More results in less time
The efficient atmosphere of Tallinn was swapped for the relaxed pace of life in Kuopio. While the speed slowed down, productivity increased.
Marko Ausma, the entrepreneur behind the creative agency KiMa Creative Oy, moved from Tallinn to Kuopio in the summer of 2015. In the six years since, Ausma has largely adapted to the Savonian way of life, but one thing remains a mystery: the locals’ use of time.
“How can Kuopio’s laid-back approach achieve more in the same amount of time compared to Tallinn’s efficiency-driven mindset?” Ausma wonders.
At first, the unhurried pace irritated Ausma, who was used to the speed of a big city. Thoughts of “Can we just move forward already?” frequently crossed his mind.
“But soon enough, I found myself adjusting to the local rhythm of life.”
Slowing down has restructured Ausma’s priorities, and he’s even taken time to appreciate nature.
“Kuopio is an exotic place because of its diverse nature. It’s very different from Estonia. For example, granite cliffs, lakes, and their small islands are typical of Kuopio, whereas Tallinn’s landscape is very flat.”
The food is also unique. Finnish casseroles, for example, are entirely absent from Estonian cuisine.
“I originally came to Finland to meet my partner’s parents. My first thought was, ‘Why is it so cold here?’ even though it was already mid-June.”
Since that initial reaction, Ausma has grown to enjoy winter. He goes snowboarding with his son and hikes in the wilderness.
“In Kuopio, it’s much easier to get out into nature than in Tallinn. In Estonia, you had to drive south to snowboard, and it was a full-day project. Here, you can be on the slopes in 20 minutes.”
For Ausma, Kuopio has proven to be a great place to live and raise children.
“Kuopio residents are quality-conscious and masters of time management.”
“People in Kuopio are incredibly friendly and welcoming. I even found a job quickly after immigrating, and now I run my own business.”
Ausma feels that the work cultures in Tallinn and Kuopio are quite similar. The biggest difference is Kuopio’s emphasis on value for money.
“Here, people prioritize quality. They work carefully and on schedule, yet there’s still time left for life.”
He also notes that a few years ago, collaborative working was more developed in Tallinn than in Kuopio, but now the two cities are on par.
“The teamwork spirit in Kuopio is fantastic,” says Ausma.
Text: Maiju Korhonen
Photos: Marko Ausma
The article was written during the Future Savo project in 2020-2021.
