Rebel with a Cause 🛵

Why I prefer to be an activist, scientist and an entrepreneur

I would like to make an impact. Yes, I said it.

Just because I think this is a sensible aproach to this rather awesomely absurd life. My motivation comes from seeing new ideas come to life. Having the feeling that I am part of this universal movement of creating a better world for generations to come, is what gives my life meaning.

So there.

🤮

I know! Whatever. I’m getting old. These reflections seem to matter to me.

Absolutely no one in the world: “Arjan, please tell us why you spend your time being an activist, work in science and as entrepreneur trying to change the world for better?”

Arjan: Didn’t see that one coming. 😉 But I am actually very glad you asked.

For me it’s about helping ideas come to life. Ideas of a better world.

🤮🤮🤮

Having had the pleasure of seeing the inside of these different worlds for the last 20 years, they share this quality of chasing ideas. I see people with ideas that they want to see happen. Or a world that needs to come to being.

Not all scientists. And not all entrepreneurs have this. Most activists that I’ve met do have this.

And what I love about these worlds:

• Activism is one of the purest forms of believing in a better world. It’s about speaking truth to power, and having impact on the world that way.
• Academia is the place where we allow people to think about our world. Ideas of academics add to how we perceive our world, and how we could change it.
• Entrepreneurs believe in changing the world by letting money speak. When you find the right mechanism, the world will change. New markets emerge, and things get better.

These worlds interact with one and another. But they are different worlds, with different outcomes. But they all potentially contribute to something better.

And I love all of these worlds.

I love the running together from the teargas* that comes with activism. Love the clear thinking that happens in academia, the analysing things to smitteries. And I truly love the roll up your sleeves and get nasty attitude of entrepreneurs.

It’s all this and more that I am taking with me into 2022. See you on the other side.

* It’s more the idea of running together from the teargas…