Dear Gerard,

In the previous article (No. 75), I said that next time I would give details of a successful investment we are involved in. I will really do this next time, when then is more certainty about the start of this project. (more…)

I prefer those sellers who do “everything” for bonuses. We have a bonus system in the Netherlands and our sales agents can earn EUR 100,000 a year fairly easily. We know exactly what they need to achieve this: at least 400 (potential) customers, a minimum of 40 appointments a month, 400 calls, 200 emails, 8 lunches and dinners, a customer information session a month and a monthly mass e-mail to a (potential) customer base which is as large as possible. (more…)

Dear Gerard,

I totally agree with you, the problem is that the crisis caused so much destruction that the responsible parties, i.e. the politicians and regulators were willing to take big risks and this prevented new developments. How do we change this? Who will take the lead in building the new economy? (more…)

Dear Jan

All around me I see that to correct mistakes, people are introducing more rules, guidelines, binding opinions, regulations, etc. to prevent recurrence. Large companies are the most prone to this and politicians and governments are the true masters in this, perhaps, unsurpassed. (more…)

Dear Gerard

The financial world is seen as the major cause of the greatest crisis since 1920-1930. It would take too long to give an analysis here. To blame only the banks is going too far. Politicians find it easy to do, as it is easier than blaming themselves. One of my favourite sayings is “When you point one finger, there are three fingers pointing back to you”. Indeed, the entire capitalist system, which seemed the best of all systems, has contributed to the crisis. Governments encouraged private consumption by making borrowing fiscally attractive and governments privatized one company after another to collect easy money. Of course, banks lent money too easily, but who set up the rules to make this possible? And where were the supervisors to monitor this lending policy adequately? (more…)

Dear Jan,

Yes, our national hero and astronaut, Wubbo Ockels, was a special man. He initiated many innovative projects, most of which were a flop. But that did (apparently) not affect him. He went on unabated and with an infectious enthusiasm. (more…)