You’re successful and that’s nice. But most entrepreneurs also remember the moments when they saw black snow. And they learn from that.

When and around what were you most in trouble?

In August I will be working for this company for 39 years, and during that time we have had a few economic crises. And I must confess that the global financial crisis of 2008 seriously hit. It was because of two elements.

First of all, as an entrepreneur, you feel a gigantic helplessness. We were on a record year and in less than a quarter this sank to a nightmare. From the best profit ever to a zero balance sheet and even the first loss year ever in our company history. I did receive support from the parent company that we had to accept the situation an sich. We then introduced economic unemployment for the first time and that felt hugely disappointing. But among the employees there was an acceptance, some were even happy about it. As an entrepreneur, I didn’t understand this. How can you be happy/happy with less work. But it was the beginning of acceptance with myself.

Second, I was always taught by my parents who were self-employed “when things are bad you have to work harder to get out.” This is in me, of course, but I also learned a life lesson. I am hard on myself, but may not always be as hard on others. Above all, I hope for committed employees, who go for it and yet also fight for it.

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“My parents always said: when the going gets tough, you have to work harder.”

What does success mean to you?

Success is a double feeling. It’s the little moments where you feel: wow, we did a good job here. Those little moments that put a spontaneous smile on people’s faces. A spontaneous joy because it was good. And not the success you often hear around material things. I have nothing against someone showing his success with a large swimming pool in his garden. That is allowed. But success that to me is something we should feel, that little moment of bliss. And the word “we” is so important there for me. Because I know I can’t do that alone, and I’m also happy that I get to do that with others.

Witzenmann is a manufacturing company, and manufacturing companies are high on the political and economic agenda again. Do they deserve it?

(briskly) Of course they deserve that, but every business deserves that. Every entrepreneur, every initiator, every (nonprofit) organization, every creative person, every artist deserves that. But I don’t think we should put each other on a raise too much. Policy makers and pressure groups should stay away from even more regulations, obligations, subsidies, …

Amia, we did a good job here for a while.

Kamal Karmach trying to help companies come out on top on a television program, that’s the kind of support companies need. Think differently, look at your weaknesses and your strengths and do something constructive with them

Flexibility is your core business as Witzenmann. How do you manage flexibility with shifts and nearly 200 employees?

Exactly in this, I think my role is not so small. I try to inspire people and also “walk the talk.

Whether 150 or 250 people work here, I want to see them, I want to know their first names, know their stories so I can motivate them personally. I try to give everyone sincere attention and I get warmed up by that myself.

Successful entrepreneurs tell us they work hard. And that’s true. But they also say they have fun. Where do you find your amusement?

Wim I have to go back to your first question. The bad moments. When I spoke to my people in the beginning I thought it was pleasurable until my speeches became stressful. Meanwhile I picked up on that and learned to say “men, that’s going to be fun”. I also tell my management. “We’re going to tell something funny”, but perfectly prepared. I think of Toon Hermans. He did everything so spontaneously, but it was meticulously prepared. It is the same with us. Not as well as Toon Hermans (laughs loudly) because then I was in den Arenberg. That’s my role, I have to do that and always say: “look, that’s going to be fun”. As stupid as that sentence is, that’s our drive. Structure is important, by the way, that’s what you also teach us.

I want to know their first names.

And what is your entertainment in your spare time?

The most fun is cooking something on the barbecue, winter and summer. At home or on the road with the camper (with my small barbecue, the smokey Joe). Although I am a very restless soul, that moment at the BBQ is the only one. No second thing can be added to that. Looking at those hot coals, the produce on them. But nothing else around me. Just that. That is bliss for me.

Men, this is going to be fun here!

What do you dream of as an entrepreneur?

Well hey, the speed today in the world with what is expected and what I expect of myself is high. We’re not going to be flippant about that, at sixty-five I’ll be retired, that’s a deadline. At that time I want the company to be energy neutral. I dream of even more solar panels, a windmill, a battery, in short being self-sufficient. That project has been started. I dream of the whole factory being energy neutral, CO2 neutral. Those are the things that interest me tremendously and we are on the right track.

When I close the door behind me, I want to leave behind a team that I have carried (and they have carried me too) and that they are ready for the future. There are still many modernizations to come that may be beyond my grasp but I have the younger generation for that because what they do I cannot do.

And what does Wilfried dream of for himself?

That I can maintain a blissful relationship with my wife, children and grandchildren in full health. The wish is that we can be there for each other for many more years, just with not too much show.

How does Wilfried want to be remembered?

A question I have only very recently asked myself aloud.

The word “good laugh” and the word “inspiring” may be in there. And that this man is good to Christel (his wife), to the children and grandchildren, to family, friends, …

Interpersonal relationships are the things I want to transfer.

With getting older, I am at peace with showing that layers are slowly slipping off me and that I am becoming more and more myself, with less shyness to be who I am.

But you also inspire us

But finally, Wim, you inspire us too, it’s fair to say. The way you deal with people in your training is just fantastic. Our people always come back from a day with you fully charged. They are not the first to say that what you do is the best course they have ever had.

Thank you Wilfried.