From One Generation to Another

To my amazing and beautiful daughters Alice and Viktoria,

By the time I was a teenager like you I’d had many years of hearing the same words from my dad: “Believe in yourself. You are talented and strong and can be whatever you want to be but you must strive for it and make it happen. Fate doesn’t exist. I love you and will be here for you.” I listened to his words (with the odd eye-roll) and watched as he progressed, over a number of years, from the production floor to middle management and eventually from middle management to MD of a large, international company. He had strived and he had made it happen, despite the odds. He was my inspiration.

Sadly, you never got a chance to meet him as he died before you were both born. Although I didn’t appreciate his words at the time, I realize I’ve carried them with me ever since. If I can only inspire you half as much as he inspired me, then I’ll know I’ve done a good job. So my advice to you is the same as he gave to me: Believe in yourself. You are wonderful, talented and strong and can be whatever you want to be but you must strive for it and make it happen. Be there for each other, be kind, do the right thing. Appreciate what you have, embrace life and most importantly, have fun. And remember - I will always be here for you too.