Microsoft Innovation Center Brussels

Good for you. It’s a big step and you’ve probably thought it through. No doubt you’re in this adventure with like-minded souls.

When budding entrepreneurs reach out my focus is on why they’re starting the company. I want to learn their motivations. I want to learn the dynamics of the team, the roles each of the members, where they want to go, why they want to go there. What their medium and long-term plans are. Sounds pretty simple, but to me those are essentials.

You’ve got to know why you do what you do. Because when things get tough, believe me, you’ll ask yourself that question many times over. That’s also why you’ve got to know why your partners are in this, because their faith will be tested too when things don’t go as planned.

And nothing goes as planned. And things will be more difficult than you anticipated.

Now reading about “difficulty” is like reading about getting punched in the face: “Oh when someone gives me a left hook I’ll just punch back.” No you wont. You’ll run for the corner and scream for mommy. You’ll need to convince every fiber in your body to get back up and stay in the ring for another round.

Luckily the same goes for reading about the good life and actually living it. You can read all about reaching a summit and the wonderful view but nothing fills you with that glow, with that sense of accomplishment like the real deal.

My travels with Wondergraphs have taken me through both. And even though I knew about the peaks and valleys, the valleys were tough to climb out of and the peaks were unexpectedly high. It’s been a great journey and I wish you the same.

So, welcome on board of the Santa Maria. May the winds take you to wonderful new worlds.