Taking the lead in a world full of surprises
Inspiration shot May 2025
Life surprises us. Sometimes in unexpected ways, with a strange conversation or an absurd experience you could never have made up. And sometimes it hits hard, with a phone call you wish you had never received. You never know when someone might suddenly end up in an ambulance.
That is exactly why I believe true freedom starts with being prepared. Not trying to control everything, but knowing what you can do when it really matters. Choosing what you can influence. And making sure you know yourself extremely well, so you are never caught off guard by how you react. This month, I am sharing moments where that made all the difference for me, hoping this will help you to find something to hold on to your own freedom a little more firmly.
Lesson from a fall
“Your father has fallen…” Recently, I got the phone call I had been dreading for a long time. Dad was in an ambulance on his way to the hospital. Fortunately, he ended up with just a big bump on his head and some scrapes on his elbow and knee.
Because of his Alzheimer’s, he quickly forgot the fall, but for his caregiver and for us, his children, the impact lingered. One thing brought peace of mind: I had all the important documents digitally accessible in Dropbox. Lesson: Make sure you (and the people around you) have immediate access to essential information in case of an emergency. Here’s the full story.
AI expert?
It’s funny that people now see me as an AI expert – because of my monthly column with ChatGPT tips in Intermediair and how I use it practically in daily life – while I’m still learning new things every single day.
But every time I show somebody how I use ChatGPT, they say it’s truly life changing. As I always say: you’re already an ‘expert’ if you just know a little more than others and can help them with it. My latest columns are: ChatGPT as a coach and Do you need to credit ChatGPT as a source?
I’ve now made my self-trained Esther AIs easily accessible via estherjacobs.ai. Free tools to help with book writing, becoming a digital nomad, gaining more freedom, and working smarter. Super handy, even if you don’t (yet) know ChatGPT well.
Theatershow update
Only 7 weeks to go until my theatre show! I can hardly believe it. There’s still so much to plan, do, and organize. And yet I feel confident, like it’s all going to come together. I’m actually really excited.
Do you have your ticket yet? You can also join via the livestream.
On social media, I regularly share stories around the show. Like the insight ‘I can’t die yet!’ or this one about duality and what I realized about a happy ending (but not the way you’d expect) during recent interviews.
Inspiration bites
INTERVIEW
Travel, life, entrepreneurship
The Dutch &C magazine interviewed me about making choices, failing a hundred times, and getting to know yourself extremely well.
Everything is covered: readers said it is the perfect ‘end of career’ interview!
RADIO SHOW
Second date update
Hilarious interviews where someone who ghosted after a first date gets a call asking Why? And whether they’re up for a second date.
Whether the funny stories are scripted or not, it’s very entertaining.
SINGLES AD
The power of marketing
1,500 responses to a single ad… Surprise! Hopefully, we can also help that many puppies find a new home!
FUNNY STORY
The weirdest Marketplace experience
You hear a lot of strange stories about Marketplace, but this wild one about FB Marketplace truly tops them all. And it’s told in such a hilarious way too:
Did you know...?
…that I’m retiring in two months, but I still plan to keep working?
Many people ask if I’ll be doing absolutely nothing from now on. After my theatre show on June 28, I’m stepping back from running a business. No more workshops. No more team meetings. No packed schedule. No focus on growth, but instead on rest.
For anyone who wants to learn from all the tips and experiences I’ve gathered, there are now my ‘Best of Esther’ workshop video bundles.
Still, I want to keep doing what I love most: helping people tell their story. Finding the essence in a pile of words. Creating impact through books, talks, and interviews.
So no, I’m not really retiring. I’m just going to focus on the things I enjoy the most: writing coaching, manuscript reviews, VIP ghostwriting, and one-off RESULTant sessions.
Peace. Space. Results.
Where is Esther?
The past few weeks have been full of surprises and special encounters.
I hosted a private writing retreat for a 78-year-old American lady in my trullo in Italy. Alongside writing, I also taught her how to use ChatGPT. “Life changing,” she said, and it truly felt that way for both of us.
Over Easter, I was in Rome with my friend Annaliza, who lives just outside the city for twenty years. On our way into Rome, the radio announced that the Pope had passed away less than an hour earlier. We decided to go to St. Peter’s Square. The atmosphere was magical and intense at the same time: grieving religious people, silence, confusion, while many tourists had no idea what had just happened. A historic moment to witness up close.
After a week in the Netherlands full of King’s Day buzz, catching up with friends, and a prep visit to the theatre with my team, I flew to Miami to spend two days with my father. Thankfully, he had recovered well from his fall. We shared some beautiful moments, including one where he suddenly became very lucid and one at Starbucks, where I connected warmly with someone who overheard us talking.
Now I’m in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, at the Dynamite Circle conference, my ‘tribe’ of successful location-independent entrepreneurs. Friends, colleagues, and kindred spirits. This week I’m hosting a workshop called ‘How a book can boost your business – and how to write it.’
In the second half of May, I’ll be wrapping up my final coaching programs and shifting into full theatre-show prep mode. At the end of May, I’m heading to Mallorca for my very last writing retreat on the island that has meant so much to me over the years.
After that: two weeks of full focus on the show. And then… I hope to see you on June 28 in Theater Amsterdam or online via the livestream!
This is going to be the biggest, most exciting, and most meaningful thing I’ve ever done. My entire career and all my life lessons packed into one evening of insights, stories, humor, and above all: real connection.
Will you be there?
Inspiration in your inbox
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