My heroes
It’s impossible not to write a piece about who my heroes are. This comes from several examples here and there. But without a doubt: my parents are at the top of the list.
Not for the classic, grand reasons, but simply… it’s incredible how hard my parents have worked to arrange everything for their children. My mother has always worked at home, been a homemaker, had home jobs. Until the very end, she took care of her children. You might say: “That’s normal.” But still… no.
And my dad? In a completely different way. Not the refined gentleman, but always in the background, with the lowest jobs. I’ve never heard that man complain. He endured everything, did everything, listened, took his own freedom when he could. Without a doubt: my parents.
And of course, my daughters. It’s fantastic to see what they’ve become. Two beautiful, mature women. Now in their early thirties. One has just become a mom, the other is a completely different type. But they are so well-grounded in life. In every way better than I was at that age, I think. They bring energy, are always positive, work incredibly hard. They’ve partied more by 25 than I have in my entire life. And I can only be proud that they’ve done that.
I can’t describe in words how much admiration I have for my own daughters.
If we then move on to people outside my family – no, wait, don’t forget: my brother.
Worked together for years. Let’s put it simply: the least smart of the bunch, or let me put it differently. He has done the least studies. So he has a lot of insecurity about himself, which really comes from within. But don’t underestimate him, how clever he is, how he researches everything, how he thinks. He has often sharpened me up again. Sometimes too intensely, sometimes too close. But if I can credit someone, it’s definitely one of my brothers: Eddie. Certainly one of my heroes.
In the work environment… there are also a few who stand out: Danny, Eddie, Gert. I’ve often thought and said it: they were really the backbone on which my business ran at the time. Rob too, each in their own way. Really great people. Examples.
So I don’t have to look far. If I can mirror myself to each of them, in pieces, then they are truly my heroes.
And then… the whole external world. Outside the direct relationships.
Honestly: my heroes are mainly some writers. Especially those who bring insights: like Ankur Warikoo. A bit at the level of Derek Sivers, Mark Manson… The big names naturally surface too. But if I have to give one style of example: Derek Sivers and Ankur Warikoo. Today, they are two people I take as examples.
Ah yes – not to forget of course… we must mention Seth Godin. How he stands in life, how he looks at things. That’s impressive. They’ve had an impact on my life. Or rather: they still have an impact on my life today.
Because what is a hero?
A hero is someone you look up to, or who has done something you would like to do yourself. We shouldn’t attach too much importance to it, but we need our examples. Not as a mirror, but as a higher goal. As something we can continue to strive towards.
It shouldn’t be the Instagram idea that we never measure up, because honestly: in my current life, in my current situation… I couldn’t be better off than how I am now, at my age, when I look back.
Everything could have been better, that’s true. But everything could also have been so much worse.
I can count myself very lucky to have heroes. To have such daughters. Such children and such a fantastic wife.