What motivated you to become an entrepreneur?
The birth of my daughter made me realize I needed to do something else than work 80 hour weeks for a consulting company. Entrepreneurship seemed like the obvious choice. I wanted the freedom to take the time I wanted to spend with my kids.
What's a perspective that we should pay more attention to in the workplace?
The Pareto Principle is talked a lot about. But I haven't seen it implemented very well, because people are afraid to let go... of a particular customer, an employee, or a process. It could make your life and your company a lot better.
What do you wish you had known 10 years ago?
More focus on Sales! I was too much of a product guy most of the time and when I switched on the Sales side everything became a lot easier.
What shift in mindset has allowed you to see things differently?
Ask yourself if you could have "both." A lot of times we're confronted to do “this or that.” And, usually, if that's the question, then you decide for one of them without even thinking if both would have been possible. When I started asking myself if I could have both, in many cases I found solutions that would indeed give me both. This allowed me to see things differently.
What’s a guiding principle that informs the way you build and run your business?
"Move fast and break things" is probably the best summary. I would rather do five things, test them out, and learn something than to do extensive research before even taking the first step.
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What's the biggest insight you learned in recent years?
It’s always a good idea to be connected to your product – even if you have to deal with high-level topics, always remember the things you offer.
What personal habit helped you accelerate your personal growth?
In one of the hardest times of my life so far, I started journaling for 1-2h on Sundays. Not digital, but with paper and pen. Always answering the same questions related to self, social life and work. This brutally honest and regular reflection once a week helped me identify problems early and iterate fast.
When times are tough, who or what is an anchor for you?
My co-founders are my anchor in work-related topics. Having an environment where failure is welcomed with a helping hand and where weakness is valued as openness, once you are down those people will drag you up.
What's a mistake that you're happy you've made?
When I was 16 (way before the internet) I founded a travel-partner agency to connect people from different backgrounds seeking travel companions. After a year, I had to close the agency due to a lack of customers and the confusion some callers had regarding the nature of the “service.” Despite this setback, I gained invaluable insights into sales, communication and people’s needs, solidifying my desire to run a business that helps people.