Eyes on the prize.

Simon, why did you switch from professional sport to insurance?

When our first child was born, I realised that handball didn’t pay enough to support a family. So, I started looking for a job that could be combined with competitive sport. I immediately liked the fact that performance is what counts in sales jobs – regardless of when and how this comes about.

What attracted you to sales?

I had no experience in sales or insurance. The thing that appealed to me was the freedom to organise my own time – and to be rewarded accordingly for my personal efforts.

I really enjoy being responsible for my own performance: this is precisely what enables me to achieve greater success through stronger commitment. This personal responsibility and the direct connection between dedication and success spur me on every day. 

What parallels do you see between elite sport and sales?

There are lots, but I can only mention a few here. As an athlete, you learn that your performance counts every day. You have to perform well day in, day out – no excuses. That helps me enormously at work. How I deal with setbacks is also part and parcel of it. In sales, feedback is direct and honest, just like in handball after a misthrow. Being able to deal with this is crucial and makes you mentally strong.

How do you manage to balance your family, career and performance?

By setting priorities and consciously making plans. I thrive on tension – but deliberate relaxation is just as important to me. These contrasts are crucial if I want to maintain my edge in the long run. You need to plan breaks just as much as you plan busier times. In elite sport, a muscle grows during the resting phase – but only if it has been stimulated beforehand. This principle also applies to your day-to-day work: only those who systematically invest their energy and then relax can perform at a high level in the long term. I often go home at lunchtime, take my children to school and sometimes continue working in the evenings. This flexibility is worth its weight in gold.

What motivates you in your work as head of agency today?

I believe in the “servant leadership” style. For me, this means supporting my insurance consultants so that they can reach their full potential. I help them, go with them to customer meetings and share my knowledge with them. In my eyes, the greatest success is when my employees achieve their goals.

What’s your advice for people changing careers who want to start working as an insurance consultant?

If you’re changing careers, you need two things in particular: courage and curiosity. Courage to approach customers actively, even if people realise that you don’t know everything yet. And curiosity to show genuine interest in others and learn from them. Both are decisive from day one – because those who stay open-minded and have faith in themselves will quickly grow into the role.