Since childhood, Erik van Gend has been interested in people’s personal success. The fascination with how some are better able to achieve their goals and others have more difficulty doing so was one of the main motivations for him to found YEARTH Academy.

Erik tries to step out of his comfort zone every day. Both on a business and personal level. Also now. The YEARTH editors had some burning questions for the man who, during a coaching or training course, knows how to get to the bottom of someone in no time, is war of tricks and always keeps challenging himself.

Success and personal growth

What does success mean to you?

Of course, the definition of success is different for everyone. For me, it is not so much a big house, expensive car or having a lot of money. For me, success is managing to create a life that has a high degree of balance and agility. This is an ongoing process because an average life consists of many phases. The man I am now is more focused on health and love for my loved ones. In my younger years, health had a very different, more obvious, value. In my way, I try to defy any kind of wealth whether it is health, love, a loving and fine family, friendship, travel or matter.

“We see it as a challenge to take people a substantial step further in a short period of time.”

Why does the personal success of others fascinate you?

Maybe it’s because of my background. Having grown up in a welfare family and partly in a boarding school, I have had to take quite a route in various areas in order to move forward. I’ve always been curious about what drives people and what makes them create their own barriers and ceilings, often unconsciously. It is my passion to bring people a substantial step further in a short period of time. For those people, who decide to get started with this and want to grow further in order to get the optimal potential out of themselves, I founded YEARTH Academy.

How important is personal growth to you?

Super important. I am still developing myself daily. I strive to get the full potential out of myself. For me, this applies to both business and private life. In my case, this also flows into each other. For me, personal development also goes hand in hand with healthy living. When you develop yourself, you do more and more on flexibility rather than strength.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Travel! I travel a lot for work and when I can, the whole family goes with me. This has allowed us to see the most beautiful places together and experience the best things. But also working with people who think in terms of opportunities and possibilities! Who like to deliver quality and grow. Because of this, we continuously look at what can be improved. This is how we keep each other on our toes. Change, improvement and being able to deal with feedback and criticism are important selection criteria for me to work at YEARTH Academy. Subconsciously, I think this has made me very selective about who and what I spend my time on. I try to get as much out of each day as possible and not waste my time on useless, unimportant and negative things. I cherish my most valuable and priceless commodity: time!

“I was able to turn my passion into my job.”

YEARTH Academy

You have a busy life. What does an average day look like?

I usually get up around 6 a.m.. I immediately put on my sports clothes and start working out. Then I make breakfast for the family. Then I take a cold shower. I do this every morning, since I was 12 years old. Around about eight o’clock, I drive to the YEARTH Campus. If I get the chance, I take the kids to school before that, but usually I am gone earlier.

My days are full of appointments so I often forget to eat in between. I have really had to teach myself to eat small portions in between my appointments. I pretty much eat vegan. My workdays are often long, but if I get the chance I go into the gym on Campus at the end of the day or I go running on the moors. That way I come home relaxed. Depending on the time of year, I go boating with the kids for another hour or we grab a drink by the fireplace. In the evening, I often work a little longer. As an entrepreneur, private life and work are constantly intertwined. I have been able to turn my passion into my work, but that does mean that the dividing lines are sometimes lost.

How involved are you in daily operations yourself?

If you ask my colleagues about this, they probably answer with “too much. I built YEARTH Academy from an attic room. From day one, I steer on a few key paramaters including delivering the highest possible quality and customer-focused thinking and operation. This allows the smallest details to matter to me in the operation. I describe myself as a true perfectionist. Not always easy, but it has also brought me a lot. I work every day at YEARTH Academy with the greatest passion and am mega proud of my dear colleagues who try to make a difference every day. I realize all too well that YEARTH Academy will not change the world. Yet, I do believe we can make a difference to make people’s lives a little more beautiful.

Sustainability is an important topic for many organizations. How does YEARTH Academy deal with it?

An important issue in our business operations. From its inception, I refused to send a paper brochure or catalog with requests for information. Especially since you can receive a fully digital brochure in your inbox within seconds. Now fully accepted of course, but it has also cost me business over the years. However, I think that we as YEARTH Academy also have an exemplary function. For me, sustainability and innovation are also indirectly linked. How can you innovate while operating more sustainably? Also a dual subject. I do not (yet) drive a green car, but I do take my bike when possible. Within YEARTH Academy we separate waste, we do not use plastic bags, we print little to none, we prefer to distribute our syllabi digitally and our training locations are all green-key locations.

What is your favorite training course within YEARTH Academy?

I could list a series of training courses that, in my opinion, you should have taken once, but I think every professional should go through the Personal Leadership training course. Guaranteed a life changing moment.

Is networking an important part of your job?

As an entrepreneur, this is expected of me but I am anything but a good networker. I am regularly invited to galas, herring parties and openings. Not really my thing. I’ve seen every party venue from the outside. I am not very good at smalltalk, but I can easily spend whole days or evenings with interesting people with real stories.

“Because of my background, I don’t take life for granted.”

Grateful

Can you name an event that changed your life?

I ended up in a boarding school at a young age. This made me grow up with a different frame of reference and look at life. But also the day I got sick and had to fight for years to get better made me realize that every day matters. I never take life “for granted” since then. It has largely shaped me for who I am today.

What is the ultimate way for you to relax?

Absolutely long lunches. At home or at one of my favorite restaurants. With family and mostly with friends. Working out, too, for that matter. That is an absolute must for me. I work out almost every day and when traveling I invariably take my gym gear with me.

What is your favorite vacation destination?

We go to Italy several times a year. Our second homeland. Besides enjoying being there with family and friends, I am also fortunate to have a substantial clientele in Italy which allows me to combine this nicely. Furthermore, we like to travel to destinations we don’t know yet, preferably areas with lots of space. The children are at an age where they also experience this consciously. This coming year we plan to travel through Norway and if we get the chance, to Canada.

“I never aspired to be the biggest with YEARTH Academy, just the best of its kind!”

What is or are your main achievements?

Weapon facts I don’t know immediately. I think I am mostly happy and grateful that I have a wonderful family. With a sweet and beautiful wife whom I am still in love with. And of course my three insanely cute, sweet children. They are still young, but how proud I am of how they are developing. This is what it’s all about for me and what I do it for. Furthermore, founding the YEARTH Group and being so lucky that it has become such a beautiful organization is also something I am mega proud of. At the same time, I think that we have only just begun; the best years are only going to come now! The biggest entrepreneurial mistakes I hope to have made by now. Believe me, there are quite a few. Now it’s all about expanding and establishing a strong position in the market.

When is your hunger satisfied?

Never! It’s way too much fun to see that with a close-knit team we are constantly innovating and growing in quality. Welcoming new colleagues who take YEARTH Academy further. In addition, old colleagues come back because they miss YEARTH. That really makes me feel good. I hope I never have to retire, but can continue to do what I like and enjoy it more often.

Future

Where do you see YEARTH in five years?

Five years is already very far away. Try three years; I hope YEARTH Academy will be a household name in the Netherlands by then. I never had the ambition to be the biggest, but the best of its kind! For that reason, I have chosen to let YEARTH Academy grow organically. In the meantime, we have seen many professionals grow with us. Many of them are working in top positions. In my opinion, we do not yet have the deserved name recognition. In three years, we will have branches abroad. Starting this summer in Belgium. I have more great ambitious colleagues around me who know how to take YEARTH Academy to the next level. The YEARTH Campus, where we moved in at the beginning of this year, will then be in full glory. A place where our participants and colleagues enjoy a full and inspiring learning experience every day.

And you, where do you see yourself in three years?

I hope to take a free role within YEARTH Academy in three years. Stepping back is not an option, I enjoy my work too much for that. However, I would like to spend more time on the further development of the YEARTH Group. I still have so many ideas I would like to realize.

In conclusion; what is your favorite quote?

“Life is the plural of guts” by Loesje. As an entrepreneur, you have to take steps outside your comfort zone with some regularity. If something succeeds, of course that’s great, but a lot of things don’t happen as a matter of course. Then it comes down to guts and perseverance.

Lesson Learned

In the unique and engaging podcast series “Lesson Learned,” Erik talks with people who know how to get the full potential out of themselves. Each episode addresses a topic that fits current events and the life experience of the interviewee. Watch the episodes here and subscribe to stay informed!