Page 9 - Demo

I AM. MAGAZINE - 3School vs Entrepreneur = The QuestSo as soon as I can, I go on a discovery to get to know the world and people.I actively engage as a volunteer in youth work: as an animator at SOGEHA-camps for underprivileged children and camps at the ChristelijkeMutualiteit, at the local youth house where I was successively DJ, bartender, volunteer employee and later also a member of the board ofdirectors and press officer.In the meantime, I meet my former wife and graduate in Vilvoorde, towards forestry after horticultural studies. Prepared to become a forester,with an A2 degree in my pocket and solid foundation in botany, I return to horticultural school at Melle to follow a course in landscapearchitecture. But I underestimated mathematics and I know that I%u2019m facing a solid re-examination.My decision is made: I%u2019m going to work.Thanks to a former classmate who already works at the Royal domain in Laeken,I learn that a place is being released. And that%u2019s how my career as a gardener starts at the Royal domain in Laeken.After being married for two years, we discover that I have a congenital chromosomal disorder - Klinefelter syndrome - which makes meinfertile. Upon hearing the doctor%u2019s verdict at the other end of the line, my world collapses for a moment. But then we again look actively for asolution. And in 2007 I received the most beautiful gift I can get! I become a daddy of a gorgeous daughter Kiyoko %u2013 after successfultreatment with donor sperm. I%u2019m not leaving her alone for a second.2010 is a moving year, both privately and professionally.The fertility treatments require a lot of our patience, body, hope and savings. Thebirth of my son Kitaro is an agony. He is born with a cesarean. Despite an excellent APGAR-score we notice something is wrong. But nobodybelieves us. As always we don%u2019t give up and search for solutions. After 18 months we discovered through a baby osteopath that Kitaro hadmigraine all that time due to a jammed neck nerve! Through bio-resonance we discover that on top of that, he%u2019s intolerant for 12 nutrientsincluding cows milk, pork, refined sugar, chocolate, oats,%u2026Yet another confirmation of the common thread through my development path: keep following your intuition and actively look foropportunities that others don%u2019t see. If it feels right, just do it. No matter what anyone else says!An industrial accident with a chainsaw, heavy rehabilitation and the long travel time to work in Brussels take their toll, which means that afternine years as a royal gardener I have to look for other horizons.My quest starts as crop manager at a plant nursery, which comes to a halt dueto economic reasons. Next I work as a plant technician in hydro-culture. At the end of 2010 I got the opportunity to start as a customeradviser in a garden center, where I can lead and manage my own department. Purchase, sale, maintenance, help people. Wow!A completely new and demanding world of sales opens up before my very eyes! Fascinating but too demanding to combine with my youngfamily. I have to choose a job closer to home. Not much later my body %u2018suddenly%u2019 shuts down. I%u2019m flattened by a burnout%u2026I AM. MAGAZINE - 9I AM. MAGAZINE - DESIGN YOUR(BUSINESS) LIFE NOW