#448 - DREAM & DO - THE POWER of TAKING ACTION, with Nienke Bloem

This is one of those conversations that will truly stay with you.

A few years ago, I wrote my book Your Dream Life Starts Here, and one of my biggest dreams has always been to inspire as many people as possible to write down their dreams and go after them. It still really touches me when people say, "you're probably sick of hearing this, but you book changed my life."

So when I recently came across a beautiful story on LinkedIn from someone who said my book had helped her create her dream life, I was touched and curious.

That someone is Nienke, and what she's done is incredible. She didn’t just dream. She made it happen.

In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to move from dreaming to doing. We talk about courage, taking small steps, and saying yes even when it feels uncomfortable.

Four key takeaways:

• Why writing your dreams down is more powerful than you think
• How small, brave actions can completely change your life
• Why stepping outside your comfort zone is where the magic happens
• How to create a life that gives you both freedom and meaning

If you have a dream sitting quietly in your heart, this episode is for you.

Because your dream is not random. It's there for a reason.

So take a moment, get comfortable, and let this conversation inspire you to take that first step.

As always, I’d LOVE to hear what resonated most with you - so please share and let’s keep the conversation going in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here.    

Have a wonderful week …and remember, it all starts with a dream 💛

Dream Life & kikki.K Founder

P.S. If you’re ready for guided support, it's a brilliant month to start with me as your mentor in Dream Life Coaching.

SHOW NOTES:

• Buy Kristina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here
• Buy a Daily Wins Journal.
• Follow Kristina on Insta and TikTok
• If you feel it's time to take a leap and invest in you, join:
  • My Platinum Coaching Program where in April our focus will be on Owning Your Mornings and Transforming Your Life - with a Morning Ritual. Learn more here.
  • My Dream Business Book Club here. In April, we'll be reading and learning from:

    The 1 Page Marketing Plan, by Allan Dib. Whether just starting out - or an experienced entrepreneur - this is the easiest & fastest way to create a marketing plan to propel your business growth.

  • My online personal Growth Book Club GROW, April, where we'll be reading and squeezing the learnings out of Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, by Cal Newport 

    Learn more here.

• Dream Life Community Facebook Group: Connect with like-minded dreamers.

RESOURCES:

• Sign up to our email list here to hear about upcoming workshops.
• Take your first step to getting clarity on what you want from life with this free bonus dreaming exercise here 101 Dreams Audio Guide 
• Buy Kristina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here
• Discover how close you are to living your Dream Life. Take our 5min Quiz here and get personalised insights emailed to you...

TRANSCRIPT:

[00:01:23] Kristina: Hi there, and welcome back to another episode of Your Dream Live podcast. Today's episode is amazing and I love this story so much because it's such a beautiful reminder that dreams really do come to life. One step, one decision, and one moment at a time. A few years ago I wrote a book called Your Dream Life Starts Here and something that still really touches me is when people come up to me and say, you're probably sick of [00:02:00] hearing this, but you book changed my life. And I always say, I will never ever get sick of hearing that. Never ever. because hearing that someone is creating a life they truly love, that is everything.

[00:02:13] And that is one of my big dreams to help 101 million people to write down three dreams and go and chase them. So when I was tagged recently in a LinkedIn post from someone. I've never heard of who shared that the book had impacted her and that one of her dreams was to live in Sydney for one month every year and having had that dream, but not just for one month, but for living here full time.

[00:02:42] Uh. I so relate to that dream. It took me a long time to make happen. So I was really inspired and I was also really curious because, um, this amazing lady was not from Australia. She is from the Netherlands. So I reached out to her straight away, and today we met for a coffee. It was so fun. I walked away so inspired and I invited her to share her story on my podcast.

[00:03:13] And wow, this is one of those conversation that will stay with you. I am so inspired. We just recorded it and I, I wrote so many notes and, uh, oh, I'm so inspired. So her name is Nienke Bloom. I probably don't say it right 'cause she's Dutch. Even though I'm Swedish. I probably should be able to say that better.

[00:03:34] But she is so full of energy. She is so inspiring, and our conversation was so energizing. It was such a powerful reminder that we can all create our dream live by doing and taking action. Dream first, but then of course do and take action. so [00:04:00] if you have a dream sitting quietly in your heart or wondered, could I really make this happen?

[00:04:07] This episode is for you. So let's dive right in. Well, hello Nka. I am so excited to have you on my podcast. I can't believe we're doing this.

[00:04:21] Nienke: Thank you. I am, uh, how, when I traveled to Sydney four weeks ago, if you were to say, I'll be on a, I'm gonna meet you and I'm gonna be on a podcast, I would be like, really? So yeah. Thank you. I'm so excited. Yeah.

[00:04:35] Kristina: so, there's so much I want to talk about, before we do, I want to ask you what was your dream as a child? Was there something you wanted to do, have, or become?

[00:04:46] Nienke: I like that. I had two things that I really wanted. always I've said I, I'm gonna be the boss or I'm gonna be pilot. Um, and the piloting, I've, I had a really bad back, so, uh, I was not gonna pass that. And, uh, so then I was, I'm gonna be the boss one day. And, um, that's, yeah. And that happened, so that's funny.

[00:05:07] Kristina: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:05:07] Nienke: I always thought it was gonna be the, the CEO of a really large company, but now I'm the, my own boss of my, my lifestyle speaking and CX business, so, yeah. It's fun. Yeah. But so. That's what I always said. I'm gonna be the boss and everybody laughed. This

[00:05:21] little girl is gonna be the boss. Yes. I'm gonna be the boss.

[00:05:23] Kristina: have, you know, knowing you now very little obviously, but, uh, I am not surprised that you became the boss. So know what you want. And it's just so great. So there's so many things I wanna, I want to cover today in terms of what you have done, et cetera, but. Maybe for our listeners, which is a global audience, maybe just share a tiny bit of your journey.

[00:05:45] I know your journey is really full, but just a little bit to give people context for what you do, et cetera.

[00:05:50] Nienke: Oh, well I've been in large corporates for 20 years in several roles and everybody always asks, what are you actually doing with your career? So I've been in marketing, I studied international marketing, I've been [00:06:00] in marketing, I've been in sales.

[00:06:01] Uh, led a team of operations, led a hundred people in it in an insurance company. got my MBA, uh, a dissertation on employee engagement. And it was really like, yeah. later. I'm gonna be the boss so I understand how a business works. And then at the Dutch Incumbent Telco, I'm, uh, I'm from the Netherlands.

[00:06:18] I was, uh, uh, in, I was asked by a recruiter if I wanted to become responsible for customer experience. I must say in 2012, I never heard about it, so I researched it a little bit and I thought, well, I think becoming customer centric. I believe there's actually two, sustainable change strategies for large or for corporations.

[00:06:36] And that is either through your customer lens or through your employee lens. And, um.

[00:06:40] Kristina: Yeah.

[00:06:41] Nienke: So I said yes to that, and then suddenly I, and I did that for three years, um, led the, like a context of 9 million customers and 9,000 employees. Uh, with my team of 12, we managed to bring NPS up from minus 14 to plus two.

[00:06:54] And then everybody wanted to know how I did that. So I started speaking for my business role because I, it's also a great story for, for, for KPN to share. And, um, I, um, started lecturing at the, uh, executive business universities. And so, and then, well, something happened, When we drank a cup of coffee today, I shared with you that, uh, uh, a colleague of mine, she, he passed away and then some, sometimes she look in the mirror, you're like, Ooh, now I'm 42.

[00:07:21] Is this what I really want to be in this corporate career with a car and just be busy all the time? Is this really dream? so I just have bought my apartment. I have a live in a loft apartment in an old hospital. I've always wanted to live in a beautiful, I've always thought it would be New York, but now in u is really pretty.

[00:07:39] I'm, I'm happy about that. so. I wrote down what is my dream, and suddenly I written down I wanna be an international speaker. And that was on a Friday. And on the Monday I written my resignation. I, I'd spent a little bit more time there on the 1st of January, 2015 start of my business. So I'm a a global customer experience expert, and I help.[00:08:00]

[00:08:00] The people in the niche of customer experience, uh, management, the leaders, I help them become better leaders and have more impact. So yeah, in the end to, to have organizations treat their customers less shitty and make more money. So that's the, the trade off, that's what I do. And I travel the world to speak and to educate.

[00:08:17] Kristina: I love that. I love it because I think, one thing that I often get asked, so in my coaching program, we have people that are entrepreneurs, but also corporates. And uh, I always say for people who work in their corporate industry, if they love it, absolutely continue doing it, but do consider doing a little side hassle because maybe one day you want to have that freedom of.

[00:08:40] You know, working from anywhere and, you know, live in Sydney for a month like you just done. So I, I, I think that's, it's so great to actually not just talk about it, but hear someone who is doing it. And obviously there's lots of people who are. Doing that in different ways, and there's different ways of doing it, but it's just so inspiring.

[00:09:00] So I wanted to share with our listeners how we met, and then I want you just to, uh, comment from your, uh, direction and, and how, how this is all came together. So basically, I am obviously spending a lot of time on LinkedIn and I, I love, so I wrote my book, your Dream Life starts here. Quite a few years ago now.

[00:09:21] So I don't really talk about my book that much anymore. 'cause now it's all about my coaching program and, um, and the impact that I can have there. But the book had a massive impact on a lot of people and I never, ever get sick of hearing it. And I often, uh, people often come up and say. If I'm speaking somewhere and they're like, you're probably sick of hearing it.

[00:09:39] And I said, I'm never ever sick of hearing it because, and I think this is great for our listeners is that if you, if you do write a book, or if you do start a podcast or make an impact in, in any shape or form, you'll never get sick hearing, uh, of that because that's the intention of writing a book or, or starting a podcast.

[00:09:58] And, um, so [00:10:00] I, I love hearing stories like yours and I'm so glad you. Tagged me in because we were not connected. I've never heard of you and I'm so glad you did and I'd love for you to share that you contemplating not doing that and why. And uh, because I think that's a learning for all of us as well, because we often think, do they really wanna hear from us?

[00:10:18] But. I think most authors are less. Perhaps if you sold 10 million copies it might get too much. But I don't think if I ever get that, I will never feel that way. And, uh, and uh, anyway, so I, um, when I saw that, uh, and then I saw your is so what really got me what was not just the dream, but you had a dream to live in Sydney for a month each year and having, I'm so passionate about Sydney, so I just, uh, it took me 20 years to make a move here.

[00:10:47] And, but I never gave up and, and now I feel like I, for anyone who will listen, I will talk to how much I love living in Sydney. So when I saw that you had a dream to live in Sydney, not just a dream, but you actually made it happen, and then you're a speaker, which, you know, that conference that you went to.

[00:11:03] I was supposed to go to. So it was kind of a really great kind of interaction. And, um, and then I commented and then, uh, you know, I can't remember how we, how we came, but we had coffee today. And, uh, I absolutely love that. So, I love for you to share with our listeners how, uh, you wrote that down and what, you know, what that has had in terms of dreaming and what the impact that it has and 'cause you showed me a few more dreams, which is so exciting.

[00:11:30] Nienke: Yeah, it's, well, I, I think the interesting I, I, the first time I came to Australia, I've, I've, I've traveled the world. I've al I've always liked travel. I like adventure is one of my most important elements of my life. Uh, without adventure, it, it's, it, my life is boring. It's part of me. I think it's in my DNA.

[00:11:46] Um, and so I was the first time asked to speak at Golf Management Australia in 2017 in Adelaide. And I was here. I, I landed, I went through Sydney. I thought I'll take a couple of days here because. Uh, my whole team knows, [00:12:00] always mix business with pleasure once I'm somewhere and I wanna have these little adventures, not just fly in and fly out.

[00:12:06] That's not me. and I loved it. And so I thought I need to come back. And in 2019 I did for another speaking engagement and I thought. I was here for, I booked a week extra. and I walked in one of your stores at the time and I bought a little book and I also bought your, your Dream Life book.

[00:12:24] And so I sat every morning and I worked two hours. I just took your book with me, went to look off place. Up here where I'm now, I'm now Bel Morrow, but up here, Mosman and I sat there and I just did all the assignments as you just, I like people that just give direction. so just, okay, do this. Write down your all your dreams, which I found very difficult.

[00:12:45] 101 dreams and it was all kinds of things from experience to stuff to all kinds of travel business. Clear. My house, I don't know, all kinds of things are written down. And, and I just hit the steps. And that was 2019. And of course, COVID happened, uh, which was not really handy to have a dream that you wanna live in Sydney a month, a year.

[00:13:07] Um, also as a business because it really impacted my business a lot. and I was. I think a year ago or two years ago, we found out, um, I'm part of the Global Speaker Federation, uh, and the Global Speaker Summit was in Bali, and they said the next one is gonna be in Cairns in 2026. And it was this year.

[00:13:25] So I thought, well, this is the moment I'm gonna go for my month. Uh, I've written it down. And the thing is, I, I didn't really remember me ri writing it down, so that's the interesting thing I did in 2019, put this and the little book that I had, I put them. In my, in my book case, like, well, not as impressive of yours, but, um, it's, and it's really interesting.

[00:13:45] So two weeks ago I opened it and the first thing I read of the 101 things I've written down, live in Sydney a month, a year. And I thought, and I'm just doing this, write a book, walk a pilgrimage. [00:14:00] hire an organizer, clear out and reorganize my desk or my, my, my, my, my office. have a web designer that understands me.

[00:14:08] Apparently I had a, I had some issues at the time. Grow a podcast. have my administration in place buy, um, a, a pedal board and using the canals of future. I did all of that. So the interesting thing is that your book made me put the things down on paper and then start doing it. And I think if you don't know what you want, you're not gonna create it.

[00:14:30] And of course, always things happen in life. If you have a good. Way, you know, shitty things happen too, but I think your book really make me things write down. and now I've done it again and I find actually it's even more difficult. We've got, I've realized so many of the things that I've written down in 2019, it's now 20, 26, 7 years.

[00:14:51] What you can do in seven years is.

[00:14:53] Kristina: Yeah.

[00:14:54] Yeah.

[00:14:54] absolutely. And you know, it's so great because, because. What happens when you write down a dream? I, and I remember when I, um, when I started my business, I came from like, I had No.

[00:15:05] money and it took me a long time to make enough money to go on holidays, et cetera. But I remember our first holidays uh, so we went to on a kind of a surf island, which was very far away from luxury. Uh, so that was not my kind of thing, but it was really great just to have a holiday. And then the second week we went to an amazing resort. and, uh, I was like. I was so inspired. It was unbelievable customer service.

[00:15:33] We spoke about that today. Experience was unbelievable. And when I get really passionate, I get really excited. So then they had a book about the founder. The resort was Four Seasons one of the really amazing things about dreams is to share your dreams.

[00:15:47] And sometimes that's when you share it to your partner or family. They might just kill the dream straight away, so that's really important to choose the right people to share it with. So, because if you have negative, you might, they, you might. [00:16:00] Think it's not valid, but I think all dreams are valid. But I actually shared it with the guy who was running the island, the four season island where I was staying, and I said to him, I have now written down that I am going to uh, stay at all four seasons around the world.

[00:16:16] And, uh, I, I mean, I didn't really know much about full season, but I was just so impressive. And of course this was the Best Island customer service. I said sings have stayed many other places not as good, but definitely up there. And the thing is, what happened is, like the day after, he said to, to us, We had booked a sea plane and this was in the Maldives. And uh, he said, we booked a sea plane, we're gonna fly you to our other, uh, four season resorts. So you have the experience of one more because if we, we wanna help you with a dream. And that was so powerful and it was unbelievable. And then the thing is, this is what I wanna get to is that I was then in Singapore and four season, it's expensive hotels.

[00:16:56] It's definitely not part of our. Travel budget, um, in the business. But then I was like, actually, if I've written this down, I need to make it happen. So I just booked one night there in Singapore, and then when I was in Paris, I was like, I'm gonna book one night. So, and then eventually I was like, actually, I don't need to stay in all of them.

[00:17:12] So I then decided that was it. But, it's so powerful because what happens is that actually, if I've written it down, I now need to make it happen.

[00:17:21] Nienke: Yeah. Yeah. And it's also, it's, it, it suddenly becomes, I really want this, like the same that I've written down when, when I. Well, at the, the day that my, my friend passed away, that I read now what is actually my dream? I wanna be international speaker. And suddenly it's really like, oh, this is what I want. I didn't know.

[00:17:38] Because there's a lot of things that we, I think feel, and maybe it's intuitive, but if you put them down, it becomes reality and then you can put action to it. and I think that is for me. that's what I really liked about the process and I, I also really like when I'm somewhere that I take one little project with me.

[00:17:56] So now I'm here a month and, uh, my project I have it [00:18:00] here. It's about Rich. I think I still have some limiting money beliefs, like many of us. So I got the book of countdown to Riches 21 days. Which I find, and I do the, the things every day, and I like having a project like that that is, has a beginning and an end, uh, that really suits me.

[00:18:17] and those trips are very suitable for that. And what I really like is now I said, I wanna come back next year. So I'm building, uh, connections here and now connected to you. You know, also, we know people, which is very interesting. When you're open to it and you just, um, well, of course I, when I typed the post for LinkedIn, I doubted a little bit like, because everybody always thinks that I have never doubt and no one have imposter.

[00:18:42] Um, and I do, uh, because I thought, oh, should I tag you or should I, isn't that weird? Because I don't even know you. All the thoughts we always have. Like, would it be weird to tag you? And then when I tagged you, so it's also about taking little risks. One of the things I've learned this trip, uh, also as I was the keynote speaker at the Global Speaker Summit in Cairns, I took a big risk, at like tagging your name.

[00:19:05] Maybe you don't see it as a risk, but it feels something that, ooh, this is out of my comfort zone. This is where the magic is. And if you really want things, I want it to be main stage for the Global Speaker Summit one day. Uh, and is my 12th year in business and I've done breakouts and I've learned so much.

[00:19:21] And this year it was me on that big stage. And when you are out there, I do think you have to give it your all. So instead of just doing my regular and I always wear a blue dress, that's part of my brand. I introduced the sex guru, and for people that are listening, it's customer experience guru, but I make some jokes about if you truly love your customer, you will get the action later.

[00:19:45] And they had to work in duos. I said, but if, if you want a threesome, that's also good. And the thing is, it really resonated a bit who I am, much more my, my authenticity, so daring to do that. And I always dreamt I'm gonna be that person [00:20:00] that's on stage and dares to do it. And then you do it and you're like, oh, it is me.

[00:20:06] It's so, yeah.

[00:20:08] Kristina: Yeah.

[00:20:09] Yeah.

[00:20:09] And what's, what's what, uh, what also resonated with me when you re uh, when we kind connected on LinkedIn is, uh, and because I'm only in town for one day this week, which is a crazy week, but I really wanna, I was like, I'm gonna have to find a way to, um, you know, you're not far away from me, but it was still a bit Of a juggle because I've got a talk this afternoon, and then I have this thing tonight.

[00:20:30] So, so then you said, uh, and this is what, this is, a really important part is, like you said. I can come to you. And then I was like, oh, that, that, that, but I think a lot of people don't think that way. And that's one of the things that I did when I started meeting with mentors. I always said, I always thought they are so busy and they, so I was always saying, Hey, can I bring you lunch?

[00:20:50] Um. If you go for a walk, I can walk with you. Just, I just wanted to, this is when I started my business and I needed to learn so many things, but I realized that the mentors that I had, they were not just sitting around doing nothing. They had so much going on, so I always said, Hey, I'll bring you lunch. So then while you're eating lunch, you can, You know, I can ask you some questions. And what you did today was like, ' cause I was up at five and this morning I was like, that's probably too early. But then I was like, how I'm gonna, how I'm gonna juggle all these today? And then you said, I can come to you.

[00:21:17] And I'm like, oh, that just made it Possible then. And, and I think that's, that's such a great thing for everyone listening is like, if you wanna make something happen. That involves another person. Make it easy because it's so much easy to say yes when there's less restrictions. And also what you did is like a, you shared what you did last night and you and I, I'm not surprised that you.

[00:21:39] Nienke: Oh yeah. Well, for the people listening, I spoke at a really great event, um, uh, yesterday. It was my last speaking gig. I had one little design sprint this morning, but that was, uh, easy. Um, but I was, so, I was. Sydney and I thought, well, I've got two more days. I've got, I've got a dinner date tonight. I'm gonna lunch on Friday, but I, I, [00:22:00] I need to just celebrate this.

[00:22:01] It's, it's really great. I've done Jesus, I've done a keynote and I've, I've done business. I've built, so I just went out and in Sydney and I went to like a fabulous place. It, they had records. It was, I think it was close to Vineyard Station. I'll, I'll find it, but it had like a. All Japanese kinds of beers and cocktails and I thought, I wanna sit somewhere outside.

[00:22:21] There was a space, I got myself a little beer and I was sitting there and I was having conversations and in five minutes I was invited to go to a country concert, but I was wearing heels. I'm like, no, that not handy. They said, oh yeah, we take clients. Well we've got one ticket left. You wanna gum? And I.

[00:22:35] Okay, this is the universe knocking on my door. But, and then I thought, well, one beer is no beer. I have one other beer. And um, then, then there was guys coming, sitting next to me and they were a little bit funny and crazy and, and, and, and we had really great conversations about their law firm and about he sold his business for millions.

[00:22:53] I felt a little bit intimidated, but also fun because we had fun and other people came and then they suddenly said, you wanna go, come with us to a club? And I'm like, it's Tuesday. So, so there's like this, this, this Dutch feeling, oh it's Tuesday, we cannot go to a club. And they said, but this is a club.

[00:23:08] You're never gonna get in because it's an invite only and uh, I think you really like it. So I went to this private member club only. And then where they did poker and danced and, and I was like, okay. It was so much fun. And I, and, and so I called my husband when I was home here in my apartment. I said, I don't really know what happened, but somehow I ended, I think up in one of the most luxurious clubs in, in Sydney, how it happened, I don't know.

[00:23:34] And he said these things. Always happen to you. I, I, I kind of like end up in these, but it's because you have a conversation. You're curious, but also because I've got, oh, I, I have a story too. I've got something to say. I'm not boring. so yeah, this morning, normally at five, I'm up two. But this morning I had some after, not just two, I had four beers and two negronis, which is way too much for Tuesday.

[00:23:57] I know. So I had some trouble getting out of [00:24:00] bed, but um, yeah, sometimes it was worth it. So for everybody listening, just. Go out there because inside your house, that's not, of course, that's where you can learn through and you can get coaching and I think that's great. You can read a book, but if you wanna get some adventure, get out there, go out for walks, go out for a drink, even when you're on your own.

[00:24:20] I'm a woman on my own. I walked a pilgrimage a thousand kilometers from the Swiss border to Rome, and I met up people all the time, all the time.

[00:24:28] Kristina: Yeah.

[00:24:29] Yeah.

[00:24:30] And I think that's so important because, uh, you know, as for me, who's an introvert, it's a bit of an extra step. And I think that a lot of us, and even if you're not an introvert, it's, it's still uncomfortable sometimes. Approaching new people, et cetera. And also, I love my own company, but I do love going out, sitting, watching people and then you never know who you meet.

[00:24:50] And, and what I love about traveling, and that's why I feel like I'm so passionate about combining work and travel similar to you. I always, like, I I, I always looking to new things and, and I just love visiting new places. and it's so amazing the people that I get to meet, you know, I would like. it's when you put yourself out there, you meet interesting people, and now when I have a podcast, I can invite them to the podcast like I can with you, which makes it shareable as well, because I, I feel sometimes.

[00:25:23] the people that I meet and their friends that I have, it's like I just wanna share them with the world. 'cause they're so amazing and funny and, uh, interesting. And, uh, I think it's such a great way for anyone listening to be out there a bit more. So, can you tell us a little bit about, your, uh, peel, how do you say it?

[00:25:39] Peel, greet, how do you say it

[00:25:41] Nienke: RI pilgrimage. Yeah. Well, a lot of people know Santiago to compost, I think. So that's uh, um,

[00:25:47] uh, the

[00:25:47] Kristina: on my list.

[00:25:48] Nienke: It's on your list. Yeah. Yeah. It's a, it's a Spanish one and I've always, I've always known one day I'm gonna walk a pilgrimage so I have a hole in, I have a couple of bouquets in my house and one of them has [00:26:00] one.

[00:26:00] whole section with only pilgrimage books from, uh, from Into the Wild and All, but, and, and, and Wilds by Sheryl Strait. And I've watched the movies and, and all kinds of stories, but also the, the, the, the roots and everything. I've never. Gotten to it, and then COVID happened, of course, and I'm, I had to pivot my business.

[00:26:17] I was, uh, uh, at that time totally focused on speaking, uh, speaking all around the world. Um, at that moment, my focus was travel, golf, uh, airlines really smart when COVID hits. No, but it's also, sometimes it's, it's just, you're just bad luck. So I pivoted and I changed, uh, my whole business round to education because there's always education budgets, especially with large corporate.

[00:26:40] So that worked really well. But I never opted to be, I, I always make the joke, I never opted to be a webcam girl because the only thing I was doing is watching into this hole. And, and I missed my adventure because suddenly I was at home. and I'm like seven days a week in my house. It's not what I, that's not the life that I chose for my dream life to be an international CX expert.

[00:27:05] So I wa was one of my walks and then suddenly popped up. I could in 2021, I can, I could maybe do the pilgrimage now. and so what I did is I planned the year, so I like projects. So what I did is I planned the year. And in that year I went on six episodes, six legs, because you can do it in one, but you can also, of course, nobody says that you have to walk the pilgrimage in one.

[00:27:27] You can also do it in in episodes. So that's what I did and I planned it. And um, so I walked the fina. So there's several. It actually goes all the way from Cambridge to the heel, uh, uh, or, um, the boots. So Santa Maria Deca in, in, in Italy, but I walked apart from the Swiss border to Rome a thousand kilometers.

[00:27:46] And I walked into row on my 50th birthday. so just me and my backpacks, I went six times, um, five days, eight days. So I planned it in my calendar. Um, it's a two hour flight from the Netherlands to flight to the [00:28:00] places. And then I just walked with my backpack and, um. It's very interesting because when you're on your own, you've got time to really slow down and to think of the important things in life.

[00:28:10] And actually the world kept turning, but I felt so much more rich because I, I create the adventures myself, which I'm still very happy. And then I wrote a book about it. Um, uh, CX is a pilgrimage. I'm an expert in customer experience.

[00:28:25] Nienke 2: So, but for people that, dream of it. Plan it in your calendar and just do it. And you can do the whole walk. But for example, um, especially the fina, it's a f fna if you wanna, that's how I pronounce in the beginning, but that's how Italians say it.

[00:28:41] if you just do the last five days, you walk into Rome and you already get your, uh, testimonial. Can go into the ty of the St. Peter, which is amazing because almost nobody gets to get there. Only when you've walked at least a hundred kilometers. I did a little bit more, but yeah.

[00:28:57] Kristina 2: Oh wow, that's fantastic.

[00:28:59] Nienke 2: Why do you wanna do it?

[00:29:00] What, what?

[00:29:01] Kristina 2: yeah. No, I'm absolutely, I, I want to do much more, like one of my, I love walking and I love traveling and I love working. It's kind of the perfect combination, but, uh, I never really thought about it and I love that you share that, that we can actually. You know, break it up because often it's like that big, long stretch is sometimes difficult.

[00:29:22] You know, I have teenagers. It's hard to find that kind of space to do a long thing. And then, um, yeah, I never really thought it, 'cause I'm in Europe every year,

[00:29:31] Nienke 2: Yeah. And there's, there are pilgrims that say, then you're not a real pilgrimage, but that's very interesting. You have all the time to ponder on these ideas. When are you a pilgrim? Are you a pilgrim? The first. Food you put on the path or when you finished it, or, but the thing is, I think your pilgrim when you're in your head and it doesn't really matter.

[00:29:50] So you have, I, I really like the same thing I did with my MBA. A lot of people said, well, you have to go to that university or that one. And I understand, but at the time, my daughter was, [00:30:00] I think seven and I thought the more, it's more important how I fit it into my life than what university. So it's, I'm very practical and that's how I did my MBA in two years because it was every Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening.

[00:30:12] uh, so I could fit it in my life and, and I think being daring to dream and just do, do things, and be practical to fit it in your life.

[00:30:22] Kristina 2: yeah,

[00:30:23] Nienke 2: It's like the same people say, but how do you do it? Now you're a month in Sydney and you have cats and a husband and a daughter and, well, my daughter's 27, so she has her own life and I just have a house sitter.

[00:30:33] So she looks at my house and my cats and she loves it. So, yeah, there's, there's always solutions to

[00:30:41] Kristina 2: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So for anyone who, who is aspiring to have a life like yours, where do you think that they should start, especially if they're in that kinda corporate life where you not, because I think as entrepreneurs we are more flexible even. It doesn't always mean that we can do all of that, of course, but it's more, we are more in charge of our time.

[00:31:07] Nienke 2: I, I, I think it's, some people say, do a side hustle. I've never done a side hustle because when I work, I'm a hundred percent in. So I find it very difficult to do something next to it, but I know there are people that can, but that, I think what really helps what I've, what I've always done is look at other people and see what they do.

[00:31:24] And copy some of their things. so if you are now in a corporate job and you really would like this, then have coffee with some people like you or me. just ask people out, um, uh, interview them or follow them on LinkedIn or Instagram or wherever they are. See what are they doing, or read books on how people started businesses.

[00:31:43] And of course it is very scary. Um, I found it very scary. I was a single woman at the time. I quit my corporate job, uh, and become a co become a professional speaker. Um, and you think your corporate life is the normal life, but your corporate life is not the normal life that you're fool with meetings, and you [00:32:00] go from, you never have time to go to the toilet and whatever.

[00:32:03] But also my entrepreneur life is also, of course not a normal life, but I took some time to transition and. You must be a doer. If you're just a thinker, it will be really hard to be to do a business. So you have to try out. Also, when you're a perfectionist, congratulations. But that won't help you become a successful entrepreneur because before you start, so you have to be able to dare out, just have an MVP and yeah, minimal viable product in, in.

[00:32:30] Whether it's a keynote, I didn't even have a keynote, but I just told everybody, I'm an international speaker, so if you're looking for a custom experience female speaker for your event, book me. Then I was asked, I was called by a, a software company because that's in the corporate, that's, they have these vendor events and they said, well, we have an event in Barcelona.

[00:32:48] You wanna come speak? How much do you charge? And I was like, um, uh, I said, okay. What are the questions you have? I need to, I need to look at it. I'll call you back in half. In half a. So I just rank people like, okay, I'm ask for this. How, what does a, an offer look like? And I think now it's much more easy because we have ai, ask AI what would be a Nobel Prize?

[00:33:09] And then you just start. But think of strategies like when you wanna become a speaker, start speaking for, you don't have to do it for free, but at like local rotary or lions meetings. So you get some time. In there. go join, especially when you wanna become a speaker or a facilitator. Join like professional speaker associations, they are all around the world.

[00:33:32] When is in Australia, there's all virtual speaker association I'm a member of. So it, it's so many places, but go to places where people are that have done it. I think that works really well because then it's not so far away.

[00:33:46] Kristina 2: Yeah, absolutely. And I think that there's, there's nothing better than actually just looking for the life of people. Uh, if you want to have a specific life, look at who is doing it and then just. And just, yeah, it's, it's, [00:34:00] it's absolutely a no brainer. And I think for anyone who are aspiring speaker, the, the best way of becoming a speaker is to speak.

[00:34:07] You can obviously learn a lot by the theory and, and training all that stuff, but it's not really until you're on stage that you learn and,

[00:34:14] Nienke 2: I also know that people, um, go to CO to Toastmasters, but what I've seen is Toastmasters really helps you in a certain way of creating the speak and get some speaking hours in, but they are not professional speakers. That is much more the speaking. and that's great. You learn a lot, but being a speaker also requires entrepreneurship ship marketing.

[00:34:36] Um, and I think that's a different, different, uh, uh, alley.

[00:34:40] Kristina 2: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Absolutely. So, um, tell us a little bit about what kind of things are you doing when you are traveling? So you, you love adventure, so how do we, get more adventurous when we are combining? So you, you've been here for work in

[00:34:57] Nienke 2: Yeah, this is my fourth, fourth, my fourth week in. So in, um, on Friday I fly back to the Netherlands. It's been good, but I've, I, you need to have something in your calendar because if you're here four weeks and you have nothing, I think that's difficult. so the first week. I knew that, um, of course probably have, maybe have a little bit of a jet lag and I'll just see.

[00:35:17] Then I knew that, uh, a business friend of mine, she was also coming here because we have masterminds together. Mia Leeberg, she's also Swedish. Um, and uh, so we had three days here. Then I knew I was gonna go to Cairns, so I had a. I joined a bootcamp of, uh, Jane Anderson, uh, Korea. And I hired her to be my business mentor to, to really look at my business perspective, and then, of course, the Global Speaker Summit.

[00:35:39] And I was invited by a friend to go to Hunter Valley and to go to, um, uh, what was Shawl Bay, I think. So I, I had that little trip in, um, and then this week I had a, a, an assignment and another design sprint. So for me, it just have some things out so that you have some things in your calendar that you're gonna do, and that could also be.

[00:35:59] Uh, [00:36:00] for example, when I sometimes go weekend away to Madrid or I plan these little adventures and then I plan like a food tour. So you just go to get your guide or local, whatever I've done. Last time I was in Sydney, I did, um, uh, street art and beer tasting, which was really fun. So I think just plan some things, because you need to have some things in your calendar that you know you're gonna do.

[00:36:23] And then life will get out of there. Like every morning I go out on a walk and then I meet people that swim here and they invite me for a coffee. And it's really, you just, if you're just out there and you are open, I think life will get there. Yeah.

[00:36:40] Kristina 2: Yeah. Yeah, I truly believe that too. I think the more, the more you're out there, the more, the more things will come to you as well. And I, I, I always love how, how I meet people, and I always think that that things will work, always work out, because I always think that, oh, you know, maybe I didn't. Didn't get something, you know, a speaking engagement I really wanted or, I couldn't get to a certain thing.

[00:37:05] And then I was like, whatever comes instead is gonna connect the dots later on. And, uh, I love that because you never know who you're gonna meet. And, um, and even on planes and stuff, I always, I always meet so, so many interesting people just traveling, speaking, and, um, having so much fun while doing it.

[00:37:23] Nienke 2: Yeah. And it's also one of the things I've written down is, uh, I wanna fly business class. I've always known, I, I, I know that I, I, I think Mel Roberts also shared something like that. But when I, I remember coming into a plane once and I'm like, why are people sitting in business class? I wanna sit in business class too.

[00:37:39] And now I'm making my own money. And yes, it is very expensive and, uh, and I don't wanna fly too much because of the environment, but I still, I booked business class. And the thing is, I'm so proud. I'm just sitting there and in business class I've met many people and that also booked new business.

[00:37:55] So the thing is. I don't know. It's, it, it is like a, a flywheel [00:38:00] and it makes it bigger. But if you do things, that make you really happy, uh, you have to spend your money somehow. So why not spend it on you and your family and, and of course, other people, but why also not spend a little bit on you, as my friend says, money should be happy money,

[00:38:16] Kristina 2: Yeah, I agree. I agree. Uh, you know, I think we all wanna make enough money so we can do all the things that we love and, uh, for me that's like health and wellness is absolutely up there. 'cause I love, I love visiting health retreats and spas and things like that. And then, um, and then, uh, you know, staying amazing hotels and, uh, yeah, absolutely fully agree with you there.

[00:38:39] Nienke 2: Yeah. But it's really, I wanna really thank you for writing the book and putting your thoughts out there because I, I know it's just. I put my thoughts out there, but sometimes we also are insecure and, um, I can talk for myself. I'm like, Hmm. Am I the person to share this? And, um, but there's only one you and I think if you believe in you, and of course we all have some little doubts, but I'm, I'm really happy that you did because it helped me.

[00:39:03] Write my dreams down and now look at me being a month in Sydney. Well, I was also in Cairns, but a month in Australia and it's amazing. Yeah.

[00:39:11] Kristina 2: Yeah, yeah. No, thank you so much. And thank you so much for, um, not just reading it, but actually taking action and then.

[00:39:19] Nienke 2: Yeah. You have to. You have to do the work, my friends, you have to look, you have to write, I'm not a journaler by nature, but this was really like, do this, do that. And what I liked about the book is that it's short, so it's not like a whole so many things, but you have these little chapters, so you just do one thing and then you're done.

[00:39:37] I like things when things are done. Ooh, I've done something. And then, yeah, you move on.

[00:39:41] Kristina 2: Yeah, you get it's uh, much easier 'cause I think sometimes if we wanna do it all at once, and that's why I created my, um, coaching program because it's one thing to read it and understand it. It's another thing to do it. And especially if you wanna do, do new things that you've never done before.

[00:39:56] Self-doubt always creeps in and.

[00:39:58] Nienke 2: yep.

[00:39:59] Kristina 2: [00:40:00] And I, that's why I love supporting women now in, in my coaching program, because I haven't seen one dream that I don't think is possible. It might not seem possible for them yet, but that's why

[00:40:10] Nienke 2: Just write it down and, and tell, I think tell it to other people, but also think, how can you make it work? Because I worked many years on building connections and now this trip I've built more connections, so next time I'm gonna come, I have even more connection and can build it up like that. So I do think it's a, it's a longer term process.

[00:40:29] It will not be done. But it will be done next year or the year after. So it's, but you have to put them in. I think there's even a Swedish professor, I don't know who it was, but I heard it from somebody else. How can you bring happiness to your life? And he said, you have to have something in the very near future, like this week that will make you happy.

[00:40:48] Something in the mid. So like, what do you want to do this year and what do you want to do in five to 10 years? So you have. I don't know if you know who it was, because I don't know, but I really like that concept that you have something that, that you aspire to do or experience close by. So for me, I was meeting you and I'm having a dinner party tonight.

[00:41:07] Um, and then next, like I'm gonna speak in Georgia and maybe even in Bhutan. So that's more like the, the month and, and, um, in, in five years, my husband and I wanna drive more rallies. Um, we like the cars and so it's really having this. All these different, phases where you can look up to and what is it in it that you really want, and that I think brings also a lot of happiness.

[00:41:28] Kristina 2: Yeah, absolutely. And also the, making it happen, like the progress is, as you know, it's enjoying the journey. because it's like, if everything was perfect and everything was just done, like, you know, click of a finger, we wouldn't be enjoying it as much. I think having, working it out, planning it.

[00:41:46] You know, feeling a little bit out of our comfort zone is kind of part of it. It makes it so much more worthwhile versus just, you know, making it happen in an

[00:41:55] Nienke 2: Yeah. Yeah. And it's, it's really, people always say with n it's how, [00:42:00] how, how does your life then You are such a lucky person and I, I agree and I'm privileged and I'm lucky, but I also know it's hard work and I just go out and do things and that. it's not complicated, but you have to get out of your comfort zone.

[00:42:15] Like with the rally, we, we were already, we save 200 euro each month and we build up and then you build up your funds, you go to co to courses, how to learn to navigate and all these things. And you build it up. And then, well, we said there's a couple of years ago and now we're doing two or three rallies a year and

[00:42:32] Kristina 2: Yeah.

[00:42:33] Nienke 2: really fun.

[00:42:34] Kristina 2: Yeah. Yeah. I love that. I love that. So, um, tell us, um, I'm curious, have you got like a morning ritual, something that you do to kind of keep yourself sane and, um, and uh, you know, focused?

[00:42:47] Nienke 2: Yeah. what I really love is I wake up and, uh, um, I either go for a walk or I go to the gym. I must say here I went more to Pilates, but, uh, and more on different timings. So I miss that. My gym is in where I live. In re it's just a 10 minute walk. So I just pop all my clothes, go to the gym, do, and not long, just half hour.

[00:43:07] Then I come back, I have a coffee, I read. I also love that I can do whatever I want in the morning, have this freedom of thought. Um, sometimes that's not fixed. Sometimes I, I, I. Uh, get a card of an Oracle or a tarot. I write, I do like to get, I, I had a time where I did for two years, did a miracle mourning from Hal Elrod, but it felt.

[00:43:31] A little bit fixed for me, so I got off it. Uh, but I, I think I'm wanna be back to it because the silence and, uh, uh, the affirmation. So I, I still can recite them all easily and when I'm in bed, I often, say my things to myself. So, but I, I think I would like to get it structured again, but for now, it's good as it is.

[00:43:50] So, yeah, sports, uh, walking, get some, get some, uh, uh, vitamin D and real sunlight and, uh, have a good coffee. Yeah, that's, that's about [00:44:00] it.

[00:44:00] Kristina 2: Yeah. I love it. And I, I love also that you, because that was so similar, we have so many similarities because I love also like working early and then like in the afternoon I'm kind of, you know, I'm done.

[00:44:12] Nienke 2: I've, I've never, I, I must say there's still something that, uh, the evenings I'm always like, okay, what do I actually do with this evening? I like to go to bed early, so often, like nine. So yesterday was totally out of my thing. But going out, like, what? so I, I need to still find a solution for the evening.

[00:44:29] Is it that, because reading is also not it. Yes, I love hanging in front of the TV and doing a Netflix or whatever, and I'm here in Australia. I've been looking married at first sight. I'm like, oh, that's really trash tv. But I also like it. So, but it's, that is the only thing that I've been like, yeah, but I don't wanna go out.

[00:44:45] I don't wanna go. So I've not, and so that is one thing that I'm like, I need to solve in the life is like, what to do after seven. I've not really figured that out.

[00:44:53] Kristina 2: Yeah, I, our kids still lives at home, so I love kinda their family time, but also I love reading at night. I, I feel like I, I get through so many books because I don't love te television as much, so I, I feel like reading is a really good way of spending that. But it, you know, but it, some people think it's boring, but I love it.

[00:45:13] But,

[00:45:13] Nienke 2: No, no. Reading is great. I read every night before I go to bed and I fall asleep with my, my global e-reader, but it's, I think it's. There's so much time and days what you can do things with. But uh, yeah, the evening, like I'm, I'm, I'm a morning person. I've always been, and, uh, yeah.

[00:45:28] Kristina 2: Yeah. Fantastic. I love it. So my, other question is, have you got a favorite nonfiction book or a book that had a really big impact on you?

[00:45:39] Nienke 2: Oh, a nonfiction book. Well, ma it is a fiction book, if I can say so, but it's the book that I, my, my grandma, she was, uh, I'm wearing her ring. She, at the time, she, uh, uh, my grandfather had a liquor store, but he was not really good businessman, so he was very social, but, and she did all administration payments, but she drove for the [00:46:00] beer truck on the island.

[00:46:01] I grew up on Tessel. It's very interesting that she was also a little bit of a snob when it comes to reading, because she should not read trash books. She should read literature. And so when I grew older, in front of her book, all the books that she had, she said, you, I'm gonna give you, every time you come, I you're gonna get a book from me and you just read it.

[00:46:20] And she gave me the book, the reader, and, um, the, the reader also the movie is out for that. Um, in the, in Dutch it's called the Four Laser, and it's very interesting. It's about a story. Uh, during the war. and it's, it's a, the essence is we all have good and evil in us. We all have, in the end, you cannot say somebody's good or somebody's evil.

[00:46:42] There can be circumstances where you're good and or evil, and it can happen and you can come into that place. And I think that book, I read it like once a year because I think it's, first of all, it's beautifully written. I, I don't wanna see the movie because I don't wanna.

[00:46:57] Kristina 2: Destroy

[00:46:58] Nienke 2: I have my own pictures, uh, of this.

[00:47:00] I really think this book, um, makes you aware that life can give you tough choices, but you cannot always. It's, this is what life brings. And, um, it's been a very, and my mom, my, my grandma, she really gave me the passion for reading. So I think that, uh, uh, I'm very grateful for. And also, she was a very much an adventurer and she traveled and when she was 74 or something like that, she went to Russia and she studied Russian for it because she wanted to order her own wine.

[00:47:31] And, and sometimes I'm like, oh, I think I've got some of that. DNA, uh, uh, so yeah. But it, that is a, a book that really, uh. Inspire me. There's more when I look business wise. I think the book Made to Stick by, uh, or The Power of Moments by Dan and Chip Heath. Both these books are, well, I think the power of moments may be even better, I think for customer experience.

[00:47:53] How can you add moments in the customer journey that are important for your clients or when you are a teacher? [00:48:00] Uh, or for me, in education, where can I put moments in that are of. Either learning moments or our memories. I think the Power of Moments a very great book, uh, in that,

[00:48:11] yeah.

[00:48:12] Kristina 2: Yep. Love, love those books. Um, but I haven't read the reader, so I'm definitely gonna get that.

[00:48:16] Nienke 2: Oh, the reader is, is, is, yeah. It's um, yeah.

[00:48:19] Kristina 2: Amazing. Thank you. Thank

[00:48:20] Nienke 2: Yeah. And also a little bit painful, but that's also what happens in life, right? It's not always, uh, it's not always, uh, sugar and spice and everything. Nice.

[00:48:29] Kristina 2: No,

[00:48:30] definitely not. Definitely. And, and I truly believe in, in what you just said before, in, in the evil and the good, and also I think that life is, is kind of 50 50. You can't just have good, you need to have challenging times to appreciate the good times and, uh, and the, and vice versa. So it's just, um. It's, I I think if you see life like that, then you'll be like, okay, well I'll just kinda have to get through this.

[00:48:52] 'cause then when there's a new good time coming or good, good moment, then you'll really appreciate it. And I think

[00:48:58] Nienke 2: Yeah. Yeah, and this is much, even, much more, do we do good or bad things? And especially at the, let's be honest, where the world is at now. Um, I think we might be challenged, how, uh, I'm, uh, some people can be Switzerland and having no opinion, but. I'm can be pretty outspoken, but I do believe in peace and I do believe in the good in people.

[00:49:20] Um, and I hope that the world will turn to that. But, uh, I was here in Sydney and had, um, a pedicure and the lady was Iranian and we had a very valuable conversation about how difficult she found. She didn't have contact with her parents or brother for 25 days already, And because I could say, oh, that's what I can imagine, but I cannot imagine because if I wanna talk to my brother or my mother, I just call them and uh uh, there's no communication possible.

[00:49:47] So they might be dead. You dunno. And There's so many aspects of this world that I cannot grasp, but being there and have that conversation is valuable, gives meaning to the day, right.

[00:49:59] Kristina 2: Yeah, [00:50:00] absolutely. Yeah. No, I mean, it's, it's, um, yeah, we might not go in there today 'cause then we'll be another, another hour to talk, but yeah, it's

[00:50:07] Nienke 2: No. Yeah, we should

[00:50:08] Kristina 2: um, yeah.

[00:50:10] Nienke 2: bored, but

[00:50:10] Kristina 2: Yeah. No, but I think No, it's great. Like, and you know, it's, but I do think that, it's a very challenging time right now and not what we need in the world right

[00:50:21] Nienke 2: No, but, but, but the thing is, when I was doing my pilgrimage, that's also when the war with, with Ukraine, uh, broke out. And I remember being in this little cafe in the morning having my cappuccino and uh, um, uh, uh, they call it a corno. It's a croissant. And the thing is, is I was. Looking at the TV and my Italian is not that good, but I could really make out what they were saying and I had, should I go home?

[00:50:45] What is it? And but I thought the world here in Italy, walking on these little streets is the same as it was yesterday. Yes, there's something changed, but it is in another place. I am very worried, but I can always, but what am I gonna do when I'm sit home crying front of tv? That also doesn't work. So I think we need to make something of our lives.

[00:51:06] Even if things happen, also in the here and now, but it, it's not the, it's not easy.

[00:51:11] Kristina 2: No, I often talk about that because sometimes like creating our dream life and so many people are suffering. But my view of that is that if you do something inspiring, you create this ripple effect that we might not be able to stop a war or change the whole world overnight, but we can definitely change our lives and then hopefully then inspire other people to do that.

[00:51:31] And then if everyone looked after themselves to do something good, because I think when we live at. A our dream life or a life that is really meaningful to us, then we wanna do more. Good. I, I think that that's really is, is,

[00:51:47] Nienke 2: Yeah.

[00:51:49] It's beautifully said, and I think that is, uh, sometimes I forget, like in my world of customer experience, I do my thing and I write my weekly newsletter and I host my programs and I write things [00:52:00] on LinkedIn and, and share my content. And I did a program where we hosted, uh, CX. Female leaders.

[00:52:06] And, and I did that with a, with another, uh, uh, leadership expert in, in female leadership. And it was very interesting. And in, instead of doing a boring introduction, I said, okay, what's a woman that you find very inspiring? introduce yourself and tell why. And of the group of 12, there were three. That had me as their inspiration and I was sitting there at the end of the day when I'm like, I felt so uncomfortable because I never knew that.

[00:52:29] And, uh, and, and, but maybe sometimes also for you where I write about you and I find you an inspiration and I that your book and, sometimes I forget that by the way that I live my life and the way that I lead a company and the way that I help others be better CX leaders and have more impact and more fun.

[00:52:48] I am of impact. And that for me, it, it, it, it was a little weird because sometimes you get an email and it's easy, but like, people say that out loud here in the room, you're like, oh, uh, what do I say now? Thank you. Or, uh, yeah. Yeah. I thought they were gonna do say Serena Williams or, uh, Obama, Michel Obama or something.

[00:53:08] No, they just said, Nin

[00:53:10] Kristina 2: Oh,

[00:53:11] I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised.

[00:53:13] Nienke 2: well, yeah, but I sometimes don't. Yeah, but it was it. So I think living the life, please don't hesitate to live the life you really dream of and that you yeah, dare to dream and create and live that dream. Because in the end, you only, you, you don't only, go wrong on yourself, but actually also on other people.

[00:53:35] So I do think. Bring out the best, the craziest, the whatever you want, please do it because we need more of that, because life can be so boring and don't just Yeah, do that.

[00:53:48] Kristina 2: Yeah. And make the most of it because, um, as we know with, uh, Mel's passing yesterday, it's, uh, so she's been on my podcast as well, so, and where her husband said something really [00:54:00] beautiful, it's like, if you wanna honor her, you know, live your life to the fullest. And, um, so we are gonna do that for

[00:54:06] Nienke 2: Do that. Let's do that. And everybody listening, if you have dreams, put them into action and um, we understand. I think I also understand doubts and hurdles, but you can do it.

[00:54:19] Kristina 2: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I love that. So then my last question to you, just a quick one is, knowing what you know now, what kind of advice would you give to your younger self? Say maybe your late teens, early

[00:54:34] Nienke 2: In my late teens, um, I've, I'm 180 3, 6 foot for the people in the States. So I'm tall. I am, loud. I have a loud voice. So my, um, I have opinions. I laugh. Outspoken and I would've said, that is your power. And a lot of times people said, oh, you are a woman, you're a li. Be a little girl. Be silent, be normal, be like, whatever that may be.

[00:55:01] But you know, deep in you who you are, and don't listen too much to other people. You are a gift. Uh, I wish I, of course I had, had the experience that I had, I could not have done it any other way. But I've doubted myself a lot because I've been, they, they try to belittle me. I've been called a bitch. I've been called in.

[00:55:21] And then something is called, hi, bye. Really ugly words for women that, um, it's actually of jealous people around you. 80% men that feel intimidated, but I never understood. So be proud of your gift. Because this, in the end, what I did at AT in Cairns, I stood on that stage being a hundred percent me and I got the best applause ever.

[00:55:43] And I helped people become loving their customers more, building their business and earn more money. And I think that I could do it because I was a hundred percent me. So blo being 15, yes, you are tall, loud, visible. [00:56:00] Maybe for others a bit, a little bit crazy, but that's your superpower.

[00:56:02] Kristina 2: Yeah, absolutely. What a beautiful way of finishing this super inspiring conversation. Thank you so much for saying yes, very last minute and also for, um. For reaching out and for tagging me in and for dreaming big and showing what is possible for other people. So

[00:56:23] Nienke 2: everybody read the book and do the work really. Um, and thank you for all the work you do and just keep shining. Thank you.

[00:56:29] Kristina 2: Ah, thank you so much. You know, I'm excited about meeting you somewhere in the world where

[00:56:33] Nienke 2: We're gonna do, you're gonna come to Netherlands and then I'll show you around ure.

[00:56:37] Kristina 2: Yep. Cannot wait. Thank you so much.

[00:56:40] Nienke 2: Thank you.

[00:56:42] Kristina: I hope you are as inspired as I am. Gosh, I took so many notes and I am so inspired To take more actions. I hope you are as inspired, and I hope you understand now that your dream is not random. It's there for a reason, and it's a quiet nudge, a little whisper, a possibility waiting for you to say yes, just like Nien has done.

[00:57:13] here's the beautiful thing. You don't need to have it all figured out. You just need to take one step, one small, brave, imperfect step because as we always say, dreams don't work unless you do. So ask yourself, what's one dream that's been sitting in your heart lately or maybe for a long time, and what's one tiny step you could take today?

[00:57:37] Write it down, say it out loud, share it with someone, and if you don't have anyone to share it with, please join the Dream Life Coaching Community. 'cause there is a whole group, a global community that are all creating their dream life. It's so inspiring. And then, of course, begin. I am so grateful you are here, and I truly believe your dream life [00:58:00] is closer than you think.

[00:58:03] As always, I'll be back on Monday with another Monday morning motivation episode. Until then, keep dreaming, keep doing, and most importantly, enjoy the journey.