When I was seventeen, I started earning some extra money as a tennis instructor. At the time, I was partly self-employed and partly employed by someone else. In 2003, I became fully self-employed—not as a tennis instructor, but as the manager of a restaurant at a golf club. I then took on another business, which is still in operation today: the Atgolf Vlaanderen golf club.

In 2009, I joined Kambukka to distribute the products alongside my business partner and childhood friend Stijn Lowette. In the meantime, I had expanded my restaurant business to include two additional brasseries. So, I ended up juggling five different projects at once. Maintaining focus and structure was certainly a challenge in that situation.

In 2010, I decided to focus entirely on Kambukka and the retail world. When I started out as a restaurant owner, I was 29 years old. I was young, eager to grow, and still figuring things out, which made me feel restless. I was juggling too many things at once, while ongoing projects weren’t being properly completed. That taught me how important it is to adjust course. If you want to run five businesses effectively at the same time, you need a large team by your side. If not, you have to focus. And that’s exactly what I did.”

In the book *Straight-Line Leadership*, you’ll find the distinction between “course correction” and “defending.” How has that distinction helped you?

“I played a lot of tennis until I was thirty, and my game was always very aggressive. I really played to win. What a lot of people do is play defensively and hope the other person makes a mistake. They don’t try to win the point themselves. That tactic leads to a lot of hesitation, but if you play too aggressively, you’re no longer effective either. When I was younger, I may have played a bit too aggressively and took a few too many risks. I had to adjust that. I’ve learned that the key is finding balance. Play aggressively, but know when to adjust your tactics.”

What does a leader mean to you?

“Someone who ensures that their team turns the mission into results. They’re someone who’s always thinking ahead and focused on the future, even while team members are still carrying out the previous plan.”

What is the hardest decision you've had to make as an entrepreneur?

“Accepting a loss and moving on is sometimes the most practical thing you can do. For example, if a project fails or a company goes bankrupt. I find that the hardest decision to make—to finally take the plunge and call it quits. When I’ve invested a lot of time in something, I really don’t want to let it go.”

I also find it difficult to let good people go. We once had a woman working for us who was very competent, did her job well, and always came to work with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, her position had become redundant, and from a business perspective, it was no longer feasible to keep her on the payroll.”

What would you have liked to know before you started your business?

“If I had focused right away, I could have saved myself seven to nine years. Then I could have spent much more time on what matters to me. And I probably would have achieved more by now. But I don’t know if I could have been that honest with myself at that age. Maybe I needed that time to grow up and come to certain realizations. They say you can learn something new every day, but who really makes the effort?”

What drives you?

“I find it incredibly satisfying to develop an idea and then see the result come to life. For example, when I see someone on the street carrying a Kambukka water bottle, it makes me happy. Another major motivation for me is to bring the best possible product to market. I want us to have the best functionality, the most beautiful design, and the most retail locations in our segment. We are selective in this regard: Kambukka is a high-end brand.”

How can you contribute to your community during these turbulent times?

“Kambukka’s mission contributes to improving the environment. When people use our products properly, it reduces plastic waste. We also supply retailers, who have been hit hard during the COVID-19 crisis, which is why we’re receiving many requests for payment deferrals. We assess each situation individually to determine how we can help our business partners. Additionally, like everyone else, I support charities that are important to me. For example, my wife and I volunteer our time and provide financial support to the local youth shelter.”