• inspiration

The 5 biggest learnings from 10 years as managing director

Here’s a grateful geezer on your screen (and on a stage in the photo above). Because this month marks 10 years since I started my dream job. It’s 10 years since I decided to go full throttle on something I truly believed in and coupled my entrepreneurial heart with a club of professionals with a mission. I like to take a moment to reflect on that. For myself, but also to share with you my 5 learnings in those 10 years. What that has to do with Facebook? It’s like this.

Boomer alert! Ten years ago, I saw a job posting go by in my Facebook timeline. Yes, that indeed immediately put me in the Boomer category. No problem, I’m proud of it. I hadn’t been applying for jobs for a while at that time, because back in 2008 I chose entrepreneurship. And yet it went well, as it turned out. Because shortly thereafter I bought into Scrum Academy and put my foot full on the gas pedal.

Job of my life

The world was at my feet. I found the role in which I could have a blast as an entrepreneur, grow as a coach and trainer and build a team that really matters. A team that helps people and organizations innovate faster, collaborate smarter, make more impact and increase job satisfaction.

What was in its infancy then has grown up. We are no longer a pure training partner, but a collaborative partner for organizations that want to improve, change or transform. To have made that step as a club of professionals, that makes me very proud.

Five learnings that really stood out for me

After ten years of entrepreneurship, building, trial and error with Scrum Academy, there are many insights that I’m happy to share with you (and yes, that I’m happy to pick up for myself as well). Here are the five that have been most influential. Just the way it went. No embellishments. No downplay.

1. Nothing comes your way, harvest may
I have made a lot of meters and sometimes paid the price privately. Fortunately, I have started to manage that balance better and better. Celebrating success is still a work in progress.

2. Decide quickly and hold space
The faster I decide, the more mental space I hold. Endless weighing and weighing blocks my growth. I have learned to let ratio and gut feeling work together: if something doesn’t feel right and I can substantiate it, I cut the knot. And when I bring up a subject for the third time at home, I am told: time for action!

3. Everything hinges on the people around you
Reach out your hand at the right time. Things you could never have achieved on your own come about together. And put in the time. It’s also very educational and cool, in fact.

4. Be willing to pay a learning fee, and a lot too
With the experiments that turned out differently than expected, I could have easily financed MBA studies. With every setback, I did not spare myself: what is my part, what do I learn from it and what do I do differently next time? You win some and learn some.

5. Go for the long line and only win/win
It is tempting to string something up quickly. But the long line always rewards itself. I am no longer tempted by quick wins and focus on the bigger picture. In doing so, I always and exclusively go for win/win. I don’t know any other way of doing business.

Gratitude as a foundation

Providing good training is a skill. So is putting it into practice. The combination of a top trainer and a good coach and consultant is rare. The fact that this combination is so strong in the Scrum Academy team makes me proud. Without all these fantastic professionals, I would not be where I am today after ten years. And neither would Scrum Academy.

Therefore, I am also grateful to you. Grateful that you put your trust in me. That you invite me as a trainer, as a coach, as an entrepreneur. That you, as a client or as a participant, trust me with your time, energy and development. Thanks to you I may continue to learn and grow. As a person. As a trainer. As a coach. As an entrepreneur. That’s a great gift that I unwrap (almost) every day with a broad smile. On to the next ten. Together with you.