What shift in mindset has allowed you to see things differently?
I've come to see mistakes not as the end of the road but as the starting line for learning. Rather than viewing failures as setbacks, I now see them as essential stepping stones to success. This mindset makes me more receptive to new ideas and approaches.
What personal habit or behavior helped you accelerate your personal growth?
I've always been disciplined and persevering, and I've developed these qualities primarily through sport. They also help me enormously in business. This discipline keeps me focused and allows me to keep going even in difficult phases.
When times are tough, who or what is an anchor for you?
I'm lucky to have a great support network of family and friends. When things get tough, I can always rely on them to give me a boost and help me switch off from work. These social connections give me the strength to power through and recharge my batteries.
What’s a guiding principle that informs the way you build and run your business?
Trust is really important to me. Over time, I've learned that it's essential in a start-up. Even when things don't go according to plan, everyone needs to be able to rely on each other. When the team has trust in each other, they can work together on innovative ideas and communicate openly.
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Here’s More, From Other Founders Around the World
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.