Ton Koebolt, entrepreneur, says:
‘Erwin gives me peace of mind. And when I have peace of mind, I can do a better job.’’
Ton Koebolt is entrepreneur. Successful. And he likes his peace of mind. But how do you find it if you are running two companies and have, moreover, just put a successful magazine in the market?
‘It can be done. You just have to make sure that you do what suits you. That is where many companies go wrong. Growing just to grow. More. Better. Bigger. No need for that. Common sense is more effective. I will never forget that Brouwer & Oudhof once put the brakes on. To this day, I am happy they did.’
In 1992, Ton Koebolt established his first company, Petromark Automotive Chemicals. Today, the label hosts some 70 to 80 products. The maintenance products are sold to corporate clients, at home and abroad. Later on, he started Xeramic, another label for the automotive market. And then there is his third activity. ‘Some time ago, a friend and I came up with the idea for a magazine about Formula One racing. Eventually it resulted in RTL GP.’ Ton calmly relates the events from his comfortable armchair. It suggests a man to whom success has come easy.
Black days
Of course, Ton lived through some hard times too. In those days, he found out how important it is to have peace of mind. ‘There were times when my mind was on other things. At such times, even if you put in extra hours, it doesn’t have as much effect. I have to focus on things that will make money. Calling people. Maintain good relations with my suppliers.’
Financial friend of the family
Ton is not afraid to admit that he owes his peace of mind to a great extent to Brouwer & Oudhof.
‘My first advisor was Nico …, an old pro. In my youthful exuberance I once told him that I was going to buy a building. To be able to grow. “You are not at that point yet”, he said. And I am still grateful to him. Nico’s role was taken over by Erwin Haring. The gentlemen are as yet undecided how to label the relationship between Ton Koebolt and Brouwer & Oudhof. Ton feels that the term accounting consultant does not do them justice. ‘It just sounds so… so grey’, he tells Erwin. ‘And that is not what you are at all!’
Ton Koebolt trusts Erwin with everything: his business figures as well as his private finances. Financial friend of the family, suggests Erwin. Ton likes the sound of financial lawyer. ‘Anyway, the term doesn’t really matter.
Erwin thinks along with me, professionally and in my private life. I’m only 48, yet he reminds me of my business succession – one day. In 2007, I bought a house. All matters connected with it, such as the financing, the civil-law notary, etc., Erwin supervised and took care of for a large part. He gives me the peace of mind to do what I like. To expand. To increase the quality. To go deeper. With peace of mind.’
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