What's the biggest insight you learned recently?
Beware of the advice you get. Nothing is truly fully black or white; the answer is usually in the middle.
That’s why I’m a bit annoyed when I see posts on founders' social media saying things like, “You should drop your free plan!” Yes, it might work, but it could also miserably put you out of business. Just take inspiration, but don’t follow blindly. Context and direction are key.
What motivated you to become an entrepreneur?
As a kid, I was always trying to find ways to create things. I started my own family newspaper, built a subway ticket vending machine in my living room, and even operated a clandestine perfume sweatshop with freshly cut lavender from my mom’s garden (got punished for that one).
I always found it fascinating to start something from zero and see it come to fruition. Later, this is what I could reconnect with when I became curious about computers, how they work, and what people are doing with them.
What shift in perspective / mindset has allowed you to see things differently?
Learning to delegate has been a very difficult journey, but the thing that allowed me to remove myself from the operational side of the businesses that I own and only bring in the value of visioning and problem-solving.
It’s hard to let other people take over your “baby”. Do they understand it as well as I do? Will they make the right decisions? Could they damage it? Once you put the right things in place, knowing great people have your back is incredibly liberating.
When times are tough, who or what is an anchor for you?
Juggling a day job and an entrepreneurial side helps me reduce risk by diversifying my income streams. If one goes down, I can always rely on the other, helping me mentally not over-dramatize when times are tough.
What's your secret sauce for building a great team?
I practice what I preach, so all of our employees work a 4-day work week. This is especially interesting for a bootstrapped company because you can attract talent by offering this as a benefit, while bigger corporations still shy away from it or set it under many conditions and restrictions.
We’re building the largest library of insights and wisdom by and for founders and entrepreneurs.
Once a month we'll send you the latest interviews straight to your inbox. No fluff, just value. For free.
Here’s More, From Other Founders Around the World
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.
What motivated you to become an entrepreneur?
After graduating, I worked for an extremely well-paying automotive company. But I always had the feeling that there was more out there. So I quit and went into research with the aim of becoming a founder.
What should leaders understand about their own role and responsibility?
There are no overnight miracles, it's very hard work: both physically and emotionally. Requires resilience, grit, strategic approach and grind.