Louis van Gaal and Johan Derksen believe that top football coaches must also have played at a high level? What about your sales and management experience?
“I expected this question and I would like to refer to Julian Nagelsmann, the coach of RB Leipzig, this season's number three in the German Bundesliga.
Julian was a decent football player, but had to stop at the age of 21 due to a serious injury. He became a scout and later a trainer.
Last month, this so-called notebook coach and his team reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
I believe that with a clear direction and the right focus, you can go very far. Of course, you also need talent to be able to do that—call it, 'further development'.
I have known from a young age what I want and what I don't want. That might sound stubborn, or perhaps even pedantic or arrogant. But anyway, I prefer to leave that judgment to others. I can't and don't want to do much with it.
So becoming a trainer at Kenneth Smit is something for you like young guys who want to play football at AFC AJAX? Want to reach the sporting top on your own and independently?
“Well, not as concretely as you put it now.
What is true is that I don't like working for a boss anymore, I don't do well with conservative thinkers to whom I have to be accountable, I am very sporty, I like discipline and that my nutrition, my diet and my work-life balance have to be good.
A fit body and a fit mind.
In addition, I want freedom and the ability to think and work autonomously. And to be able to choose and consult my own mentors.
That sounds physically spartan with a libertine (free-thinking) mindset?
That’s right, my day always starts with an ice-cold shower, then work, exercise in between, and from 12:00 PM I have my first food and my last snack by 20:00 PM at the latest. That is called intermittent fasting, and I feel very good doing it.
As I say this now, I realize that when I am training full-time for Kenneth Smit, it cannot always be structured this way. Look, I started just before the corona crisis, of course, and then on March 15th you have to switch gears very quickly.
A business plan for 2020 and 2021 will then suddenly look very different and very quickly. On the other hand, I thought: 'What could happen to me?'
So I didn't get very nervous. I have mainly used the past period to delve into the theory and structure of the training sessions, and I have also already run a few trial sessions.
Back to Kenneth Smit? How did you come into contact with the organization and why did you want to start there as a trainer?
It actually started at Social Deal. I was a regional manager there and received Expert in Sales training as part of my education. That was an absolute eye-opener.
I thought: 'Wow, that's cool, if I can do all that, I'll be the best salesperson in the organization and then I can really sell everything and get in everywhere.'
Ultimately, my region also made it into the TOP 5 of high-scoring sales managers at Social Deal, but ultimately I didn't get real satisfaction from the work and the organization's philosophy.
Because 'free thinking' sometimes forces me to make radical choices, I decided to quit my job and travel through Asia for three months.
It sounds trivial, but during my trip I was alerted via Facebook to a workshop by Kenneth Smit where they were recruiting new trainers.
Then I thought: 'You know what, I'll sign up, and if I get back in time, I'll go there, and if they want me, I'll do whatever seems really fun to me.' No sooner said than done, and after four interviews with the board members of Kenneth Smit, I signed.
Have you thought about other training agencies?
No, not at all. Of course, I was already familiar with Kenneth Smit's methodology, and it felt right immediately. Maybe I am a bit impulsive in that regard; I act based on my gut feeling and intuition.
In my view, the organization is acting very professionally. The marketing, the branding, and the new website.
It is also the best way for me to invest in myself. Within 10 years, I want to be one of Kenneth Smit's entrepreneurial Top Trainers. Success through action suits me perfectly. I firmly believe in that.
Very simple. Corona is a temporary thing, it will pass. Companies and employees need people like us in both boom and bust times.”
Finally, what do many people not yet know about you?
“It may sound crazy, but I like making and drinking cocktails. I admit that it does not always fit into my diet, but a fit body can have that and you should certainly not forget to enjoy life.”
Blogbusters: Rob van de Pas