Dear Jan

Well, Ukraine and Russia. I think the Ukraine badly needs Russia. I think the economy in Ukraine without the Russian companies and investments would be in total chaos and probably be even more corrupt than it is now (please do not have the EU transfer € 11 billion to Ukraine because this money will go directly into the pockets of the individual government officials, as is common in almost the whole of Eastern Europe). Besides, we have an office in Donetsk and because of all this political wheeling and dealing we face big challenges. The Ukrainian Hrivna dropped from 7 to 18 (for 1 euro). (more…)

Dear Gerard,

It is clear that the West now faces a difficult period when it comes to the situation with Russia. To solve these problems will not be easy. It is admirable that your business, which operates in several countries in Eastern Europe and even in Ukraine, is performing well. The recent political turmoil caused by Russia will affect various branches of your company.

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Dear Jan

Top athletes always fascinate me. I admire their dedication, perseverance and the ability to forgo to achieve their goal. If we, as entrepreneurs and employees, display the same dedication, our company or career cannot fail. (more…)

Dear Gerard

It’s good to see that you have made big steps in recent years. Realizing that you always have to anticipate is really important. During the phase of growth and increasing profits, you will be in a euphoric mood. You feel invincible, you get lots of compliments and make lots of “friends”, after all, you are successful. It is more difficult to look ahead and to consider the next phase. (more…)

Dear Jan,

I sometimes feel like we are in all 4 phases at the same time and throughout my entrepreneurial career I never paid much attention to this. And now that I think about it, I never knew what I should do with this information. For example, we now have a new temporary staffing service: international staffing and A1 Payrolling. We are one of the few providers in the Netherlands. Other companies are not yet active in this area, but this is only a matter of time. We are clearly in the growth stage. We are trying to capture market share as quickly as possible and to create customer loyalty by providing top service at competitive prices to reduce the chances of competitors entering the market. (more…)

Dear Gerard,

I think that in your business you do everything to keep the company up-to-date and dynamic. Listening to customers and trying to respond to new needs and innovate wherever possible. It is essential to understand and to be aware of what stage of development a company and the industry as a whole is in. (more…)