Risk-taking on a whole other level is being a full-time student and business owner. Before taking this big step, the scariest thing I have done is moving to a different country.
This is the craziest, best and scariest risk I have ever taken. Since I was a little girl I always wanted to work with children and as I became older and my passion for working with children grew.
In 2017, after moving to the Netherlands I became a full-time nanny, a year later I started to work as a sports coach with no experience in teaching children. As a 19-year-old without much work experience, this was quite a challenge. After a few months of training, I was able to give classes and educate children about sports and the importance of nutrition.
I progressed from a junior position to a senior position in just 6 months with responsibility ensuring the quality of classes was up to standard including training of junior coaches. After a year I took over a few of the administrative tasks of the business and a year later also started studying full-time.
I took a step back from the administrative tasks to focus on my studies but continued being a sports coach. I remember I told my dad back in 2017 that someday I would like to take over the company. As time went by I realized that this is what I loved and what I wanted to do.
As a little girl, I always knew that I did not want to work for a boss, and this is something my dad instilled in me from a young age. He always told me “Never work for someone else, build something for yourself”
November 2020: We received the news that business became available for sale. To be honest I did not think twice about this.
Things moved fast, from negotiations, to draft contracts, to online meetings, to more negotiations, to scouting lawyers, and then finally a final contract and offer on the table. It was not smooth sailing and at times I felt like not pursuing the opportunity. This was a big learning curve.
Eventually, on January the 4th 2021, all parties signed the contract. It felt surreal sometimes it still does, sometimes I still ask myself ”What are you doing?”, ”This is insane” and I get a lot of questions, about running a full-time business and studying at the same time.
It is hard work and a lot of sweat and tears especially the first few months. I have never biked so much before with a bakfiets packed with equipment.
Some days are great, other days it feels like the world hit me with a brick especially taking over a business during COVID. As Mike Tyson famously said – “Everyone has a plan until you are hit in the mouth (face)” The hardest part for me so far is the uncertainty that I had to deal with especially this year and the state the world is in, and sometimes the uncertainty if I made the right choice. Like they say onwards and upwards.
"It is the smiles on those little faces each day and the progress of the children that make it all worth it"
And then a shout-out to my amazing parents for being by my side every step of the way during the hard days and the good days, this would not have been possible without them.
My advice
"Do what you love, follow your passion. Don’t give up keep pushing forward, perseverance and patience is key. Always be open to advice and client feedback.'' I have the best support system and I see such potential in the business and the people that make it all possible. There is still a lot to be learned and exprienced.
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