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 could play football reasonably well, but had to stop at the age of 21 due to a serious injury and 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 course 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 may sound cocky or perhaps even pedantic or arrogant. Anyway, I'd like to leave that judgment to others. I can't and don't want to do much with that.

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, for example, I do not want to work for a boss anymore, I cannot tolerate 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 must be good. are. A fit body and a fit mind. I also want freedom and the ability to think and work autonomously. And being able to identify 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 noon I have my first food and no later than 20:00 pm my last snack. That is what is called intermittent fasting and I feel very good about it. As I say this now, I realize that when I train full-time for Kenneth Smit, it cannot always be done this way. Look, of course I started just before the corona crisis and then you have to switch very quickly on March 15. A business plan for 2020 and 2021 will suddenly look very quickly and very different. On the other hand I thought: 'what could happen to me?' So I didn't get very nervous. I have mainly used the past time to delve into the theory and structure of the training and have also completed some trial training.”

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 with 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 great, if I can do all that, I will become the best salesperson in the organization and then I can really sell everything and I can really reach everywhere'. Ultimately, my region also placed me in the TOP 5 of high-scoring sales managers of Social Deal, but in the end I did not get the real satisfaction from the work and philosophy of the organization. Because 'free thinking' sometimes forces me to make radical choices, I decided to resign 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 in which they were recruiting new trainers. Then I thought: 'you know what, I'll register and when I get back in time I'll go there and if they want me, I'll do what I think would be a lot of fun'. No sooner said than done, and after four conversations with the directors of Kenneth Smit, I signed.”

Have you thought about other training agencies?

“No, not at all, of course I already knew Kenneth Smit's methodology and it immediately felt good. Perhaps I am a bit impulsive in this regard, I act based on my gut and instincts. In my experience, the organization is very professional. The marketing, the branding and the new website. It is also the best way for me to invest in myself. I want to be one of Kenneth Smit's enterprising Top Trainers within 10 years. Success through doing is tailor-made for me. 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