..the short version
CosmoPrint
I was raised in the Scandinavien paper industry and graduated from Swedish owned Papyrus before I had a 18 month "Papiermacher Aus- bildung" at Zanders Feinpapier AG (Germany). Returning to Denmark I went on to study Graphic Management for two years at the Danish School of Media, at the same time as beeing personally and professionally straightened by working in the printing industry. After a decade I went on founding CosmoPrint in 1997 and for eleven working as a print broker on the European retail market. CosmoPrint also worked as graphic advisory for a wide range of leading Scandinavien advertising agencies and marketing departments.
Cycling
Earlier on I learned that in order to be ready for the daily challenges you must be in good shape, and cycling has always been one of my favorite sports. A place with plenty of time for reflection and a precursor to a good night's sleep. As highlights I was proudly selected to represent the Danish National Cycling Team in both road race and time trial at the amateurs veteran Open Nordic Championship, and I also took part in the World Road Race Championship in the Masters, age 30-35 yrs. Starting out as a transportation solution it took me 20 years to get of the bike again. I one day left my bike in the garage, but cycling never really left my heart.
Golf
Times change and with an increasing workload, at the age of 40, I decided that the excessive physical activity was enough. The game of golf came sneaking over night as an unwanted virus, and before I knew it I was hooked! 5 years later, hundreds of rounds of golf, tens of thousands of practice balls at the driving range, chipping and putting until sunset - add to that several sleepless nights thinking about why the little stupid ball does not do as commanded, I woke up with a golf handicap of 3.6, and a love for golf as only consenting understands.
I have always appreciated the good mix of hard work and sports. It's part of me to be ambitious both in and outside the office, and I would never miss one of the things. For me the combination has worked well for 25 years.
Networking through golf
By the time, but undoubtedly the hard way:
I learned that golf is not all about scores. Most important it is about finding plesent company on the golf course, and taking your time to enjoy the strikingly beautiful surroundings that many golf courses offers. Golf as a network platform is unique, but it is a general misconception that business people do business on the golf course all day long - the game is much too distracting - but you meet multiple potential business opportunities, and you get to know people and their personalities very well on a golf course, as you simply can not hide out there. If the mutual trust is present - business will follow. It is as easy as that!
From Print to Web
Mid-2008 saw the first steps towards the foundation of CostaPrint taken. Based in Spain we are now supplying the present multinational mix of business with advice on online media, development of web platforms, right from the simple digital business cards - to multilingual and complex web solutions. The change from beeing part of the European printing industry to start working with online medias was straight forward. It gave me the opportunity to work with online business development and copywriting, and at the same time make use of my almost 25 years of experience reading the putting lines in the inner circles of business managements.
"Printing has become pixels.."
Photography
I am facinated, like most other people I think, by watching images: The capturing of the right moments, the details, the light and the storry telling. Portarits, landscapes - even product images tells their own storry. And for certain I still need some fresh air out at the open office now and them, so it was natural to start learning the art of producing images for my clients myself. How do you learn to draw well? You draw a lot! So bee it. 30,000 images later, taken with my Canon EOS, I am now able to supply professional and Photoshop edited images - and acctually getting paid for it.
Reflectful owner.
Decision-making takes longer the older you become. You simply have a larger range of solutions than when you arrived the first day at the office in your best and only suit. Good decision making requires equal part of time for reflection and experience. However, if you need some good advice you should always ask a person who is fairly busy, as the difference between serenity vs laziness is whether the eyes are open or closed..
One of the biggest mistakes in business, and life in generel, comes from poor preparation and over selling. Do things right and be patient, that's rule No. 1 - and there are no more rules.
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