Your personal discovery journey starts here

Not tomorrow, but now

My own journey of discovery began in high school, with a book my father gave me: 'Not tomorrow, but now' by Wayne Dyer. At that time, I often worried about the future. From the book, I learned to consciously look ahead, but then also to let go. To take action in the moment, and not to dwell on the past.

That's when the fire started burning. I began to delve further into writers like Stephen Covey and themes such as emotional intelligence, meditation, and movement. I discovered that surfing is the ultimate activity where everything comes together for me. With Kayak, I want to help other people on that same journey of discovery, to invest in themselves.

From abstract concept to concrete steps

Investing in yourself may sound abstract, but it is actually concrete: it's about finding activities that give you energy to do what you find important, making sure you feel good and get more satisfaction out of your day.

At Kayak, in collaboration with successful entrepreneurs, athletes, and coaches, we have developed a program for everyone working with us: Live your potential. This program focuses on four dimensions of personal development: body, mind, emotions and inspiration, based on the scientific insights of Tony Schwartz and Jim Loehr. This way, you shape your personal growth path, as an addition to your daily work at Kayak or our clients.

The program starts with a morning where you explore what drives you, what you find important, and what gives you energy. Then you start working on a habit that aligns with your ambitions, such as taking the stairs every day instead of the elevator, or taking a 10-minute walk after lunch. Small habits can make a big difference in your day.

Growing in your own way

Personal development looks different for everyone. That's why we have put together a menu for everyone working at Kayak, so you can choose for yourself. Think of a leadership course, a subscription to a meditation app, or personal coaching.

Of course, it can be a challenge to find time daily for your own personal development. For example, if you have children to take to school, or a long to-do list that you never get to. I also regularly encounter this. That's why we make time during the workday to, for example, take a walk together or exercise during lunch. For example, I stand up every 20 minutes to stretch my legs. We also organize a monthly masterclass at the office, on topics such as time management or how the brain works.

The highlight for me is our annual Live your potential Experience. Here, all our team members and partners come together for a program full of masterclasses and inspiring speakers. On this day, you can not only explore what gives you energy — ultimately, it's also about having fun together, laughing in everything we do.

Inspiring each other for proven results

Our vision of personal development is nothing new. Research by Shawn Anchor at Harvard also shows that organizations and individuals who prioritize positive emotions are much more effective. Yet, it often remains overshadowed in practice. There is more awareness on the subject, but practical tools and starting points are often lacking, especially in the workday.

That's why we continue to build our program and involve new experts to learn from. We also want to inspire our partners to make room for personal growth and balance in the workday, by setting a good example and sharing our knowledge. I hope that ultimately we can touch the lives of tens of thousands of people.

Making lasting positive impact

When will my goal be achieved? When someone who has worked with us looks back on Kayak in twenty years and says, “I did some great assignments there where I further developed, but the most important thing I took away is their vision: to always keep investing in yourself. That's what I've always lived by, at work, at the sports club, and with my friends.