“I actually fell into it”
Sometimes you don't become an entrepreneur with a business plan, but with a kick in the butt. That's how it went for Ronald. He started as a freelancer out of necessity, initially working as a salaried employee, and then slowly but surely drifted into entrepreneurship. "I didn't necessarily want to get rich, I just wanted to do what I'm good at. Then the rest will follow."
His first client? A company that asked him to stay on as an advisor, but under his own banner. And then it turned out: he had no company, no plan, but he did have a client. "That was my soft start."
From seven to seventy
The real test came later. During the COVID pandemic, demand for ROMYNOX's products exploded. In just one year, the company's revenue grew sevenfold. Sounds good, but there was a catch: "We hired people who could pack and answer phones, but they had little connection to the product or the company."
The growing pains came later. Ronald saw the culture erode, the processes creaking, and ultimately decided on a radical change of course: almost 100% of the staff was replaced. "Painful, but necessary. The pioneers from the beginning weren't the builders of the next phase."
From pioneering to professionalization
What followed was a complete shift. Ronald built a new team with people who didn't join ROMYNOX through connections, but because they genuinely wanted to be part of ROMYNOX. Young talent, many with blue-green backgrounds, brought structure and connection. "A culture emerged in which people wanted to collaborate, understand, and improve processes."
Using tools like ticket systems, assessments, and monthly dashboards, Ronald now focuses on margins per FTE and employee satisfaction. "Profit isn't a goal, but the result of satisfied employees and customers."
Letting go sometime but not ready yet
Ronald is now 60, but he has no plans to retire anytime soon. "I want to be able to let go of the executive chair soon, but maintain the jukebox atmosphere within the organization." Whether his successor will be his son or someone else from the team, he's not sure yet. What matters is that the company's DNA remains intact: connecting, unique, and people-focused.
Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
🎧 Smart Entrepreneurs is a series by Kenneth Smit in which we speak to leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals who make a difference and are honest about it.
Visit the ROMYNOX website: https://romynox.nl/
