It’s a wrap! January 2026
It’s now been two months since we arrived in the Netherlands. I’m glad I took Dutch classes last year because, even though people politely ask if I’d prefer to speak English, I can usually decline. Unless it’s a phone call with a child screaming in the background, it’s manageable to hold conversations in Dutch – something I’m quite proud of and hopeful will soon help me work with local clients, not just remotely with people and companies I’ve known for years. (Hello, hello – I’m open to new projects.)
I’m being this direct because I’ve never been particularly good at actively bringing in new business. Instead, after completing projects, people tend to ask what else I could do for them or where I’d like to contribute next. So while my current project situation might seem unusual to those who don’t know me, it’s actually very typical of how things have unfolded in the past.
To kick off the year, I visited Vienna to reconnect with my friends at Vollpension. After helping them raise more than €500,000 last year, I’m now supporting them in securing public subsidies, while also developing their merchandising collection and workwear (yes – back in the day, I even studied fashion design). Some might call this being a jack of all trades; I prefer to think of it as leading special projects. In my opinion, the most meaningful work comes down to understanding what you’re good at and delegating the rest to people who excel in other areas. What matters most is approaching projects with a clear vision of what they could become and what they might lead to. In many ways, it’s about shaping the right narrative and telling the right story.
And that feels like the theme for this new chapter: building from experience, leaning into strengths, and staying open to unexpected directions. A new country, a new business, (and hopefully soon also new collaborations – none of what 2026 is fully mapped out.
If the past months have shown anything, it’s that progress doesn’t always come from chasing what’s next, but from recognizing where you can add real value – and stepping into that space with clarity and confidence. At the moment, I’m trying to lean into just that.
Have a project? Want to discuss potential collaborations? Please reach out!
