René started out with a single company. In 1994, he founded a marketing agency for small and medium-sized businesses in an attic room. By 2011, the company he had started with a college friend had grown into an organization with seventy employees. A year later, René sold his shares and set out to find a new project. From that point on, he always had his hands full.

In 2012, René became a shareholder in New Story, a digital services agency. He soon became involved with several other companies as well, particularly in the retail sector. For example, he served as a pioneer for the Noordwijk shopping district, launched his own company, Centrumverbinder, and established the Centrummanagement Academy. “Next year, we’ll be training our 100th downtown manager,” says René.

The entrepreneur didn’t limit himself to the world of retail. He also became a speaker and trainer, wrote books, and even created a theater production. “All of this took a lot of time,” says René. “Even though all these activities overlapped, I realized I was taking on too much at once.”

More powerful and effective 
René describes himself as a true retail professional. He prefers to focus all his attention on his great passion: downtown areas. In 2023, he decided that Centrumverbinder and the academy should be given priority.

In October of that year, René joined Straight-Line Leadership. He started with the Self-Leadership membership, which focuses on developing personal leadership. “I knew I had the potential to become even more powerful and effective,” he says. “The people around me didn’t understand that. They’d say, ‘Aren’t you already?’ But I knew there were areas where I could still improve a lot, such as focusing my efforts.”

Theater was the first thing René left behind. “My goal wasn’t to make it big in the theater world,” he explains. “I realized it was a hobby that took up a lot of time.” That was a logical first step, but to make progress with the downtown areas, he had to narrow his focus even further.

From Losses to Big Profits
“I knew what I wanted to spend my time on,” René says. “But I was completely consumed by New Story. The company was in deep trouble, which meant I had to put my plans for Centrumverbinder on hold. I threw myself into New Story, thinking I could step back once everything was back on track. Eventually, that worked out. As shareholders, we temporarily stepped back into operations. One of us became the CEO, and I got actively involved in sales, which took us from a monthly loss of 60k to a profit of between 70k and 80k.”

René then set the process of selling his shares in motion. “Actually, I wanted to do that much earlier,” he says. “But that didn’t work out because I simply didn’t have certain conversations. I accepted a lot because I thought: that’s just the way it is; I can’t change it. Last January, I told the shareholders what I was planning. Of course, I had prepared them for it a bit beforehand. At first, they weren’t happy with my plan, but by communicating clearly, we were still able to reach good agreements on this.”

‘Loose’ Agreements
In the past, René often left meetings without any concrete agreements: “I caught myself leaving the meeting without it being clear enough what we were going to do. Now I don’t leave the room until there are concrete agreements and everyone knows exactly what they entail. This approach not only helped me sell my shares but also helped make New Story profitable again. That was because I made clear agreements with the sales team and external partners at the time.”

For example, he set measurable targets with the sales staff. René: “We used to be a bit ‘lax’ about that. At one point, we agreed that we had to schedule four meetings with potential clients every week. If it was Friday afternoon and there were only three on the calendar, we’d have a discussion about it. I was very clear: a deal is a deal.”

A Valuable Guide for His Children
René no longer shies away from conversations in his personal life either, which has brought him closer to his two daughters. “I want to be a valuable guide in life for my children. I used to write that down as an ideal, but I never asked myself what that actually means or how I can measure it.”

Moreover, René didn’t discuss this with his daughters. He never asked them if they felt he was valuable to them. Since he’s started having those conversations, he’s noticed a change in their attitude: “My youngest, in particular, can now put herself in my shoes better and understands why I make certain choices. She realizes that I have her best interests at heart, even if that’s not always what she herself would prefer. As a result, there’s more mutual understanding, and we’re growing closer.”

Continuing to Grow as a Person
Before René began working with Straight-Line Leadership, he was already a successful entrepreneur. In 2023, he took his success to the next level—a feat he believes has little to do with numbers or revenue. “I want to continue growing as a person,” René says. “What I find incredibly valuable is that Straight-Line Leadership constantly points out areas where I can still improve. I’m learning to see what I didn’t see before, which allows me to work with greater focus and tackle my goals with more energy.”

“Whereas a year ago I was juggling nine balls at once, I now focus on just two—the ones that really matter to me. This growth has also allowed me to lead a simpler life. I rarely struggled with stress or worry to begin with, but I’ve learned to let go of repetitive thoughts even more effectively. I wish that for everyone.”