January – February 1996 was one of the coldest Dutch winters ever recorded. Just a year earlier I lost my business, my income, my direction and… my pride. And my first months in Amsterdam – my chance for a new beginning – were cold, grey and isolated.
Spring of 1996 was not a real improvement.
The weather outside slowly warmed up – but inside – I felt lost, sad and broke.
By the end of May I had enough!
It was time to end the self-pity party, wake up, shake up and shape up.
The result… A beginning of an adventure that led to my first evening workshop in June 19, 1996, and what became later Open Circles Academy. 
Today – 20 years after I decided to climb out my bed, and give the world all that I’ve got – we’re counting down the final days of 2016…
An end of an era…
Out of curiosity I checked how many days passed between the actual beginning of Open Circles Academy (my first workshop in Amsterdam Sloterdijk – June 19, 1996) and the day we officially close the company (December 31, 2016)…
I couldn’t believe it… It’s exactly, but EXACTLY… 7,500 days.
7,500 days that have transformed my life, the lives of my loved ones, and the lives of over 150,000 students who shared our path during the last 20 years.
I’m immensely GRATEFUL for these last 7,500 days of my life and:
- For Vered – my partner, lover, wife, co-founder and co-trainer. Vered was my first trainer/teacher/coach for exactly 3days, until we moved in together and she quit that role and took instead the much more challenging, difficult, often frustrating and thankless role of being my soul
mate. For encouraging me to keep walking the path of wisdom and reminding me constantly that I should ‘get a life’. For the amazing person that you are, Vered, and the privilege of having you in my life – I bow in gratitude…
mate. For encouraging me to keep walking the path of wisdom and reminding me constantly that I should ‘get a life’. For the amazing person that you are, Vered, and the privilege of having you in my life – I bow in gratitude…- For more than 100,000 hugs I’ve received and gave over the last 20 years at the completion of each training, and during the breaks in my ‘office’ on the stage stairs…
But even more – for all the hugs I’ve got in the moments before a training starts, when I stood nervous and excited at the back of the room…
- For every time a Write Your Book graduate handed me their newly published book. Each time my breath stopped for a moment, as I realized how little they know – how this accomplishment will change their life – professionally and financially, but also as an example and a source of pride and inspiration to their children, spouse, family and community…
- For every time I held the board for someone in the Breakthrough to Success, and I saw in their eyes the moment of commitment, and felt their transformation as they fell into my arms. Each of these moments reminded me, “when you save one life it is as if you saved the entire world”
Each of these moments reminded me, “when you save one life it is as if you saved the entire world”- For each time that I set an ambitious goal for myself, and my students were the firsts to hear about it.
And for the way they always were an unending, generous source of encouragement, support, education and care… which not only made it possible for me to achieve these goals, but also to develop a deep sense of gratitude for being supported, and for never being really alone…
- For all the wonderful, passionate, extraordinary people that joined our events as e-team members You brought so much heart, love, care, wisdom, safety and beauty into my life and the lives of thousands of people you haven’t met before
. For creating life changing experiences for so many – thus deserving the official title of real-life heroes…
- And last, but not least, for our amazing Open Circles Amsterdam team:
Walleh – for saving our ass and keeping me focused on what’s really important
Miro – for all the fun and for putting me on the spot when I missed it
Raymond – for your friendship, your generosity, and for keeping us safe
Silvia – for your care, love, commitment and for always putting our clients first
Anja – for building world-class teams and creating world-class, life-changing events
Janieck – for your enthusiasm, focus and commitment to get the word out there…
And for all of you for becoming our friends and family.
WOW… What a list.
I’m reading back the words I typed, and they feel inadequate to describe what I see when I just look out of my window or in the mirror.
I’m not the same person who arrived in Amsterdam 20 years ago – immature, ego-driven, cynical and beaten.
In the last 7,500 days I became softer, gentler, more patient (with myself and others), more accepting, more loving, more giving and most of all… simply happier.
It’s been a long journey, and I’m glad we could have walked that path together, even for awhile…
But… this is NOT ‘goodbye’!
It’s actually a beginning of the next step… an exciting, empowering new era…
Or, as Miro, our copywriter calls it… an era where ‘the BEST is yet to come’:
- Open Circles Academy in Tenerife is ready to take you to a whole new level…
You should expect a new, fresh, engaging content every Tuesday in your inbox.
It will be in ENGLISH and sent from Open Circles Tenerife – so make sure to whitelist OpenCircles.com – so you won’t miss an email.
We’re going digital, we’re going international (and pretty soon… intergalactic too…)
- With the new one-year Zero to Million – watch over my shoulder program – you will see how I’m creating a new business from scratch and make it into a million dollar business in one year.This is a major transformation in education – teaching by modeling – and what I’m going to do has NEVER been done before! If you didn’t reserve your place yet, you can still get the first 30 days of the program for free, so you can taste the new model before making a commitment for the whole year.
reserve your place yet, you can still - My new business – name to be defined – will bring me back to the Netherlands to a few powerful, totally new workshops – focusing on small groups of very committed, AMBITIOUS professionals…
When you’re ready to transform everything that really matters in your life (happiness, health, wealth and wisdom) – pay close attention to my private LinkedIn messages to you, as I’m not going to use the Open Circles mailing list.
- Around March or April 2017 we will launch what I believe will shake the business education industry in the world.
We will do something that was never done before, and if you’ll pay attention – you’ll be able to be in the front line, and jump-start your business big time, before the rest of the world…
So… make sure you actually open our emails, even if it’s just for a moment – looking for that special announcement.
- On a more personal note, Vered an I begin the creation of a global new society/tribe of like-minded people, which we want to share our lives with for the next 80 years or more…
When we’re clearer about the concept, we will share it with our inner circle and see who is as excited and as committed as us to create a new type of society/modern tribe and would want to start building the first global village…
- For the rest, you are welcome to visit us in Tenerife – our paradise island.
A few times in 2017, we’ll organize an open day, where you are most welcome to visit us at home, learn about our way of life, ask us any question and maybe even join us working the Casa Algeria Farm…
at home, learn about our way of life, ask us any question and maybe even join us working the Casa Algeria Farm…- If you’re not connected to me on LinkedIn – please connect, as I’m going to share some important stuff (see points above) exclusively in private messages on LinkedIn.
And… If you are connected to me already on LinkedIn… make sure to read my private messages to you…
There is no way to automate LinkedIn messages – so if you’re not interested in hearing from me – simply disconnect from me, and you will save my time and your aggravation…
So you see… this is NOT ‘goodbye’ but a ‘see you later’.
And until we meet again… I have a small favor to ask…
If your life was impacted for the better in ANY way, big or small, as a result of our work – please take a moment, and share it with us – in the comment box below.
Make 2017 your BEST YEAR EVER,
Nisandeh
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