In 2020, Richard Timmers knew he didn’t have a moment to spare. “I’ve always been aware of the value of time,” Richard said. “But when I turned sixty, that realization became even stronger. If I wanted to accomplish anything, I couldn’t let a single minute go to waste.” At the time, he was running Remie FJA, a tax and legal consulting firm and accounting office. Richard’s plan was to separate the two branches of Remie FJA and turn them into separate companies: one thriving consulting firm and one solid accounting office, each with new owners who could take the businesses forward for years to come.

Richard: “To secure Remie FJA’s future, I had to ensure that both business units were acquired. But with several shareholders who had been involved for years and had no plans to leave, that was going to be a challenge.”

’s Downward Spiral To achieve his goals, Richard first had to take personal action. “I’m naturally level-headed, but by 2020 I had lost that sense of perspective,” he explains. “Both professionally and personally, I was completely stuck. I faced a few major setbacks, which sapped my fighting spirit. I went from being a fighter to a complainer.”

In addition to his main business, Richard had stakes in two other companies: a pig farm and a fruit-growing business. In both cases, he had to deal with partners who acted on their own initiative, with significant financial and personal consequences. During that same period, both of Richard’s parents passed away.

The entrepreneur was caught in a downward spiral that not only affected his mental state but also put a strain on his relationship with his wife, Jacqueline. “When he came home, he would complain for an hour about everything that was going wrong,” says Jacqueline. “He was constantly working, even at home. I felt unappreciated, lonely, and had to deal with all of Richard’s negativity. At one point, I was even ready to leave with the dog.”

Focused on Results
Both professionally and personally, it was vital for Richard to regain his focus and drive. He began by making a few difficult decisions. Richard explains: “I cut my losses, even though I had already suffered many losses.” When he joined Straight-Line Leadership later that year, he took another crucial step forward.

To achieve his goals, Richard first had to bring two new owners on board to lead his administrative office, which would continue independently in 2022 under the name AEC. With the help of Straight-Line Leadership, Richard developed into a leader who approached the discussions surrounding that transition in a focused manner. The key to this turned out to be his communication. “I used to put off difficult conversations,” says Richard. “As a result, the problem just kept getting bigger, and eventually I lost my temper. Then I didn’t have a conversation, but an argument. I learned to speak up sooner and stay friendly. I took the emotion out of it, because I realized that getting angry didn’t help me at all. With fewer emotions, I could also see reality more clearly; I looked at people and situations with a more neutral perspective. That made me aware of who people really were and what choices I had to make.”

Richard always kept the result he wanted to achieve in mind. He explains: “I made myself secondary to the result. Before, I thought it was important to be right, but then I thought: let others feel like they’re the ones who scored. The only thing that matters is that I achieve what I want to achieve. By approaching all discussions this way, I was able to convince the other shareholders over time, and two driven employees were able to take over AEC.”

Bestaansrecht
Now that AEC was a done deal, Richard could focus entirely on Remie FJA. To ensure a strong future for the organization, he wanted to merge his company with another successful firm. Richard: “My administrative firm had about fifty employees, and so did that other firm. The combined size would provide an excellent foundation to give the other branch—the tax and legal consulting firm—sufficient consulting assignments, thereby securing its future and raison d’être. In addition, I wanted the owner of the other consulting firm to take over the company. A good entrepreneur who spoke clearly and honestly. I had known him for years and knew he would be perfect for the job.”

The other shareholders of Remie FJA were opposed to the plan. Over the years, their own interests had taken precedence, and they were no longer a true team. “They preferred to continue down that dead-end path until retirement. I knew this change was necessary and had to take responsibility for it. That’s why I then joined Straight-Line Leadership on my own initiative, where I learned how to turn the tide.”

Richard realized he had no control over the owners’ behavior. The only thing he could do was change himself. “I observed more and listened more closely. When you really listen, you gain a wealth of practical information. I knew where they stood, what their own agenda was, and how I should approach conversations.”

A New Future
In the end, Richard managed to convince them to sell the company to the prospective buyer. On July 22, 2024, the new owner signed the acquisition agreement, and Remie FJA embarked on a new future. These days, Richard works as a freelancer at his old company. He’s still involved behind the scenes, but the new entrepreneur is calling the shots. “I’m giving him all the support he needs to become the face and leader of the company, because that’s essential for the company’s future.”

A breath of fresh air is blowing through Richard’s marriage, too. “When he told me about that membership, I was skeptical,” Jacqueline admits. “But I soon realized: he just has to do this. When we retire, I want my husband back. Fortunately, he did it, because Richard is calmer now, much less grumpy, and he even compliments people when they do something well. And when he’s home, he’s really home.”