day of the entrepreneur

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AS AN ENTREPRENEUR?

Kris: "From home I am not an entrepreneur. That's something that has grown over the years. I started as a teacher, but at Kinepolis I got the chance to start up and run cinemas in Switzerland and Italy as a manager. When a friend told me in 2011 about his idea of a staffing company for niche professions, I didn't hesitate for a second. And so we started Absolute Jobs, from 0."

Emmanuel: "It was the same with me, my parents were not entrepreneurs either, far from it. But my parents did soon see that I was a born salesman. Because as a little boy, I sold shells on the beach like no other. Later I started as a technician myself, but I soon saw the opportunities with companies and so I started my first company Bekaert Technics. The expertise I gained there together with my technical baggage enabled me to grow strongly with Maxicon."

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN YOUR SUCCESS AS AN ENTREPRENEUR?

Emmanuel: "In the beginning, I mainly built up expertise within my field of expertise. I know what I am talking about thanks to my education and experience in electromechanics. But I also really know my customers, and their machinery. Many of my competitor-ceos know nothing about those machines and have never held a spanner. But I know them inside and out. That's a huge advantage."

Kris: "Believing in your own, authentic story, that's important anyway. You need the necessary amount of perseverance for that. And being resilient. Mike Tyson once told how his opponents prepared strategically years in advance, but then he wiped every strategy off the map with a direct hit. Be prepared for the unexpected sledgehammer blow, not by planning but by being flexible as people and organisations and reacting appropriately."

TO WHAT EXTENT IS YOUR TEAM IMPORTANT?

Emmanuel: "Because you know perfectly well what the job entails, you can also find better people and know what you are talking about with your employees. They feel and appreciate that. And our customers notice that too."

Kris: "Our business, any business, is not a one-man show. I surround myself with people who are smarter than me and, as a result, myself and Absolute Jobs become smarter. Moreover, working with motivated people also gives myself a lot of job satisfaction and extra energy."

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST DIFFICULT PERIOD AS AN ENTREPRENEUR?

Kris: "When there is long-term doubt about your project. Due to a confluence of circumstances or factors beyond your control, your company can suddenly be in crisis. Of course, every business is in constant transition, as you have the will to get bigger or better. But that also creates tensions and you have to be able to deal with that."

Emmanuel: "When I started my first company, it just fell into the banking crisis. I didn't sleep for months. By looking for solutions and refocusing towards the food industry, we managed to save ourselves. But that was a very intense period in my life."

ARE THERE THINGS YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY?

Kris: "I would surround myself more quickly with capable people. That way you grow better and smarter."

Emmanuel: "What is a big improvement compared to my previous firm is the far-reaching digitalisation. That way, we avoid repetitive work and can focus on quality."

DO YOU THINK IT IS WISE TO DO BUSINESS DURING A CRISIS?

Emmanuel: "Don't wait for the storm to subside, go dance in the rain. That's a motto I am very attached to, because hard times also pass. So fight extra in difficult times for your life, your family, your business. You will come out stronger, as a person and a company. Everything is a life lesson, but you have to want to learn and live. Do! Do! Do!"

Kris: "Indeed, entrepreneurship is sometimes difficult, but you should never lose sight of the road and avoid the challenges you face. It is not difficult to be successful when the economy is booming. Real success and progress is achieved in difficult moments, like this crisis."

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING TO DO AS AN ENTREPRENEUR?

Kris: "Selling. I am a born salesman. Being with customers, talking to them, listening and working together towards a solution and then getting the customer's trust. That's the magic I do it for. And equally fantastic, that freedom to make your own decisions and schedule your own time."

Emmanuel: "I have been bitten by entrepreneurship and setting up new companies. But I love perhaps even more keeping an overview of all the businesses like an eagle. I don't need to know details, but I do need to know what is happening and living. Numbers tell me a lot: whether a salesperson feels good, whether a technical employee understands what he is doing, whether a customer is satisfied. I believe in trusting my people but also taking decisive action when I have to."

WHAT DOES YOUR IDEAL COMPANY LOOK LIKE OR WHICH ENTREPRENEUR IS YOUR ROLE MODEL?

Emmanuel: "I have great admiration for Elon Musk. He has successfully built several companies, from PayPal to Tesla to SpaceX. I myself have also started several ventures, and I greatly admire that entrepreneurial spirit."

Kris: "I admire many entrepreneurs. But for myself, I aspire to a company where employees feel happy and can do their thing. Therefore, not everyone needs to be an entrepreneur within the company. That is allowed, but not required. If everyone feels part of the bigger picture, and knows they are important, then that is my ideal company."

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED AS AN ENTREPRENEUR?

Kris: "As a human boss, a pleasant person to work with and someone who helps people and companies move forward. Always with the necessary perspective and humour."

Emmanuel: "As the entrepreneur with the eternal smile. Like a daredevil, who takes risks but always with respect for others."

YOUR AMBITION FOR THE COMING YEARS?

Emmanuel: "With Maxicon, we want to grow geographically and expand in Limburg and Antwerp. We will start with that next year."

Kris: "With Absolute Jobs, I want to become even more socially relevant, both for companies and employees. So not so much seen as sellers of talent, but as dreamjob creators who create worklife happiness."

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS FOR (START-UP) ENTREPRENEURS?

Kris: "Make sure entrepreneurship remains fun, because for me that's my real strength. If your spirit meter is too low, your business will not do well, and vice versa."

Emmanuel: "Go for it. And if you have an interesting idea and are looking for a sounding board: let's meet up. (laughs)".

To learn more about AM Group, read the story of these entrepreneurs at www.groupam.be