systems was built from the ground up, with a commitment to excellence and a standard of reliability that I wasn’t willing to bend on.

So, to anyone out there who’s ever been told that their dreams are impossible, that they’re wasting their time, that they’ll never make it I’m living proof that you can. I started with nothing but an idea, no safety net, no guarantees, and no one to hold my hand through the journey. All I had was the sheer will to keep going, to push past every obstacle, every sleepless night, and every moment of doubt. And now, looking back, every bit of it was worth it.

Ganex and Shadow Armor Systems are more than companies. They’re the embodiment of perseverance, proof that true success isn’t handed out it’s earned. Every setback, every sacrifice, every person who doubted me they all played a part in building what we have today.

And this? This is just the beginning.