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In 2006, I used to be that stubborn entrepreneur who insisted on doing everything myself. What a fool I was.
My ego told me that no one could match my standards.That perfectionism was almost destroying me. I worked an incredible amount. And was getting grumpier by the week. Then came the breakthrough. When I finally let go and trusted others, something magical happened – they didn’t just meet my standards. They exceeded them. Why? Simple.…
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I hear my heartbeat loud and clear.We have just been inserted into the Iraqi desert.
Me and my Special Forces team. 2 Vehicles. Delivered by helis. The Chinooks have left us and are out of sight and hearing. We are stationary, vehicles off. All alone. Weapons manned. Silently scanning the vast desert for threats. “Damn, it’s quiet here,” I think. There is no surrounding sound in the empty desert. Just…
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You wake up. Your house is on fire. What do you save?
Obviously anything with a heartbeat. For most of us, photo albums make the top 3. Why? Because memories are the only true wealth we can’t replace. They’re priceless. Think about those irreplaceable moments:• Childhood adventures• Family gatherings (including those no longer with us)• Adventures with friends and loved ones• Life-changing experiences “The business of life…
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As a former Royal Dutch Special Forces Officer, I learned:Every military objective comes with a casualty forecast.We call it “acceptable losses.”
Ideally there are none. But that is not the reality. Now I see successful high achievers making the same calculations. Often without realizing it. In business, you’re running operations too. But are you doing the correct strategic assessment? Your ´casualties´ might include:• Physical reserves drained• Mental status overstressed• Family connections destroyed• Life purpose lost In…
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I plan every minute in Paradise, but waste hours at Home – A Wake-Up Call
7 Days ago, I was freediving in Bali. Today I’m back in the Matrix. What happened? In Bali, each day was carefully crafted:• Sunrise family workout in Ubud• Breakfast at hidden gem cafes• Afternoons exploring secret temples• Sunset dinners at perfect restaurants Optimizing for peak experiences. Always thinking: “What more value can we get from…
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The #1 overlooked Priority from my Special Forces days – And what I learned…
During my time with the Korps Commandotroepen (Dutch Special Forces), I gained many invaluable skills: i.e. endurance, mental toughness, adaptability, and… a brotherhood for life. But there was a surprising gap: Proper nutrition. Think about this:Elite operators performing at Olympic levels.Making critical decisions under extreme fatigue.Pushing physical and mental boundaries daily. Yet we ate standard…