One rainy fall morning in October 2019, I woke up in my penthouse in Munich, and as I stared out the window, I noticed that I felt utterly miserable. At this point in my life, I had successfully built two startups, a Tech SaaS company with 80 employees and another event company hosting thousands every year. 

Despite my outward success, it felt like something was missing. I noticed how tired I felt in my body. The kind of tiredness that a good night's sleep won’t fix. It wasn’t just my body. My soul was tired. All of the drive and motivation that got me to where I was had evaporated, and what was left was emptiness as if all the outward success I had created meant nothing. It was a gnawing feeling, a realization that even with everything I had, I wasn’t truly happy. I needed to understand why.

In a bold move, I decided to exit both companies. Within six months, even in the midst of COVID, I was free from the burden that had been weighing me down - and felt a huge relief at first. With the businesses behind me, I turned inward, determined to uncover what was really going on with myself. I wanted to discover my true mission, my real purpose in life.

At first, I sought answers through peak experiences—retreats, books, podcasts, constantly chasing the next high. For a while, I felt amazing, riding the wave of excitement and novelty. But soon after, I crashed into the deepest and darkest moments of my life. Despite all the travel and exploration, the emptiness prevailed. I spent a year and a half circling the globe, went to exquisite parties and spent time in the most beautiful locations and while it was fun, that deeper sense of purpose remained elusive.

I reached rock bottom on a trip with my partner. Paradise beaches felt like prisons. I felt emasculated, purposeless, and completely disconnected. Worries came up about my financial future as my first attempts as an investor failed, my relationships were slipping away, and I was questioning whether I was wasting my time because I wasn’t making any difference in the world.

Then came the turning point. On the one hand, I was seeing my savings slowly evaporate as my first angel investments failed and the crypto market went down - I knew that I needed to finally take action. On the other hand, I didn't want to go back into the regular startup world as a CSO or CEO of another company because this wasn’t aligned with my vision anymore. In a vision journey with one of my mentors for the next chapter of my life, I committed to becoming a global thought leader and man of integrity who contributes to the flourishing of a new world that is ruled by peace, harmony and unity. I realized I had been avoiding the one thing that truly mattered—facing myself. I hadn’t dealt with the underlying insecurities, fears, or anxiety that plagued me. Even though I was technically free from the burdens of responsibility, I still woke up with doubt, self-criticism, and fear. Even though it wasn’t 100% clear to me back then, subconsciously, I knew that if I wanted a fulfilling, purposeful life, I needed to confront these inner demons. I made the decision to finally face myself. 

There was no other way than going all-in and getting dedicated 1:1 support because just studying, listening and reading didn’t make the difference anymore. I needed to take action. I committed to be accountable to a world-class coach who had faced a similar journey. So I researched business coaches and, by chance, stumbled upon a more holistically working, trauma-informed executive coach and former successful founder, with whom I resonated: Rick William. I leaned in and signed up to work with him. It was a high 5-figure investment requiring me to clear the last of my savings. I had no idea what to expect, creating an invitation to one of the most significant leaps of faith I have ever taken. 

This decision changed everything. 

On my journey, I've worked with some of the world’s best mentors and coaches, from Tony Robbins, to Veit Lindau, Dr. Joe Dispenza, and many more. I’ve learned that everything I do stems from my way of being; the more regulated my nervous system is, the deeper I experience presence, joy, and more intentional creation in my reality. Previously, I would operate from anxiety or imposter syndrome - chasing things and never feeling enough. 

I no longer feel the intense self-doubt or imposter syndrome that led to the never ending pursuit of seeking highs and business opportunities that weren’t truly aligned with my core self. I can shift these states back to power and presence in a matter of minutes. 

Where I used to anxiously reach out to women from the need to feel seen, loved and approved, I now experience deep self-respect and confidence instead. Where I once needed alcohol, porn and adrenaline-fuelled adventures to feel alive, I now experience even deeper states of aliveness through the simplicity of what is right in front of me at any given moment. 

Where I used to feel afraid of speaking up and fearful of rejection by stating my needs or boundaries, I now speak on stages in front of 500 people and communicate with clear, grounded empathy, resulting in even deeper quality relationships and intimacy in all areas of life. 

This process has cultivated a strong backbone, clear values, and a gentle heart. We can be powerful and compassionate, confident and humble, all at once. This is the journey of developing one's inner compass, to become stronger and louder than all the voices on the outside. It is this compass that guides us through any storms in life, reminding us that we always have the answers within ourselves. 

If you’d like a guide to support you in your journey of building your own inner compass so you can confidently navigate the inevitable storms of life, it would be an honour and privilege to walk alongside you.