This is a very special Friday for me. What a week! Super exciting, busy and different. So a very special 5er Friday this week for you. I hope you like this format.

As a background this is the biggest birthday week for our family. My brother on the 3rd, my first born son on the 4th and my dad on the 6th. Three incredible men (or man to be) in one week. So what are the learnings from these very influential human beings

1.

My younger brother Chris, stepped away after a 20+ year career as a police officer to go back to live the life he wanted. He didn’t care about the financial shortcomings, the partial negative touched discussion with our parents and friends and the really nice pension. He wanted to be free, self-determined and happy again. Now he is killing it again in his new sales job, works with energetic, positive and caring people. Sometimes it is important to listen to your gut feelings and just doing the things you feel good about. Life goes on and a job is a job, a profession is a profession, both can be changed. You are not the imaging guy, the voice over talent, the program director. Those are roles. You are you. Be brave, believe in yourself, have courage

2.

My dad. I had a difficult childhood, we were always fighting and just not a great father son relationship. It totally flipped when my son was born. I am proud of him now, more than ever. Why? Because he is in great shape for his age and puts his sports program, his fitness routine first – every morning. He can do more push ups than a lot of teenagers and young adults. He also showed personal change can be done, no matter how old you are. I think he has some fantastic achievements since he retired like walking the Camino a couple times, riding over the alps with a bicycle (not a electro bike or mountain bike guys, an old bicycle). and and and. He still plays soccer and he is always there, when we need a hand. He is a role model for consistency and stability. 100 % will power – always. When I am 74 I wish I can be a bit like him and will still work out and be as fit as him.

3.

My son. This year has been incredible difficult for him, in sports, school, friends – you name it. I feel I have never seen him grow so much in a short amount of time, since he was born. He grew and his tone and temper changed, his appearance might be still like a kid, but his heart, his soul and his spirit is that of a young man. He learnt to separate right from wrong, true from false and also how to deal with injustice, anger, unfairness. He stood up for himself against his coach to be treated objectively and fair, even if this costed him the team. He said his opinion and did not back down for what he felt was not right. He stood tall with his friends against racism and with his grandmother against cancer. He pulled through in sports against rejection and resistance. He is a true warrior on and off the pitch. I love him to death and admire him for keep on fighting and trying to do the right thing. I am incredibly proud of his determination and willingness to succeed.