Christian (25): From shy farm boy to branch leader

Check every offer, it could be the chance of your life. My name is Christian, I'm 25 years old and I come from a farm near Münster in Germany. Since I was four, someone has accompanied me who is still my mentor and coach today and means a lot to me.

I grew up in a village of 2,000 people with my two younger brothers. An orchard, a football meadow, a forest where we built tree houses, and in between we helped Dad in the barn and drove the tractor. Then came first communion, altar serving, football, the local rifle club, rural youth group, the full programme. At 15 I became a football coach.

At the same time I got hold of personal development books and started going to seminars. That was huge, because I was always that guy: very shy, very reserved, constantly worrying about what others thought of me. The typical everybody's darling: rather than say something wrong, I'd say nothing at all.

Those books inspired me, because I understood: there are successful, great people. How did they do it? People like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Steve Jobs or Arnold Schwarzenegger inspired me. It was clear to me that they didn't become successful because of a degree or special training. They applied certain principles, and I wanted to find out what they were.

In 2013 I finished school and didn't know where my career should go. The only thing that excited me was coaching football: motivating the boys, standing on the pitch with them, giving them a vision again at half-time. We even won the championship. Feeling that shared winning, I was really on fire.

After school I worked at home with Dad for a year and then spent six months in Madrid. From a farm with 2,000 people to a city of millions. There I got to know entrepreneurship and thought: I want to learn from people who are where I want to be. The answer was: study first. So in March 2015 I started a business degree.

A month before I started studying, an old friend from kindergarten came up to me, Jan-Hendrik. We've known each other for over 20 years, he lives 200 metres from us, we walked to primary school together. He said: "I've got something here, it's about health and earning money." […] From the books and seminars I knew: you become successful when you make other people successful. That's true success. I wanted to take a close look and check it thoroughly.

My biggest fear used to be speaking in front of people. I've overcome that inner prison again and again. Today I actually live exactly the life I always imagined. The goal collages from ten years ago are still hanging in my room upstairs. I'm very grateful for the life I've created.

[…] If you know someone who wants to improve something, health-wise or financially, who is looking for an environment that inspires them, and who is open to change, then take a look. I'll take you by the hand and help you get where you want to go. And never forget this sentence: check every offer. It could be the chance of your life.