Added value in the age of AI

Inspiration Shot October 2026

What if AI is actually an invitation to rediscover what makes YOU unique?
A surprising discovery and four experiments that might inspire your next move.

For years, a big part of my work has been transferring knowledge. Useful systems, shortcuts, practical tips, mindset. Much of it increasingly online. Then, about a year and a half ago, I decided to retire. Well, I called it retirement, but it turned into a sabbatical. I stopped pretty much everything I was doing. Without realizing it, my sabbatical coincided with the rise of AI. And the rules changed.

Knowledge is now available to everyone. Almost anything can be found, explained or taught within seconds. Knowledge alone is becoming less valuable.

But what if the rise of AI is actually an invitation to rediscover what makes us unique? I think the answer lies in what cannot simply be generated or downloaded. Connection. Personal contact. Unique perspectives and experiences. Trusting yourself. Authenticity. Human stories. Being together in real life.

In this Inspiration Shot, I’ll share four experiments that emerged from this discovery, and hopefully inspire you to explore what makes YOU unique.

The power of storytelling

I started looking at what makes ME unique. And I realized that storytelling is the common thread in almost everything I do. Speaking, writing books, coaching entrepreneurs, working with the media, even traveling. It’s all about recognizing stories, knowing how to tell them and connecting them to a bigger message.

Storytelling is important for everyone, whether you want to inspire, teach, convince, sell or simply connect with others. We all have stories, but most people don’t recognize them. The good news? It’s a skill you can develop, and AI can actually help you with that.

The result is a new blog, The Power of Storytelling, that might make you look at your everyday experiences very differently.

From online to real life

Over the years, I’ve organized countless online workshops, webinars and events. I loved being able to reach people all over the world, but lately I’ve been feeling a growing desire to connect with people in real life again.

So I started organizing tiny live AI workshops around my dining table in Amsterdam. And they were so much fun! What struck me was that even when teaching something as technical as AI, the most valuable moments often came from sharing personal experiences, practical examples and stories. That’s when things really clicked.

Last year, I took to the theater stage for the first time with my own show. It felt wonderful to be on stage on my own terms! This time, I want to take it a step further. What if I let go of the script, the technical setup and all the preparation? And simply trust that the right stories will emerge?

That’s how UNSCRIPTED was born. My new interactive storytelling theater show in Amsterdam on 28 November (in Dutch), where the audience decides what they want to hear and I have no idea beforehand which stories I’ll tell.

Write your book, powered by AI

AI can write, but can it tell YOUR story? And with AI, the writing process can be much faster, if you know how to use it.

I’ve recently shared some practical and perhaps surprising tips in a new blog: Write your book with AI. For example, why you should TALK to AI instead of typing your prompts, and why the best book you could write might be the one you needed yourself a year ago.

And here too, I felt the desire to bring people together in real life again. So after two years, I’m organizing another Writing Retreat from 21 to 28 May 2027! This time in Puglia, Italy, in my favorite little town, close to my tiny trullo. A whole week dedicated to your book or writing project, inspiration, personal guidance and sharing stories, combining my Reverse Writing method with the possibilities of AI.

Make room for magic

The past year and a half has taught me something unexpected. The most magical things seem to happen when I stop trying to plan and control everything.

I’ve experienced this so often lately that I would love for others to discover what happens when they let go too. And when I unexpectedly ended up on a private island in Estonia this summer, I immediately felt it was the perfect place for an experiment.

That’s how The Surrender Experiment was born. Five days on a private island, with no fixed program or predetermined outcome and no need to know what comes next. Just a small group of curious people, creating space for whatever wants to emerge.

I’d love to organize The Surrender Experiment in Estonia in the summer of 2027 or 2028.
Interested? Let me know!
If enough of you are keen, I’ll make it happen.

Did you know…

…that for most of my life, my story was about doing?

Another book, another keynote, another country, another adventure, another business idea. Always something new to add to the list of achievements.

But I’m discovering that was only half the story. The other half is about being. And that’s much harder to capture in a list.

I notice it when introducing myself at events. I used to share my achievements, which often impressed people, but nowadays, when I share this new part of my story, something different happens. People seem genuinely intrigued, and I notice that it’s what draws them to me now.