The Philosophy
Winning Stories is built around the question “How can we win more?“
More scientists are delving into the positive side of psychology. Instead of only piecing together what is wrong with people (which can be many things, they’ve found), now is a time to uncover all the capabilities and possibilities of the human mind.
Uncovering what is happening under our skin – in the literal and figurative sense – can teach us how to live a happy, fulfilling, and winning life.
From my years of coaching experience, academic background, and many hours of reading and experimentation, I’ve learned that there is a recurring theme when finding out how we can win more:
We win more by focusing on our well-being.
It starts by realizing what winning means to us and figuring out why and where we want to win. By creating more awareness about our drives, we can find out how to make our dreams into a reality.
When the goal is to become the best version of yourself, the process starts by asking yourself who that person is. That means:
- Figuring out your core values and needs.
- Understanding where your drive comes from.
- Defining who you want to become.
Self-development is about more than “just work harder”. It is about understanding the self and creating our drives from who we want to be instead of who we have to be.
A recurring theme in performance is that healthy, self-loving habits create better sustainable progress..
Do topics like self-compassion and self-acceptance sound a bit too lovey-dovey for you to engage in?
Well, suck it up (if you want to win big).
Who am I to talk about winning?
Let me give you a quick 3-part resume.
4 years of coaching experience as a personal trainer
In those 4 years, guided 100+ people through behavior change. This brought me to understand that sustainable progress is built by understanding a client’s values and needs. One’s deepest drives are the strongest sources to facilitate long-term gains in one’s physical and mental fitness.
Master's student Sports- and Performance Psychology
By understanding the psychology underneath performance and well-being, I can apply science to real-world events. Using these theoretical frameworks, I can apply an evidence-based perspective on high-performance cultures. Sports are interesting, so is the science.
Avid reader and tester of anything winning-related
The best self-development guinea pig to experiment with is the self. By exiting my comfort zone – and entering Muay Thai gyms and powerlift competitions – I test all science-backed tools myself. While reading the stories of performance psychology, I aim to create my own stories too.
What do I do?
And how can I help you?
Speaking
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve enjoyed standing in front of groups and telling stories. Over the years, those stories have changed (and become a bit more serious). In my workshops, I offer an interactive and science-backed approach to performance psychology for any organization that wants to win more.
Coaching
I’ve been coaching for four years now. Where the focus used to be on teaching people how to squat, my objectives as a coach have become more profound. By creating a safe space, I hope to help my clients find purpose in progress and live life to the fullest. Being part of someone’s progress is what I enjoy most in life.
Writing
Writing serves two purposes in my life: introspection and connection. Writing helps me get clarity on my own thoughts, which makes it easier to convey my message to others. The stories I write are a combination of scientific insights from psychology, anecdotes from high-performers, and personal experiences.
Get to know me
My existence described in bullet points.
My fascinations
- Chasing the best version of yourself.
- The bridge between body and mind.
- Men opening up about mental health.
- Stories about underdogs who won big.
- Masculinity going into modernity.
- Where people’s goals originate from.
- The capabilities of the human body.
- The capabilities of the human mind.
- Morning routines and night routines.
- Hacking the nervous system to live better.
- The definition of a happy life.
My favorite books
- Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself (Kristin Neff)
- Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World (Cal Newport)
- Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (Angela Duckworth)
- Happier No Matter What: Cultivating Hope, Purpose, and Resilience in Hard Times (Tal Ben-Shahar)
- Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life (Susan David)
Other notable things
- I am trained as a Body Image professional (and can help people deal with a negative self-image and build a positive view of their body).
- I used to be majorly obsessed with powerlifting. I loved to deadlift (because I have long arms) and hated to bench press (because I have long arms).
- I ran a half marathon with an injured ankle and a fever and it was the most horrible thing I did in my life.