From hate-the-job dishwasher to helping thousands getting more out of life.
Before ending up here, I went through life not knowing what my purpose was. I started out as a dishwasher in the restaurant of my parents. I hated that job so much that I had a kitchen timer next to me counting down the minutes. It was only later that I realised the importance of every link in the chain.
I moved into service with my mum and attended hotelschool. I went to the South of France to work in a two star Michelin restaurant and became an assistant sommelier. Then it happened! I got bitten by the hospitality bug. I came back home and took over the hotel/restaurant of my parents and turned it into a hospitality group with several banquet halls, catering services and of course the hotel and the restaurant. I was organising so many weddings and events that I found it a good idea to hone certain skills. I went to the US to become a certified wedding planner and opened (next to my other businesses) an event company to organise parties and events. |
The year I almost gave up on life.
At one stage, the company got so big that I didn't know everyone on the team, let alone all my clients. Having worked at a high personal service level, that didn't resonate with me. So, I sold the company and went to England to become... a butler. You should know my great grandfather was a butler in the 19th century and hospitality runs through my family's vains for 4 generations.
I started working in London as a butler in a 5 star hotel, later on for families and it all seemed amazing, until... I went through a divorce that made me doubt myself, my skills and quite frankly my life. Difficult times in terms of finances and relationships, made me ask the question everyday: what am I doing? Maybe I should give up. I hit rock bottom.
Luckily for me, I had been interested in self development for many years. I learned from reading hundreds of books that nothing was going to change if I didn't change. So I found my strength and decided that offense is the defense.
I started working in London as a butler in a 5 star hotel, later on for families and it all seemed amazing, until... I went through a divorce that made me doubt myself, my skills and quite frankly my life. Difficult times in terms of finances and relationships, made me ask the question everyday: what am I doing? Maybe I should give up. I hit rock bottom.
Luckily for me, I had been interested in self development for many years. I learned from reading hundreds of books that nothing was going to change if I didn't change. So I found my strength and decided that offense is the defense.
The rise to international keynote speaker.
I honed all my skills and added a few. Honestly, I was amazed what you can achieve when things are on the line. You possess more skills than you think!
- I started an international butler school to train butlers at the highest level. In 7 years, the school became market leader.
- I wrote my first book.
- I became an international keynote speaker for organisations, companies and Fortune 500 corporations
- I developed trainings in hospitality, customer experience and etiquette
- and the thing I'm the most proud of: I was able to help thousands of people and organisations with my techniques to improve their lives, jobs or overall experience.
Over the years people learned from my skills.
I teach what I experience and what I know. That is why so many of my students have achieved amazing results. My butler students work for the most successful people in the world and the companies I work with see an increase in customer satisfaction rapidly. The individual people that come to my etiquette and hospitality trainings get ahead in life during job interviews or simply when entertaining friends at home. At this stage, I'm living the life I dreamed of.
If you wish to connect with me to work together on honing your life skills or implement a CX strategy in your organisation, just send me an email by clicking here.
If you wish to connect with me to work together on honing your life skills or implement a CX strategy in your organisation, just send me an email by clicking here.