109. The life of an entrepreneur

Dear Gerard,

I realize while reading your last letter that I am reading your life history as an entrepreneur. On one hand, I’m a bit sad about the fact that you have embarked on the final stage of entrepreneurship. I’m not sad because you have reached this phase, it is good that you can afford to do this. It is important to decide for yourself what you are good at and then do that. But I remember your first steps as an entrepreneur, when you were a young man full of energy and ideas.

You were already an entrepreneur during our summer job as waiters in a busy square in the centre of Amsterdam. We worked for a cafe and next to us was a deli. You started also selling sandwiches out of that shop with a margin on top. That went so well that cafes in other parts of the square were angry because they were unable to compete. Eventually you had to stop because of the envy of the other tenants and the owner of our café did not want any problems. Then while you were studying and doing part-time jobs, you started your first company selling plexiglas products.

Now, thirty years later, you conclude that this energy bothers your colleagues at the companies that you’ve created. I have not yet reached this phase, but then you’re two years older than me ;-). I’m in the middle stage of entrepreneurship in our business, I hope that I am not bothering my colleagues in that way. I feel that I get better every day, purely via the experiences I am going through.

Some entrepreneurs have a lot of talent and start young and succeed, others must take a longer path. I believe I am like an athlete training every day and leaving some things aside so I can continue to develop myself. It reminds of the Scarlett Johansson movie, Lucy. She gets a shot of a new drug which makes her more aware every day. I feel the same, every day I become sharper. As long as I feel this way, I will continue to work at our company.

Regards

Erik